How The Sun Can Keep You In Hot Water

Using a Solar Water Heater is a great way to turn your house green, and differ from other types of water heaters like tankless water heaters. There are two different types of heaters that can be used in a residence. The first type of systems called the passive (or compact) system. It consists of a tank to hold the water once it's heated and a solar collector. The passive system uses natural convection to transfer the energy from the collector and heat the water. The second type of system is called the active ( or pumped) systems. Active systems require a pump to circulate the water and a controller that turns the pump off and on based on the temperature of the water. Before you purchase anything, there are other choices like on demand water heaters or tankless water heaters worth considering.

When buying a Solar Water Heater there are several different features that you will want to look for. The first being the type of collector you want to use. There are three different types and each has a specific purpose. There is the flat plate collector which is good for heating things such as pools. There is the Integral collector-storage system (or ICS), however you have to be careful with this type because it can freeze in the winter. The Evacuated-tube collector features rows of glass tubes and is more frequently use in commercial settings.

The cost to install a Solar Water Heater can vary greatly depending on the type of system you decided on as well as certain features. If you get one that has a back up such as an electric heater for times when you don't have enough solar power it will cost more not only upfront but in the long run as well. One of the most cost efficient ways of installing a system is to either design it yourself or to buy pre-made DIY kits that are available on the internet as well as some home improvement stores.

As we all know 'Going Green' is a new phase that were are entering in technology however the Solar Water Heater has been around since the 1920's. Back then flat plate collectors were very popular in areas such as Florida and Southern California. Israel was the first to commercially manufacture them. Levi Yissar built the first prototype and founded the NerYah company in 1953. Since then they have become extremely popular across the world. It is said that over 30 million households in China have some form of solar systems. However basic models are up to 80% cheaper there than they are in the Western countries.

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