10 Best How Solar Water Heaters Work

Swimming pools are popular among families with large backyards and children, who want to go swimming. Some solar heaters are intended for pool waters because they are engineered specifically for swimming pools. Both pool covering systems that can float atop of the water and separate solar heaters can be utilized for pool heating. A pool covering system, either a solid sheet or a floating disk, is served as a insulation that prevents in heat loss. Most of the time, the heat in the pool water is lost due to recurring evaporation, and making use of a cover that can be a barrier against evaporation is constructive to avert heat loss. A pool cover supplements solar collectors for a great heating experience.

Some solar heat collectors for nonpotable pool water are usually comprised of plastic. Pool water is considered to be mildly corrosive due to chlorine content, and is circulated through the panels by using a pool filter or a supplemental pump. Others employ an unglazed plastic collectors because they are more effective as a direct system. For cold climates, the evacuated tubes and flat plates in an indirect solar water heater do not pump pool water through them, instead, the tubes and flat plates are utilized together with a heat exchanger to transport the heat into the pool water. This is a better solution to prevent possible corrosion. A differential temperature controller is geared to transfer the water to the panels or heat exchanger by turning on the valve of the operating pump. Upon reaching the required temperature, the diverter valve is employed to return the pool water into the pool. Most heating systems are configured as drainback systems to drain the water into the pool upon switching off the water pump.

The collector panels are often mounted on the rooftop or on the ground with a mounting rack. Due to the natural low temperature difference between the air and the water, the solar panels are becoming collectors or unglazed flat plate collectors. Additional solar collectors to outdoor pool during cold climate can extend the usage of the pool.

The benefits of a solar water heating system are innumerable and noteworthy. Initially, there is going to be a major effect on the consumer’s electric bill, and usually, the cost made by the consumer’s electrical based water heaters is lessened by at least half. The use of a solar heater is tremendously convenient for areas in tropical climates since sunlight is ample mostly from morning even until later afternoon. If the consumer resides in the northern part of the U.S., where the sun does not shine too much, the consumer’s electric and gasoline costs may be lowered less than half, compared to living in sunny areas like in Arizona in which costs may be lowered up to 90 percent.

There is going to be a reduction in pollution if the consumer uses renewable source. If usual cost in the traditional energy source is reduced to 50 percent, then a 50 percent decrease in carbon dioxide emissions is going to be established. Furthermore, an installation of a solar water heater may actually reduce the consumer’s hot water carbon footprint by half. In this situation, non-renewable sources are going to be conserved and saved for later applications. It is important to save energy sources for future generations.

Having additional solar water heating device to the house increases its property value when the consumer decides to sell the house that is because houses with solar heaters are considered valuable and beneficial to the environment.

One of the drawbacks in considering a solar water heater is its price in the market. New and high-efficient gasoline or electric heater can cost the consumer around 500USD or less, however, most high-end water heaters with the most advanced technology and control can cost the consumer around 1,000USD up to 3,500USD. Sometimes, maintenance can even cost more. But, there are solar water heaters with minimum features that are economical and reasonable in price. There are also do-it-yourself versions of heaters that are available on the internet. Sometimes, a solar heater technician is needed to install the heater on the roof. Depending on the law and the company, federal state has incentives available for individuals or families, who want to install heaters in their households. This means that the end cost can be even lowered.

Remember that even if the solar water heater is pricey, the return-on-investment is greater, most especially in the long run. But the duration of recouping the upfront investments is depending on the location if the sunlight is abundant, the capacity of water that the household is going to spend, and the cost of electricity for the rest of the appliances. If the consumer resides in tropical places and use gallons of hot water, and the electric and gasoline expenses increase annually, then the consumer may be able to save a lot with solar heaters and may get double from the upfront investment in a few years.

In most areas with strict building regulations, especially those that are susceptible to earthquakes, roof-mounted equipment and devices are limited for installation. Strict weight policies are implemented to reduce further accidents and injuries in cases of earthquakes. Some solar water heaters may be too heavy to be installed on the roof. In order to have an effective solar collection set up, the orientation of the house or the mounting location should be made adjustable to for sun exposure. Solar heating devices are not suitable for city dwellings because of the tall buildings everywhere and thick smoke that surround the whole metropolitan city. If the consumer is in a very cold location, some heaters may not function very well due to the risk of freezing.

Commons components of a typical solar heating system are the temperature sensor on the solar collector and on the storage tank, solar collector, solar circulation pump, cold water inflow, hot water run-off, and charging circuits. Conventional heaters with charging circuits and backup devices guarantee that hot water is always available even if the solar heating system has little thermal power. Most of the time, a solar water heater lasts for around twenty years, given that care and maintenance are achieved.

Solar energy is freely available depending on the season, and the use of a solar water heater during summers is the best time to collector thermal energy for the water supply of the whole household. As for the fossil fuels, they emit too much carbon into the environment, and their prices are constantly going up each year. Most manufacturing companies have combined heating systems with solar panels, in order to come up with a greener solution and to make available to the public a new way in heating water without the use of a gasoline or electric sources.

