Buy Solar Water Heater [BEST]
Lower water bills, clean energy and heating water by the power of the sun are a few great reasons why more people are warming up to solar water heaters. In fact, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), a national solar trade association, predicts the use of solar energy will increase by 42% between 2022 and 2025. The good news about solar: After the upfront investment, solar water heaters can pay for themselves in as little as three to six years.
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Wondering if a solar water heater is the right choice for your home? Read on to discover the different types of solar water heaters and learn about their pros and cons. Advertisement THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND NOT EDITORIAL CONTENT. Please note that we do receive compensation for any products you buy or sign up to via this advertisement, and that compensation impacts the ranking and placement of any offers listed herein. We do not present information about every offer available. The information and savings numbers depicted above are for demonstration purposes only, and your results may vary. Power Your Home With Solar
An effective way to heat your water without the use of your energy grid, solar water heaters draw power from the sun. Unlike traditional water heaters, solar water heaters utilize solar collectors on your rooftop to transform sunlight into solar energy, which is then used to heat the water in your home.
Passive solar water heating systems store water for cold and cloudy days but can run out of heat after a long cold spell. Passive systems are more dependable, cost less and can last longer than active systems.
According to the Department of Energy, your hot water accounts for 14% to 18% of your utility bills. Homeowners spend hundreds of dollars on natural gas and electricity every year to heat the water in their homes. Although installing solar equipment comes at a high price, homeowners see savings of $781 on energy costs each year and a 100% return on their investment in just a few years. From then on, the sun produces free hot water.
Solar water heaters require little maintenance. Just call in a professional every few years to replace the antifreeze in your solar hot water system and you should be fine. The only time you might need to maintain your system is when your home has a high level of hard water mineral deposits which can clog the system. But that can easily be remedied by installing a water softener.
Generating electric and natural gas power increases the carbon footprint. Electricity depends on coal and natural gas contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Solar water heaters depend on 100% clean, renewable energy generated by the sun which converts that energy to heat water.
Having a renewable energy source in your home is an attractive quality many new homebuyers seek. Research has shown solar water heaters can boost home value between 3% and 4%. This means a home worth $400,000 could increase in value by up to $16,000.
Installing a solar hot water system comes with a high upfront cost, averaging around $9,000, according to Fixr.com. Even with tax credits and rebates, the cost may make it difficult to purchase a solar water heating system.
Various factors could negatively affect your solar water heaters. Still, you should be concerned about two performance issues: scaling (in liquid or hydronic-based systems) and corrosion (in hydronic and air systems).
Solar water heaters will save you a lot of money over time, with estimates ranging from a 50% to 90% decrease in your heating bill. However, solar water heaters are more expensive than traditional water heaters. Depending on how much hot water your family uses, it is essential to consider if the outright cost of a solar water heater is ultimately worth it in the long run.
When choosing the type of solar water heater you need, you must consider the climate you live in and how much sunlight your home receives. Hot water can be generated in sunny areas using a relatively small system. However, in colder regions, larger collectors are required. Also, since your pipe freezing is a considerable concern for homes in colder regions, active solar water heaters are designed not to freeze in cold climates.
To size a solar water heater, reserve 52 square feet on a south-facing roof or surface area for collectors that can supply 100% of hot water for three individuals. However, if you install appliances and water-efficient fixtures, you can minimize the size of collectors and the overall system required.
Most homes will need three standard-size solar panels for an output of 1,500-watts of energy per hour. However, to run a solar water heater you would use collectors instead of panels. Panels are used for photovoltaic (PV) solar energy systems that absorb energy from the sun into PV cells in panels that cause electricity to flow.
Passive solar water heaters rely on water pressure from a municipal water supply or a well pump to move heated water from the tank through your plumbing. They are easier to install and cost significantly less. Heated water rises into the storage tank through convection/buoyancy in thermosiphon systems or it flows to the storage tanks in integrated models.
