Why not use the power of the sun to provide you with a domestic hot water heating system? Building a diy solar water heating system is easy and cheap – some people manage to do it for less than 100 dollars. Commercial solar water heaters can cost over 1,000 dollars so building your own solar water heater will save you several hundred dollars, paying for itself in a month or two. Then your hot water will be free!
Solar water heating works anywhere in the world – even in the middle of winter! It might not heat all your hot water (it often does, however) but it will certainly make a huge difference in your heating costs. Savings of one third are quite usual. Solar water heaters are simple devices, very efficient and environmentally friendly. It is quite possible to make and fit one of these systems over a weekend, provided you get properly organized firstand assemble all the necessary parts.
Solar hot water systems comprise a simple glazed collector box fitted with a chain of water pipes, which connect to the domestic hot and cold water pipes at or near your hot water tank. Normally a drain valve is fitted should you need to empty the system for some reason, such as going away for a winter vacation. Plumbing is easy and no special skills or tools are needed. Position the collector box so that it faces the mid-day sun, mounting it on the roof if you wish, or attached to a wall, but ideally close to your hot water tank to minimize heat losses through the pipes. Your local hardware store will have all the materials you need, although you will probably find you already have some of them in your shed.
Making and fitting such a system will not interfere with or harm your existing hot water installation. In fact, by reducing the operating demands on your existing system, the solar hot water heater will help extend the service of your boiler or immersion heater and also save on utility and maintenance costs. A further advantage is that solar heat is a renewable resource, so there is an eco-bonus for installing a solar hot water system as well.
And it could have other uses. Solar hot water systems can be used for heating swimming pools by providing a gentle, all-year-round source of free heating. Do you have, or are you planning on fitting, underfloor central heating? This typically operates on a constant supply of warm (not hot) water with a low flow rate. Diy solar water heating is a great way of warming your house for free.
It is amazing how satisfying it is to build a simple system that provides constant hot water without hurting our planet.
However, even though a solar water heating system is simple, it is easy to make mistakes during installation if you are not experienced enough. It makes a lot of sense to get expert guidance and advice at the planning stage and before you start to build. This is a small but vital investment that costs very little but will ensure you do everything safely and properly. We have more information about this on our specialized website.
In conclusion, we know from experience that making and fitting a solar water heating system will give you immense satisfaction, a lot of fun and really significant savings, so why not give it a try?
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