Not exactly so. I used a gas water heater tank, as a water heater, mounted above a Propane Tank I converted to a wood furnace. Mounted the tank above the furnace, laying horizontal, and plumbed the water lines using Copper tube. Ran a pipe up from the furnace, 90'd into the chimney tube in the tank, then, on to the metal well casing chimney outside the house. We burned all the dry garbage wrappings, cereal boxes, etc., and small tree limbs in the summer, for hot water, never heating the house at all. I have photos of this Rube Goldberg, if anyone is interested.
I used to build "Breadbox" type Solar Water heaters. Took those gas water tanks, and usually they leaked from a small dob of flux not letting the weld seal up. Chip it off, tack a weld on with a MIG welder, so, little heat to chip the lining, and, good to go.
Then, build the box so the tank is flat but slightly elevated on one end, so the hot air will travel through that chimney pipe. Also, orient the pipe fitting holes, so one is at the upper level. Take out the anode rod plug, and, break off whats left of the anode. Use that hole for recirculation, if needed. Tank(s) fit in a 2 X 4 cradle sitting on the bottom.
This box sits outside the house, on the ground, on cement blocks. It is lined with polyisocyanurate, (Yellow foil sided foam board), completely, except for the top, which is glass. I used sliding glass doors for this. It's possible to get 2 tanks in one of these, sometimes. Spray the foil side of the liner with flat black BBQ paint.
Google "Breadbox Solar heater".
Being low in relation to the house, the hot water will rise and the cooler water in the house will settle back into the breadbox. I also used the TEEL Hot water pump, which is used on furnace boiler type heaters, to push hot water into the system, with a temp control I bought at Grainger. Mounting on the roof will mean a pump is required. For you guys in the winter, you can make up a "Solar Blanket" system, to cover the glass at night. I built one using an electric motor-gearbox, hooked to a roller, which the blanket was wound up on. Switched it to run both ways and spring wound to help with roll down. It was on a 1 story house roof, in Arkansas, where I lived and had the business.
One system, I put an electric heater on it's side, under the floor joists, after orienting it to the elements being on the BOTTOM of the install. I bled the air out, under pressure, so there was never any air to cause pressure, and, put a bent tube fitting up into the tank, to be able to bleed air, IF NECESSARY.
Near as I know, that system is still working. That was 22 years ago?????? Wish we had more sun here. I need to get my Wind Turbine built, but, our trees are over 60' tall now, so, I need a 100' tower, which is costly.
