Solar Water Heater

As home and commercial applications’ requirement for heated water rises, so does the technology advances in water heating systems. Water heaters have gone to highly efficient cost effective and environmentally safe updates – the recent of which is the solar water heater.

The solar water heater is the third most common type of water heaters today following the tank-type and tankless water heating systems. The main benefit of solar water heater is energy cost cut down. This new advancement in water heating is proven to decrease energy bill by 60 to 95 percent. Aside form this; solar water heater minimizes the emission of carbon dioxide as compared to other conventional water heating systems thus advocating the need to preserve nonrenewable fuel source.

In the cost of building heater solar water however comes the setback of this system. The price of installing a new solar waters heater can reach $1,500 to even $5,000. Experts and regular users say the solar powered device will never replace tank-type or tankless water heaters. This reduces the use of solar water heater to merely a support system to any existing water heater. In places where sunshine is scarce, this type of system works well with supplementary heater solar tank water. By preheating the storage tank of a conventional water heater, the user increases the usability of the solar water heater.

However, efforts have been made to at least counter weigh the high cost of solar powered water heater. The government offers incentive in a way of federal tax credit exemption. Private groups gather to promote the use of this renewable-resourced water heater.

To understand how it works the central operating core of the solar water heater is the sun. The use of solar energy to run water heaters began catching up in the early 70s. However Americans lost interest in investing heater hot powered solar water in the 80s because the U.S. Government had to lift exemption on federal tax credits on the use of the system. Confidence in the use of the solar powered water heater was regained when legislators passed the Energy Policy Act in 2005 which strengthened the system and somehow made its price more attractive.

The common components in all solar water heaters are the collection, transfer and storage components. Some products however have fused all three important components into one unit. This type of water heater uses pumps which are often called thermo siphoning models. This pump type solar powered water-heating method typically has insulation in a water tank that is based in a utility room or heat exchanger. Thermostats or special temperature controllers help regulate the time and frequency of water circulation. Some heaters have freeze protection controls that help maintain more heat in the water tank.

Another term for thermo siphoning is passive solar modelling. This model is often available with lesser cost. But steady and stable steel structure must be built in order support that weight of the tank which is located at the roof.

Different climates need a specific type of solar water heater. In colder places, where snow is frequent, a close-loop system will help circulate antifreeze agents through the pipes to ensure that the source or output water will not freeze. In other places, an open-loop system will most likely fit. This system will distribute water in the pipes evenly and effectively. Getting a solar water heater installed in your place may be a little complex. You will need the help of a certified solar contractor who is a member of the Solar Energy Industries. Make sure that the solar water heater system you purchased has a Solar Rating and Certification rating of OG300. This should help you get tax exemption more easily.

The solar water heater may be a little pricey but in the end you will reap the most benefits. Energy consumption will drop significantly. This new approach in water heating even reduces the green house gases in the atmosphere making it a good solution to global warming. In the future, solar water heaters will be readily available in all American homes.