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The Basics of a Solar Hot Water Heater

These days, many homeowners are looking for ways to save money while protecting the environment at the same time. One way they are doing that is by cutting down their energy use through the use of a solar hot water heater.

With a water heater powered by solar energy you can provide your home with hot water for tasks like showering and washing the dishes, among other things. The advantage to all of this, of course, is that the source of power, sunlight, is completely free, leaving you with lower energy bills.

While there are both the money-saving and environmental advantages that come with making solar powered water heating part of your home, there are a few things you should know before you actually decided whether or not such a system is right for you.

There are both active and passive solar water heating systems. These two categories have their own sub-categories of solar hot water heater that serve different purposes. Let's take a look at the two types of active systems first, which come in two types: direct circulation and indirect circulation.

While these two types of systems do the same thing, they perform their tasks in fundamentally different ways, and for good reason.

A direct circulation system works via pumps that distribute the water all throughout the home and into the appropriate rooms. An indirect circulation system, on the other hand, makes use of a heat transfer fluid as well as a heat exchanger that heats the water before it distributes it.

The reason that an indirect system involves extra components is because indirect systems are designed to operate in climates that regularly see freezing temperatures while direct systems are purposed for climates where the weather generally stays comfortable throughout the year.

A passive solar hot water heater is usually cheaper than an active system and it lasts longer, but it has the disadvantage of not being as efficient as its active counterpart. Like the active system, a passive system has two varieties as well.

Integral collector-storage passive systems work well in places where it doesn't get cold very often and are perfect for houses that have significant hot water needs during both the day and evening hours.

Thermosyphon systems are systems designed to allow water to flow as warm water rises and cold water sinks but this type of system is limited to homes with certain roof designs, so not everyone is able to have one of these installed but they are well liked for their reliability.

With all of that in mind, there are a few other things that you should keep in mind when making the decision about a solar powered water heating system for your home. Before you begin implementing a system, ask yourself these questions: 

  • How much sunlight does my area typically see throughout the year?
  • What size solar hot water heater system do I need?
  • How much do contracting companies charge for systems and the work to install them?
  • Are there any codes and regulations that I need to know about?

With these questions in mind and knowledge in hand about the various systems that are available to homeowners, you can make an educated decision about what type of system will best heat the water in your home.

If you are looking for a professional New York tankless water heater contractor then, please call us today at 845.569.1299 or 845.265.5033 or complete our online request form.

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