Solar water heaters have become quite common now thanks to environmentalists and high energy bills. A good number of people understand the basic concept of solar water heaters that they get their energy from sun and use it to heat water. However, only a few of them know how the whole system works and what different types are available. That's what we will be discussing in this brief overview of solar water heaters.
Active solar water heaters are available in two different types: direct circulation systems and indirect circulation systems. Circulation systems that are direct warm water within a tank and then pumps bring it into your home. But these systems aren't successful in areas where water gets frozen often. Indirect circulation systems were introduced to solve this problem; these include a heat exchanger filled with a non-freezing fluid. Energy from the sun is used to warm this liquid and that liquid in turn heats up the water for your house.
Passive water heaters are low-priced but are less efficient that active heaters. They too come in two types: the integral collector storage (ICS) system and the thermosyphon system. Like direct circulation active systems, ICS systems work well in warmer climates where water freezing is not an issue. Thermosyphon systems, on the other hand, are designed to work in all temperatures. When the temp. hits the freezing point, water is brought to a regular water heater. Thermosyphons are generally more reliable than ICS systems but also come with a higher price.
In addition to the heating systems, solar collectors are also available in various types, three of which are common: flat-plate, ICS and evacuated-tube solar collectors. 'Flat-plate collectors' are made of dark absorbing plates within a tiny insulated area that keeps the plates safe from all outside events. Sometimes, they come without these insulated containers when they are needed for outdoor usage like heating a swimming pool.
'ICS collectors' often have one or multiple tanks within an insulated material and have a heat absorbing outside, so that both this and the tank can be inside one box. Water gets warmed as it passes through these tanks and is brought to a regular water heater before being brought through the home. These are feasible only in places where outer pipelines don't get frozen during winters. While readymade ICS heater-collector systems are available in markets, several people build their own because they are rather simple to create.
Finally, the evacuated-tube solar collectors consist of translucent glass pipes that run parallel to each other. A meta-absorbing piping system connects to a fin in a manner such that heat absorbed from the sun is kept inside for a long duration.
Having read all the details about the various types of solar water heaters and collectors, now you can choose one that suits your needs perfectly.
How solar water heaters work?
Solar water heaters work pretty much the same way as any other solar powered device. Solar panels installed on your roof capture heat from the sun, than it is converted into electrical energy. The energy is stored in special batteries and the power is used as it is needed.
Quite often your hot water tank will be on the roof too, to minimize the energy loss. But solar power can be used for instant tankless water heaters as well, as for ones with a tank.
Pros and cons of a solar water heater
Advantages are obvious - solar energy doesn't cost you anything, so you will be pleased to discover how much your energy bills go down with the installation of a solar heater. Another thing some people might not think about straight away is environmental issues. Using energy from the sun is environmentally friendly, so not only solar heater will save you money, but you will help to save our planet.
The main drawback of a solar water heater is its initial cost. In the past few years the prices on solar heaters went down, but they are still pretty expensive. Another disadvantage is that if there is much snow in your aria, the panels will end up under a pile of snow and won't work. So you will have to remove the snow build up in order for the solar panels to work properly. To avoid this you can add solar-powered heating strips to melt the snow.
How to choose the right solar system for your home
Solar panels will be installed on the roof of your house. Usually on the side facing south. Luckily the panels come in a variety of colors to fit with the design of your home. You can also find many configurations to help stay within your budget.
One way to get a solar water heater, despite its high price is by starting small to reduce a portion of your water heating bills. Then you can add panels as you can afford to. How big a heater do you need? That depends on the size of your family and your hot water consumption. Generally speaking one gallon of water storage for every square foot of collector area works best. Another thing to keep in mind when installing a solar heater is that a path from the collectors to the hot water tank should be no more than 40 feet.
You won't need a new water tank, unless it is too small for your family. In this case an additional tank can be used. Usually for a 50-gallon water tank 40 square feet of solar panels will be sufficient.
Solar water heaters are becoming increasingly popular these days, because more and more people want to use the energy of the sun instead of electricity or gas. If you get a solar heater for your place, it will eventually save you a great deal.
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