Solar water heaters – also called solar domestic hot water systems – can be a cost-effective way to generate hot water for your home. They can be used in any climate, and the fuel they use – sunshine – is free. How They Work Solar water heating systems include storage tanks and solar collectors. There [...]
Posts Tagged ‘solar water heater’
Sizing a Solar Water Heating System
Sizing your solar water heating system basically involves determining the total collector area and the storage volume you’ll need to meet 90%–100% of your household’s hot water needs during the summer. Solar system contractors use worksheets and computer programs to help determine system requirements and collector sizing. Collector Area Contractors usually follow a guideline of [...]
Evaluating Your Site’s Solar Resource for Solar Water Heating
Before you buy and install a solar water heating system, you need to first consider your site’s solar resource. The efficiency and design of a solar water heating system depends on how much of the sun’s energy reaches your building site. Solar water heating systems use both direct and diffuse solar radiation. Even if you [...]