Use Less Energy Using A Solar Water Heater
If your electric or gas bill is too high due to the cost of keeping water hot, why not install a solar water heater and have free hot water. In many locations solar water heating systems can provide seventy percent or more of the water needed for the home.
As you research solar water heating systems, you will find that there are two types in general. The one you choose often depends on your location geographically. For warm locations, the passive solar tank is an inexpensive solution that may provide all the hot water your home will need. This tank is a black plastic tank that is installed on the rooftop which allows water to be heated by the sun. In other areas, an active system may be deemed to be the most effective. This system will use solar collection panels that are placed on the roof for heating the water.
With either type of system, much of the system will be painted black as this allows the least reflection of the sun and causes the most heat to be absorbed by the system. The tank of the passive system is attached to the cold water supply of the home. The amount of water is regulated using a float. The hot water system becomes a gravity flow system that provides adequate pressure for household use.
The passive solar tank may require that you strengthen the roof structurally to hold the weight of the tank and the water. The solar collectors are light enough that there should not have to be any structural changes.
The passive systems are not appropriate for colder climates.
One way to install an active system that is very simple, is as a pre-heater for water that is then fed into the normal water heater. In some climates, this can provide significant savings as water that comes into the tank is already warmed. The water is then brought to temperature using the normal source of heat for the water. In other systems, a pump is used to circulate the water from the storage tank through the solar system for heating. If the solar collectors are not able to keep the water warm enough, the secondary system will bring it to the right temperature.
With active systems, it is vital to face the collector panels so that they get the most heat gain. They work very well on flat roofs, but if you do not have a flat roof, then they should be on the south facing side of the home\’s 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 hurt 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; but 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 much too high due to the cost of keeping water hot, why not buy a solar water heater and have 100 percent free hot water. More information on solar water heaters now a click away.
categories: solar water heater,solar power,solar energy,solar,alternative energy,home heating,heating,greenhouse gases,climate change,climate,global warming,home improvement









