Solar Water Heaters

Solar hot water heaters use the sun to heat the water in your home.  If you say that again to yourself “use the sun” you start to realize that electricity and gas are not in this equation which means using the sun to heat your water does not include using your money!  There are options to use a solar heater in combination with an electric or gas water heater for those days when the sun isn’t strong enough to heat enough water for your families needs. If you live in a sunny climate or live in a not-so-sunny climate with low hot water demand then a solar hot water system is an excellent choice for you.  Keep in mind that even if your hot water needs are high (for example if you have a large family in a cooler climate) then a solar hot water heater can still work well for you and save you money and energy.  In this case, a solar water heater could be used in combination with a conventional tank (fuel powered) hot water heater.  

Types of Solar Hot Water Heaters:
Solar hot water heaters are also called domestic hot water systems.  There are a few options when it comes to solar hot water heaters and one of the most popular is a the two-tank system which  use solar energy to pre-heat the water that is incoming to the conventional hot water heater inside your home (In one-tank systems, the back-up heater is combined with the solar storage in one tank).The warmer the water from the solar heater, the less fuel will be needed to provide the household’s hot water needs.  This is a great way to save energy, even if living in a cooler climate.  Here is an example: In New England states, a properly sized solar hot water system can provide almost 100% of a household’s needs during the summer. In the winter, or during times of limited sun, the amount of hot water provided by the sun may be 30% or less.

Solar water heating systems consist of two parts:

Storage tank Solar collectors (the panel type unit that gets installed onto the roof). There are two types of solar collectors commonly used for residential homes: The Flat Plate Collector is made from insulated, weatherproofed boxes that contain a dark absorber plate under one or more glass or plastic covers. The plates are also glazed. The second type, Integral collector-storage systems (ICS) have one or more black  tubes in an insulated, glazed box. These are ideal for colder climates where there is a risk of pipes freezing. In the ICS, the water goes through a sort of warming process with the water first passing through the solar collector, which then preheats the water. The water continues to the conventional backup water heater, providing a reliable source of hot water.

There are two types of solar water heating systems:

Active- They have circulating pumps and controls Passive- They do not have the pumps or controls

Active systems have two types: The first is a direct circulation system.  In this system the pumps circulate water through the collectors and then into the house and work well in warmer, sunnier climates. The second type is called an indirect circulation system: In this system the pumps circulate a special non-freezing, heat-transfer fluid through the collectors and a heat exchanger. This heats the water that then flows into the home. These are better for colder, less sunny climates.

Passive systems are more popular than active systems because they are less expensive, but keep in mind that they are also less efficient than active systems. There are some other benefits to passive systems including that they perform better on average and tend to be more reliable.  They are known for lasting longer, with some even lasting 20-30 years. As with active systems, passive systems have two types: One is the  integral collector- storage passive system which work best in homes with a high hot water demand. The second is called a thermosyphon. The thermosyphon system is often more expensive, partially because they are more complex in that the water goes through a process to get warmed and because the tanks involved are large, heavy tanks.

Solar Water Heater Benefits

Energy Saving- the energy saving benefits to solar water heaters are clear.  Using a natural resource like the sun will help conserve energy and the earth by using less pollution causing fuel. Save money- While the initial cost or purchase and installation of a solar water heater can cost a few thousand dollars, the long term money saving benefits will outweigh the initial costs. Low maintenance Long Lasting Quick setup

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