Solar water heating system: Facts to consider

"There are few points you should take into account before decide to install a solar water heating system. (1) Your roof should get enough sunlight to work the Solar Water Heater system properly. (2) Consider how much hot water your family needs, and then choose the size of solar water heater system.."  ...from this post

Solar Panel

In planet-friendly point of view, it is best to make full use of solar power as much as possible. It is a renewable resource, free, endless and emits nothing when converted into energy. Water heating using sun ray is becoming very popular these days; it is a good thing for our Eco-system. Many of us have a good intention to install this system in home, office or factories, but you should well aware of some basic facts before installation. You could purchase it from any stores or from any online merchants with detail installation manual. It will be cost you less money, if you could do it yourself. All required

materials are available in any departmental store or hardware store. You can easily get "Do It Yourself (DIY) Solar water heater" blue print and guides, by simply internet searching. Okay, the main point is that, you need to know how it is work and what are the minimum necessity for installation?

What does a Solar Water Heater (SWH) means and how it works?

Domestic Solar Water Heater diagram

This device heats water using sun ray. The main components of a SWH are solar energy collector, a glass topped insulated box painted black, a water storage tank and heat exchanger. The solar collector (a glass topped insulated box with black colored and bunch of metal tube for water flow) convert the ray into heat, often placed to a roof, heats working fluid. The working fluids are pumped using electrical pumps or pushed by natural convection through the system. Cold water flows through tubes of the sunlight collector in order to produce hot water, and natural convection or pump send these hot water into a storage tank. Finally the hot water runs out from the tank into home through water pipe line.


Cost of a solar water heating system:
Including installation a SWH will cost you around $1,000 to $3,500 (cost may be vary according different location and size). Estimated annual maintenance cost will be between $100 and $150 (depends on the size and type of system). Remember this is only an estimation in order to get an overall idea, the price may be higher or lower depending on its categories, capacity and locality. You could get back your initially investment in few years by means of cutting down your electricity bill up to 50 to 80 percent. In most of the countries some governmental assistance are provided (in form of rebate on purchase) to the eligible households, in order to reduce their carbon emission and save money.


Important facts before installation
There are few points you should take into account before decide to install a solar heating system.

• Your roof should get enough sunlight to work the system properly.
• Consider how much hot water your family needs, and then choose the size of heater system accordingly.
• Available financial aid or rebate offer by government on SWH installation in your locality.
• Do thorough inquiry about the guarantee, warranty, price, discount, support and maintenance requirement.
• Know your local building rules and regulations for roof, before installation.
• Finally make a comparison between different companies price quotation and service they offer.

If everything is in order as per requirement, you can install a solar water heater and take the maximum benefits from it.