How much money do you spend each year on heating water for your home? If you want a break on the amount of money you pay for gas or electricity for heating water, try installing a solar water heater. This may reduce your cost of heating water by fifty percent or more.
There are a couple of designs of water heaters that depend on the sun and both work well, especially in warmer climates. A passive solar tank is simply a black tank that is installed on the roof that allows the water to be warmed by the sun. An active solar water heater will have collector panels on the roof and these collector panels are connected to the cold water supply and the storage tank in the home.
The tank of the passive solar water heater is painted black in order to absorb the most heat from the sun. The water is kept at a constant level by a float mechanism that is attached to the cold water supply of the home. Water that has been heated in the tank is fed into the hot water supply of the home by gravity. As water flows from the tank it is replenished from the cold water.
Passive solar heating requires that the structural integrity of the roof be strengthened to support the weight of both the tank and water. In comparison, solar collector panels are light in weight and do not require structural changes.
The passive systems are not appropriate for colder climates.
One way to install a solar water system is to use it as a pre-heater so that your tank is not filled with cold water but water that has been warmed by the sun in the collector panel. This water then fills a normal water heater that is fueled with gas or electricity. Other systems use a pump to draw cold water from the storage tank and pass it through the collectors to be heated. In either of the cases, if the solar system is not able to keep the water at the correct temperature, the secondary source of heat will come on so that water is always at the correct temperature.
Active systems require that the collector panels be faced in such a direction that they get the largest amount of heat gain. Ideally, they are placed on a flat roof, however if the roof is sloped, they should be on the southerly facing roof.
Any time there is danger of freezing temperatures, there are special instructions for your solar water heating system. Be sure that you follow these instructions in order to avoid the possibility of freeze damage to the system.
If you live in a climate where the chance of freezing occurs many times during the winter, an active solar heating system that uses a heat transfer solution is a better choice. This system will use collector panels just like the other active systems; however instead of water flowing through the tubes, an antifreeze solution is used. In the storage tank, there is a heat exchanger that allows the heat collected in the solar collectors to heat the water. The cooled heat transfer solution is then returned to the collector to heat again.
If your electric or gas bill is way too high due to the cost of keeping water hot, why not install a solar water heater and have 100 percent free hot water. More info on solar water heaters now a click away.
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Solar power is used all the time to heat swimming pool water, so it makes sense to use it in the home. But before buying, make sure to inquire about servicing and parts. It's an investment you don't want to squander.
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I've always found the idea of solar applications like this to be quite endearing. But without a really great way to store the energy (or cost effective), I'm just too hard pressed to bite.
Thanks. This post was very informative. Solar energy is great for saving on the electricity bill, plus it makes the earth a better place.
I agree with Clay Adams. Storage always becomes an issue. also UPS issues arise unless you have an electric (or gas, etc.,.) alternative. even so, you will probably save money in the long very loong run
nice sharing.. I have using it at my home…before using it..I use electric shower.
but it kill my pocket..
fortunately I live in tropic country..so I can get alot of solar energy
Winter home or workshop heating can quickly become a very expensive situation and not everyone is able to make use of firewood. But for the do-it-yourselfer there are other alternatives. There are many ways to make an inexpensive solar-powered water heater. They are basically very simple. Here is a great article with some more information: http://solardiypanel.com/heating-your-home-with-a…
They are basically very simple. Here is a great article with some more information: http://www.squidoo.com/waterless-water-heater
Makes total sense, it wont be long until all new builds use this technology, plus with the development of transparent solar panels as use for windows, the future is quite literally bright.
Solar heaters are a great way to save money and the enviroment. Another cool option is using a solar pool cover with a solar pool heater. This will save you big money!
Thanks for this very informative article.
Heating water using only the natural heat of the sun.
Getting a lochinvar water heaters is also a great alternative to saving money on water heating