Climate Control: Solar Hot Water Heater
Installing a solar hot water heater may seem like a daunting task, however, after studying a schematic and accompanying photos, it will all make sense. There are ten elements that are necessary for effective installation. They include: a way to collect and transfer the free solar heat to a storage/back-up tank; a way to prevent the heat transfer from freezing; a back-up system for guaranteed hot water on sunless days; a method of tempering the extremely hot water a solar panel can produce; a design to prevent stagnation; sensors to trigger the pumps when heat is available; pressure relief safety valves to protect the system; gauges to monitor the systems performance; a way to control the expansion and contraction cause by the daily heating and cooling of the anti-freeze; a method of filling and draining the system.
Heres what a set-up may look like: the solar EPK is a factory pre-assembled and tested component; a Grunfos circulator pump is mounted into a set of flanges and the entire assembly is simply affixed to the wall. Two vertical copper pipes are the supply and return lines from the soon to be heated radiant slab. The tank is a propane fired water heater (size may vary); during periods of no sun, this water heater will guarantee plenty of heat for your domestic and space heating needs.
The Other Elements in Your Solar Hot Water Heater
Many different elements will come together to make your solar hot water heater experience a successful one. While you will have to put down some money initially, this system will easily pay for itself in a short period of time. So, when you finally reach that break even point in your payments, you can be confident that youll continue to have a great system for years.
A solar hot water heater will also go a long way in protecting the environment. It is much less fuel dependent than some other systems, relying mainly on the suns natural energy. Its a simple, efficient, clean, and safe way to keep you and your family warm and snug during winters in the north, and cold desert nights in the Southwest.
