Description Of Solar Water Heating

Few people realize this, but anywhere from 50 to 80 percent of a household’s energy bills – whether they’re gas or electric – come from how much energy it takes to heat up water in a water heater. Imagine cutting your bill anywhere from 50 to 80 percent just by using a free energy source to heat up your water! That’s what happens with solar water heating systems.

How Do Solar Water Heating Systems Work?

Basically, solar water heating systems include two components: storage tanks and storage collectors. There are also two types of solar water heating systems you can use: ones classified as “active” and ones classified as “passive.” Active solar water heating systems have actual pumps and controls that pump and direct water. Passive systems don’t have any of those same components.

Solar water heating storage tanks are special in that they have an additional outlet connected to them and an outlet leading out from them. In two-tank systems, the solar water heating system preheats water before it enters traditional water heaters. In one-tank systems, the solar water heating system heats the water up directly.

What Types Of Solar Collectors Are Used For Solar Water Heating?

There are three types of solar collectors used in residential homes that are using solar water heating systems. A flat-plate collector is a waterproof, insulated box that has a dark absorber plate underneath a glass cover. Plates used when solar water heating pools typically do not have a cover on them.

Integral collector-storage systems, sometimes called batch systems, feature one or more black tubes or tanks that are contained in a glazed, insulated box. Cold water passes though the solar collector in this solar water heating system and the collector preheats the water. The water then filters into the conventional water heater and then to the home’s pipes.

And finally, another type of collector is called an evacuated-tube solar collector. These collectors have parallel rows of glass tubes that are transparent. Each individual tube has a glass “outer” tube and then a metal tube which is attached to a fin. The fin’s special coating absorbs energy and keeps heat in. This type of solar water heating collector is typically used for more commercial aspects.

There are also two main types of solar water heating or solar pool heating systems: direct circulation systems and indirect circulation systems. Direct circulation systems circulate water for the actual household through the collectors and then into the home. This type of system is used in climates where the temperature never falls below freezing. Indirect circulation systems actually circulate a non-freezing fluid through the collectors and then through a heat exchanger. This heats up the water and then filters it to the home.

Considering all the perks that go along with a solar water heating system it’s really no wonder people are converting.