Solar Water Heater

A solar water heater is one of the best ways to get started using solar energy, because the cost for a solar hot water heating system is relatively affordable and the cost savings are abundant.

The cost for installing a solar water heating system can be as little as a few thousand dollars or even less because of the energy incentives available today. The system can be situated right next to your existing hot water heating system, without a lot of disruption to your home.

Scientists and governments are constantly warning us that western countries' use of energy is releasing toxic gases into the air and destroying the earth's atmosphere. Increasingly, people are searching for solutions to this problem, and also to the soaring energy costs that affect both domestic and commercial consumers. Solar water heaters are designed to be more economical than traditional ways of heating water, and because they don't use power sources, they are also ecologically friendly.

What is a Solar Water Heater

A solar energy water heater uses what are called solar collector panels. These panels are set into the roof of your house. If you have a typical one family home then you would have a couple of solar collector panels on the roof. The panels are like skylights and are ordinarily around four feet wide and from eight to ten feet long. You would also need to have a solar water tank installed for the panels to do their job. Your water supply is then connected to the solar water tank.

How a Solar Water Heater Works

A solar heater works via the solar panels and a solar water storage tank. There are two basic types of solar water heaters and they are known as active and passive solar water heating systems.

The active system uses circulating pumps and controls like a traditional water heating system, while a passive system does not have these things. Although passive systems are not as expensive as active systems, and are more reliable and often last longer, they are not as efficient.

One of the most important things you should have if you want your solar water heating system to function properly is a well insulated storage tank.

Solar water tanks also have an extra outlet source and inlet source. You can get two-tank solar water heating systems or one-tank solar systems. Before the water goes into the ordinary water it is first heated by the solar powered water heater in a two tank system. Both the back up heater and the solar water store are combined in a one tank system.

Whatever kind of solar water heating system you have installed, there are other things that you can do if you want to lower the cost of your water heating bills and run a ‘greener’ home – this is especially relevant to people with an active system that requires back-up. Some energy saving devices need to be put in place when your solar hot water heating system is installed.

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