Solar energy is becoming more affordable and more people are starting to see the benefits of using the sustainable energy source rather than relying on their local utilities for energy. The great thing about solar energy is that it is available all year round and does not require any particular location to generate it. This opens up the opportunity for those living in cold climates to still have hot water without heating their homes with oil or gas. It also means there is less of a chance of the electricity grid going down which can also cause water supply problems. There are many water heaters on the market that work with solar energy, some even store it so you can use it at a later date if needed. This is an especially nice feature for those who travel a lot for work and would like to have some hot tea or coffee whenever they return home.
How Does It Work?
Solar energy has the benefit of being a clean and eco-friendly energy source that can be used to heat water. The water is heated as it passes through the collector where it is exposed to the sun’s rays. Many companies make collector-less water heaters which simply collect the heat from the sun and transfer it to the water without the need for a large pipe connected to a storage tank. This type of heater is often referred to as a “tank-less” water heater. The following are the general steps involved in heating water with solar energy:
Step one: Determine how much water you will need for your household. This includes both hot and cold water needs. It also depends on how much time it takes for the unit to heat the water fully. How quick does it take for the water to get to the desired temperature? Set a timer to go off after the desired time so you will know when to stop heating. There are many factors that can affect how long it takes for the solar heater to heat water including the temperature of the water prior to heating and the amount of sunlight or shade covering the collector. You can also store energy to speed up the process. Remember, solar energy is free so you are not risking anything by using this type of heater. Once you have determined the amount of water you need, set the timer accordingly. For example, if you need to heat 2 gallons of water per day and it takes 1 hour for the water to reach the desired temperature, set the timer for 30 minutes so you will not over heat the water. This also means the water will remain at a safe and comfortable drinking temperature for longer periods of time. You can use the same calculations to figure out how much oil or gas you need to heat the same amount of water. For instance, if you need 2 gallons of hot water per day and it takes 1 hour for it to get to the desired temperature, you would need to heat at least 4 gallons of oil or gas using a stove or an electric heater. This would multiply the cost by at least 4 if you were to buy gas rather than solar energy. If you are looking for a tank-less water heater that can heat water quickly using the sun’s rays, consider the SunSpring brand which is made in the USA and meets or exceeds the standards set by the U.S. military that approved it for use in field shelters and vehicles due to its durability and high efficiency. These are just some of the benefits of using a tank-less water heater.
Step two: Purchase or build the necessary structures to support the solar system. This includes everything from the sun tracker (the device that points the sun in the right direction so it can reach the collector) to the glazing which provides protection from the sun’s heat as well as rain and snow. The following are some basic guidelines:
Keep the Sun Always to Your Back
Keep the Sun Always to Your Back
The sun has the ability to greatly increase the temperature of exposed water and that is a wonderful thing to have during the warm summer months when we long for the evaporative cooler temperatures! Keeping the sun to your back will prevent most of the heat from being absorbed by the objects behind you which means the temperature of the water will stay more stable. You should build your structure in such a way that it can maximize your exposure to the sun. This may require you to drill holes in the roof or walls depending on which side of the home you choose to have the collector mounted on. Make sure you run the pipes and electrical lines for the unit above your head so you do not have to worry about them being damaged by heavy equipment or animals when digging or moving around the house. Some structures require a bit of a remodeling effort so plan accordingly.
The great thing about a solar water heater is that it allows you to utilize solar power even when the sun is not directly above the collector. This means you can continue to generate electricity for your home with very little impact on your daily life outside of taking the occasional stroll to the mailbox or picking up a few groceries. You can find many different and unique ways to use solar energy with your water heater!