Solar Energy & Solar Panels

Heating water for your home can be very expensive. If you would like to spend less money on heating water, consider the addition of a solar water heater. These water heating systems can be installed in many different geographic areas. They are effective enough in some areas to make water heating free.

You will notice that solar heating systems come in two different general types. The one which works best for you will depend on your geographic location. In warm locations, a passive solar tank, a black plastic tank which is installed on the roof and allows water to be warmed in the sun may be all that is necessary. In other areas, an active system will work best. The active system has solar collection panels installed on the roof that either allow the water to pass through for heating or use a heat exchange solution for heating the water in the storage tank.

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.

Passive tanks are only appropriate in warmer 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 solar water heating works best if you have a flat roof. If your home does not have a flat roof, then you will want to place the collector panels on the south facing side of the home’s sloped roof.

Be sure that you follow all instructions for the system regarding freezing weather. If there is danger of a freeze, unprotected systems may suffer major damage or have to be replaced.

In very cold climates, you may find a heat exchange system is the best investment. This system is filled with antifreeze and has a heat exchanger in the storage tank. A pump moves the solution through the solar collectors and then the heat exchanger to warm the water. The solution continues to circulate to bring the water to temperature.

If your electric or gas bill is too high due to the cost of keeping water hot, why not invest in a solar water heater and have 100 percent free hot water. More information on solar water heaters now a click away.

Solar Energy & Solar Panels

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