Solar Water Heating

Converting your main water heating system to solar energy is not a very difficult task. Solar water heating systems are widely available, easy to install and operate. It will adapt to your water taps without difficulty.Solar water heaters can be more costly to purchase and set up than traditional water heaters. However, by using a solar system to heat your water you will definitely save on your utility bills over time. Savings of 50% to 80% are realistic.

Quite a few ways for heating water using solar energy exist. Making your own solar water heater is also possible. What ever the solution you choose, you should keep in mind that you also need an electric or gas backup water heater for days when there is no sunshine.

A solar collector and a storage tank are the heart of the system. Both are located outside in order to receive maximum sunlight during the day
The operating system is straightforward, cold water runs through a circuitry of pipes built in a solar collector. When water inside the pipes becomes hot it flows into a storage tank. At this stage, hot water is ready to be distributed to the pipe network inside the house.
The most common type of solar collector for heating water is the glazed flat-plate collector. It looks like a rectangular flat box covered with a glass top. Inside this box resides a flat black plate called absorber. The role of the flat absorber is to transform the light coming from the sun to heat. Once the flat absorber is hot, water flowing through the tubes becomes hot. The hot water obtained is stored into a well insulated storage tank that will keep it warm and ready to use.

There are two types of solar water heating systems: Active and passive. Active solar heating relies on electrical and mechanical devices like pumps, to push the water inside the tubes and to the storage tank. On passive solar systems, the installation angle of the flat plate collector and the storage tank is critical because only gravity makes the water circulates from a side to another. As a result, the water flow can be slow sometimes. Both systems are efficient and at the end of the day, it is a matter of personal choice.
Solar water heating is a simple and affordable solution. It can be set-up quickly and the technology is mature enough to make you decide to use it without any hesitation.. Heating water using solar energy is a clever choice for your pocket and for the environment.