If you are taking steps to renovate your home, or you are looking to construct an entirely new house, you may want to look into some interesting ways to bring your long-term costs down. Owning and living in a house means spending a fair amount of money on expenses each month. But there are ways to bring down some of these expenses. For instance, the cost of hot water is something we do not think about that often, but it is still an expense that adds up fairly quickly. Heating water with a solar power system emerges as the best choice to supply your property with hot water.
Types of Solar Hot Water Heating Systems
There are two types of solar water heating systems, active solar water heating systems and passive solar water heating systems. They both work on the same principles.
The only difference is that active systems have a pump or other mechanical means of moving the water through the solar heating systems, and passive systems rely on nature’s principles: warm water rises to the top, and cold water sinks to the bottom. Therefore, with a passive solar water heating system, the water storage tank must always be positioned above the solar water heater collector.
Active Solar Hot Water Heating
There are two main designs of active water heating systems. Which one is best for you depends on the climate you live in.
There is what’s called an “indirect circulation system” which uses a non-freezing heat-transfer fluid to transfer heat from the collector to a heat exchanger (a device used to transfer heat from the heat-transfer fluid to the water in your storage tank). This is good for colder climates.
There is also the direct circulation system, in which case water is simply passed through a solar heat collector and is then routed to the water storage tank for use. This system works fine in milder climates.
Passive Solar Hot Water Heating
Passive solar water heating systems are usually cheaper than “active solar water heating systems,” as they do not need controls or pumps to circulate the water.
But generally, they are not as effective as the active systems. If you live in a warm climate, a passive water heating system may be all you need. Passive water heating systems are also known for being very reliable.
Important Facts about Solar Hot Water Heating Systems
– Solar water heating can be used in any climate. Sound unbelievable? 🙂
– The fuel used to run a solar water heater is sunshine. And, at the time of this writing, sunshine is free – no tax has been added yet.
– A solar water heater can reduce your water heating bill by fifty to eighty percent. But with energy prices going up, the amount of savings (as compared to normal prices) will soon be even higher.
– Aside from reducing your energy bill right now, a solar water heating system will protect you from future energy price increases. Your heating will no longer rely on fossil fuels for electricity.
– When building a new home, or when refinancing, the economic aspect of this becomes even more interesting.
– Heating your water with solar power will significantly reduce your carbon footprint. It will reduce the use of fossil fuels which pollute the environment.
– Solar heaters can be installed in combination with backup systems. You could install a solar water heater next to your existing system and make it possible to switch to conventional water heating whenever necessary. This way you are guaranteed to always have hot water.
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