Build a Solar Hot Water System
Do you believe that solar power is a wonderful way to get free hot water in your home? Building a diy solar water heating system is easy and cheap – some people manage to do it for less than 100 dollars. Buying a ready made solar hot water heater will cost upwards of 1,000 dollars so making and fitting your own solar hot water system will save you hundreds of dollars, paying for itself in just a few months. And think of the savings every month after that!
Solar water heating works anywhere in the world – even in the middle of winter! It might not provide all your hot water (although it often does), but it will certainly make a large dent in your utility bills. Expect to save at least one third. These systems are simple, effective and very eco-friendly. Typically, you can make and fit a complete solar hot water system in a weekend, provided you plan it properly beforehandand get all the parts assembled.
A typical solar water heater system simply includes a collector box with integral water pipes that are connected to the existing domestic hot and cold water pipes near your hot water cylinder. Normally a drain valve is fitted should you need to empty the system for some reason, such as leaving the house empty in winter. Doing this work is very easy, and you do not have to be any kind of expert. The solar collector box will be sited and angled to face the sun at mid-day, and this can be on a roof or against a suitable wall. All necessary materials will be available from your local hardware store, although most likely you will have some or all of these materials already.
Making and fitting such a system will not interfere with or harm your existing hot water installation. In fact, by lowering the use of the existing heaters, the solar water heater will help extend the life of your boiler or immersion heater as well as save on utility bills. Remember also that solar heating is free energy that reduces our use of non-renewable fuels and lowers the carbon footprint, so there is an environmental bonus for fitting a solar water heater as well.
It also has other uses. Solar hot water systems can help heat a swimming pool with constant, gentle heat all year. Are you thinking about underfloor heating, or do you already have such a central heating system? This typically operates on a constant supply of warm (as opposed to hot) water with a low flow rate. Diy solar water heating is a great way to warm your home for very little cost.
It is amazing how satisfying it is to build a simple system that provides constant hot water without hurting our planet.
These solar water heating systems are simple and fitting them is straightforward, but it is very easy to make mistakes that will be hard to rectify later. It is really sensible, therefore, to invest in expert professional guidance and help when planning and building your solar hot water system. 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 summary, we can assure you that making and installing your own solar water heater is a satisfying and fun project that will give you years of savings, so why not give it a go?
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Tags: build solar water heater, build your own solar water heater, diy solar water heating, homemade solar water heaters, solar hot water, solar hot water systems, solar water heating systems