The application of solar radiation as heat is known as solar thermal heating, and this should not be confused with photovoltaic, which is the production of electricity through the use of sunlight. Excellent opportunities of the operation of solar energy have been greatly manifested over the years of improvement and innovation. It supplies limitless amount of energy, plus it is always free of charge. There are no emissions of harmful carbon dioxide during the heating processes. Cost savings is evident in the bills, and the consumption of fossil fuels is reduced. Solar thermal systems are tailored to be integrated into existing systems, at least most of them. Manufacturers have considered adaptation of the solar heaters towards freezing climate, especially winter seasons in the northern part of the U.S.

The Energy Star label is the widely prevalent, trustworthy, government-backed symbol for energy efficiency. The label aims to endow relief to people that any devices or appliances abiding with the general standards can save them the money and investment, and can help in the protection of environment from further annihilation due to human activities. Devices and appliances with the Energy Star label are thoroughly tested to be energy-efficient. Consumers can be able to save more and more of their investments, time, and effort with qualified appliances, most especially television and washing machine.

An Energy Star eligible solar water heating systems are very beneficial in cost-cutting for the annual hot water costs in half. By utilizing the sunlight to heat or preheat the water, the electric bill is reduced to half, which means, roughly 140USD can be saved annually, or around 2,900USD over the lifetime of heating water. Solar heating can be combined with a backup gasoline-based storage water heater, instead of using the gasoline-based water heater on its own. If the electric tank water heater is also used as a backup with the solar water heater, around 280USD to 5,200USD can be saved annually and over the lifetime, respectively.

Solar water heaters are excellent appliances for large families, commercial buildings and food establishments with higher demands of hot water, everyone can save even more with such free thermal energy. Products that are well-certified with Energy Star can cut off carbon dioxide emissions in half, and can prevent 4,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from invading the atmosphere annually.

Consumers are now provided with a choice to choose the most qualified solar water heater in the market, as long as there is a seal of the Energy Star or a certification from well-established organization such as the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation.

The Energy Star label is instituted to diminish greenhouse gas emissions and other toxic pollutants in the air that are mostly caused by inefficient usage of energy and appliances. It is established to provide easiness for consumers in the identification of an energy-efficient product. It gives them the relief of saving on energy bills with more features, convenience, and comfort.

A freeze protection is able to measure the possible damage that the freezing temperature can do to the solar heater, and it can prevent further damage to the heating system due to the expansion of frosted heat carrier fluid. A drainback system drain the heat carrier fluid from the heating system when the pump suddenly stops. Most indirect solar heating systems utilize anti-freeze, such as propylene glycol, for the heat carrier fluid to not be ice-cold.

Some direct heating systems have collectors that can be manually drained when the climates fall negative. This situation is already common in locations where freezing temperature does not occur that often, but it is considered to be unreliable because of the possibility of forgetfulness in manual draining. Other direct heating systems utilize freeze-tolerant collectors composed of flexible polymers like a silicone rubber.

Another freeze protection is the freeze-tolerance in which low pressure polymer water channels encompassed of silicone rubber expands on freezing.

When the hot water supply is not being used in a day or two, the heat carrier fluid in the collectors and storage tank can attain very high temperature in most solar water heaters, except for the drainback type of solar heater. If the storage tank in a drainback system has reached the preferred temperature set in the controller, then the pumps are automatically shut off, ending the heating process and preventing the storage tank from possible overheating.

Some active heating systems intentionally cool down the water in the storage tank by circulating hot water in the collector when sunlight is a bit scarce, most especially at night. This approach actually causes heat loss because the heated water is being cooled down. The most effectual in thermal store plumbing is using the evacuated tube collectors for their immense insulation property.

Some high-pressured, sealed solar water heaters are dependent on the application of temperature and pressure relief valves, while low-pressure, open vented solar heaters have imbued simplicity in heat controllers.

Water heating is already considered to be a necessity for most people due to intolerance of cold water, especially when taking hot showers in cold areas. Solar water heating systems have been well- established even before the modern technology, and because we are in the generation when innovations and advancements are prevalent, solar water heaters have become available for us to use. Food establishments can cut down expenses in their daily operations just by investing in solar water heating devices. Obviously, food needs hot water, and using gasoline or electric sources can affect the expenses. Return-on-investment is manifested very quickly in the food industry and also in commercial buildings.

As for the household, most of us prefer hot showers to relax ourselves after long day of work or any workout. Swimming pools can be converted into instant spa because of the hot water provided. There are numerous advantages that the solar water heaters have endowed to us.

Not only does it benefit us, but also does the environment by keeping ourselves from using gasoline or electric sources that originate from non-renewable sources. Energy from the sun is boundlessly limitless unlike the fossil fuels. Solar heating helps in the reduction of the use in fossil fuels and in the reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It also allows us to be independent from purchasing expensive foreign fuel import. Most car manufacturing companies also delve in the greener side of driving by manufacturing hybrid cars that utilize solar energy. In tropical areas with high insolation benefit so much in solar heating systems, proving cost-effective.

When difficulty is experienced upon installation or maintenance, you can always contact the manufacturer for an assistance. It is better to report any problems than solving the problem clueless so that your solar water heater may not get malfunctioned in the long run. In some countries, the government give incentives for families or any establishments for having solar water heaters mainly because these devices are very crucial for conserving our environment and for lessening the usage of fossil fuels.