Indirect systems circulate antifreeze, usually propylene glycol, that is heated in the solar collectors. The heated liquid is pumped through a coil of pipe in a hot water storage tank or through a heat exchanger that transfers heat to the potable water in the tank.
Best Use: Warm climates. The design of passive solar water heaters, with the storage tank outdoors, is best for regions of the US that do not experience freezing temperatures. A system this size serves most homes with 1-2 bathrooms, but again, a range of Duda system sizes are available.
Performance: Sunbank claims a 92% absorbency efficiency. Depending on sunlight and air temperature, this solar water heater can generate the equivalent of 12.6 kW hours per day, or 43,000 BTUs.
Performance: Heat absorption in the 90%-94% range with a solar energy factor, rated by the Solar Rating Certification Corporation (CRCC) of 1.3 to 1.5. This means that 1.3 to 1.5 times more energy is delivered by the system than is put into it.
The 80-gallon system gives you more value than the 47G unit. The 5-year warranty is better than average and covers all parts. Rheem makes electric and gas-fired tank-style water heaters that can be used with this system. Tankless units are an option too.
Performance: Expect efficiency ratings of about 93%. Apricus Wombat systems are used as stand-alone water heaters and, in cooler climates where incoming water temperature is lower, as pre-heaters to serve a traditional water heater.
Best Use: Warm and temperate climates. The design of passive solar water heaters, with the storage tank outdoors, is best for regions of the US that do not experience freezing temperatures. A system of this size serves most homes with 1-2 bathrooms, but again, a range of Duda system sizes are available.
Best Use: All but the northern US. This Rheem SolPak solar water heater is designed for all but the coldest climates. It has enough capacity in most climates for large homes and households. It can also be used in light commercial applications.
This is a weather-tough, closed loop system with collector, tank, pump, and installation materials. This is an indirect unit. The glycol solution heated outdoors travels through a pipe integrated in the indoor storage tank. Heat is transferred from the pipe into the water.
Top Features: Pressurized system that includes an evacuated tube solar collector, stainless steel-lined tank, controller (called a working station), submersible pump, mixing valve, food-grade propylene glycol and expansion tank.
Tip: If you are currently exploring solar hot water heaters to save money on your hot water bills, you may also be interested in solar panels for homes to help you save money on home electricity costs.
When comparing the top solar hot water systems available on the market today, always look for an SRCC rated/certified system to make sure you are eligible for the 26% Federal Solar Tax Credits that apply to the full amount of the job including equipment costs, building permits, and installation. Some local city and state governments also offer incentives for energy-efficient home upgrades like solar water heaters.
While solar water heaters are most commonly used as energy-saving devices to preheat water before entering a conventional water heater in the home, some warm and store water without the use of a conventional tank, offering totally sun-powered hot water.
Solar hot water heaters are split into two broad categories: passive and active. The primary difference between the two is that active systems require circulating pumps to move water, and passive systems rely on gravity to move water. Active systems also require electricity to operate and may use antifreeze as a heat exchanger fluid.
ICS systems are usually used to preheat water for conventional heaters. In such a system, when water is needed, it leaves the storage tank/collector and enters a conventional water heater in the home.
Thermosyphon systems rely on thermal circulation. Water circulates when warm water rises and cool water descends. They feature a tank like an ICS unit but have collectors attached sloping downward from the tank to allow thermal circulation.
The more hot water you use, the more likely a solar water heater will pay for itself over time. Solar hot water heaters are most cost-effective for households with many members or a large hot water demand.
Solar hot water heater components are readily available in many national chain stores, such as Home Depot. Units are also available for purchase directly from producers, with Duda Diesel and Sunbank Solar offering several great residential options. Local installers may also offer quality units.
Solar water heaters are less common than they used to be. This is largely due to the drastic decline in the cost of solar panels, causing many people who would otherwise install solar water heaters to forgo them and heat their water with electricity generated from their own solar panels. 041b061a72