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Posts Tagged ‘solar hot water systems’

Why not use the power of the sun to provide you with a domestic hot water heating system?  Making a solar hot water heater is easy and very cheap – less than $100 is often quoted.  Commercial solar water heaters can cost over $1,000 so making a solar water heater yourself will save you hundreds of dollars, paying for itself in a month or two.  After that your hot water will cost you nothing!

The sun will heat your water anywhere in the world – even in the winter!  It might not provide all your hot water (although it often does), but it will certainly make a large dent in your utility bills.  Expect to save at least one third.  These systems are simple, effective and very eco-friendly.  Making a solar water heater is easily a weekend project, provided you plan it properly beforehandand get all the parts assembled.

The system consists of a simple glazed solar collector box containing water tubes that, in turn, are connected to the hot and cold water pipes of your existing hot water tank.  Normally a drain valve is fitted should you need to empty the system for some reason, such as going away for a winter vacation.  Doing this work is very easy, and you do not have to be any kind of expert.  Position the collector box so that it faces the mid-day sun, mounting it on the roof if you wish, or attached to a wall, but ideally close to your hot water tank to minimize heat losses through the pipes.  You will be able to get all the materials needed at your local hardware store, although most likely you will have some or all of these materials already.

Making and fitting such a system will not interfere with or harm your existing hot water installation.  In fact, by lowering the use of the existing heaters, the solar hot water heater will help extend the service of your boiler or immersion heater and also save on utility and maintenance costs.  Remember also that solar heating is free energy that reduces our use of non-renewable fuels and lowers the carbon footprint, so there is an green bonus for installing a solar hot water system as well.

It also has other uses.  Solar hot water systems can help heat a swimming pool with constant, gentle heat all year.  Do you have, or are you planning on fitting, underfloor central heating?  This typically operates on a constant supply of warm (as opposed to hot) water with a low flow rate. Solar hot water is a great way to heat your home for very little cost.  You can find out more here.

There is something very satisfying about making a simple device that saves you money, gives you free hot water on demand and helps save the planet at the same time.

These solar water heating systems are simple and fitting them is straightforward, but it is very easy to make mistakes that will be hard to rectify later.  It is really sensible, therefore, to invest in expert professional guidance and help when planning and building your solar hot water system.  This is a small but vital investment that costs surprisingly little but will ensure you do everything safely and properly.  You will find out more about this on our specialized website.  In conclusion, we know from experience that making and fitting a solar water heating system will give you immense satisfaction, a lot of fun and really significant savings, so why not give it a try?

Tags: insulating, Heating, Insulation

Tags: Insulation, insulating, Heating