The old water heater has to be above the solar collector for the thermowhatchamacallit action to take place (heat rises). I could lower the collector to the ground and lay the water heater on its side--and even suspend it from the rafters to get it lower still. But there's a lotta pressure coming from the totes--and I may have to lower them so that the pressure doesn't push the water out of the collector before it has a chance to heat up.

So I think the top of the tote needs to be below the bottom of the collector.

Another issue is that, for this system not to freeze in the winter, I need to probably have at least a small 250 watt pail deicer hanging in the tote as well as a pump and pressure regulator hooked up between the tote and the collector to ensure continuous flow (and/or arrest the tote pressure), whether the water in the water heater gets hot or not. Two lbs of pressure max on the nipples or they'll leak and ice icicles will form.