Solar Water Heater:

Solar water heater is extremely simple.

On a typical single-family residence, there will generally be one or two solar collector panels on the roof.

The panels resemble skylights, and will be about 4 feet wide and 8 to 10 feet long.

The cold water supply is connected to the solar storage tank. Water to be heated circulates between the storage tank and the solar collectors.

The output from the solar storage tank becomes the cold water connection to the conventional gas, electric or oil water heater. When a hot tap is opened, pre-heated water is drawn from storage into the conventional ("auxiliary") water heater.

The burner or electric element turns on only if the temperature cannot be maintained by the solar heater. Most properly-designed solar water heaters will supply 70 per cent or more of all the energy needed for water heating.

The  diagram shows a typical Solar Water Heater used to supplement a conventional domestic hot water system.

A conventional central heating pump forces water through a coiled pipe in the solar panel where it is heated by the sun. The heated water then flows down and through a second (lower) coil in your hot water cylinder, referred to in the diagram as a solar cylinder. The hot water passing through this coil heats the water in the cylinder.

The slightly cooled water is then returned back to the solar panel via the pump. The controller box continuously compares the temperature in the panel against that in the hot water cylinder (see dotted lines). It switches the pump on when the water temperature in the panel is hotter than that in the cylinder and switches it off when the reverse conditions apply. As long as the water in the hot water cylinder is at the required temperature, your existing boiler will not switch on.

The water flowing around the solar system is used to heat the water in the tank indirectly. This means that no water in the Solar water Heating system will come into contact with water in your domestic hot water tank. The heat is transferred, not the water.

Solar collectors, or panels, are designed to absorb as much of the sun's heat as possible.

They contain water or antifreeze, which once hot usually travels to a coil in a hot water tank and transfers the heat to the water there - known as an 'indirect' system. In 'direct' systems, water from the panels goes straight into the cylinder - these are unsuitable for areas with very hard water.

In most cases solar water heating panels will not provide space heating because there isn't sufficient sun in the winter, when you need heating most (although on a bright, clear winter's day they can make a welcome contribution).

However, some solar water heating systems may be designed to heat the home in the winter and swimming pool in the summer.

Call: 1-705-533-1633