How Solar Thermal Hot Water Heating Works

The parts of a solar thermal hot water system.

How solar thermal hot water heating works.

Solar water heaters come in a wide variety of designs all including a collector and storage tank and all using the sun s thermal energy to heat water. Adding a solar water heater to a water heating system can reduce energy bills and corresponding co 2 emissions by 50 percent sometimes even more depending on. Or you can complete a brief form for a free no obligation solar hot water quote in the mean time read on to see how solar hot water works. In practice solar heating systems are a little bit more sophisticated than this.

Hot water throughout the year. The best solar water heater system are sophisticated engineered thermal systems which deliver heat energy for many different purposes the most common use is to deliver carbon free hot water for homes but they can also be used to provide solar swimming pool heating solar underfloor heating and for industrial process heat. Solar water heaters use the energy of the sun to give hot water. These are the main parts.

Photo by alan ford courtesy of us department of energy national renewable energy laboratory doe nrel. Similar to the heat pump s method of capturing naturally occurring energy solar water heating systems do this by circulating a heat transfer liquid between the solar collectors on your roof and the twin coil hot water cylinder inside your home. How it works solar water heaters. Before you purchase and install a solar water heating system you want to do the following.

They ll be glad to assist you. Solar water heating systems or solar thermal systems use free heat from the sun to warm domestic hot water. Don t forget to check out our great range of solar hot water systems and rebate information. The benefits of solar water heating.

It provides hot water for your bath as well as in the kitchen and washing machine. Solar water heating systems work by capturing sunlight and using it to provide a significant proportion of your annual hot water demands. A solar water heater is typically used in conjunction with a traditional heater since weather affects solar hot water production. The traditional heater supplements the solar heater.

On average it can heat water up to 212 f though you won t require more than 130 f. Solar water heaters are typically described according to the type of collector and the circulation system. A solar water heating system involves pipe work a thermostat and a hot water cylinder. Some also have a drainback system to drain water from inside the solar panel when the pump is switched off.

A typical solar hot water panel uses a flat plate collector like this. A conventional boiler or immersion heater can be used to make the water hotter or to provide hot water when solar energy is unavailable. One solar heater is sufficient for the entire house. You can add solar thermal panels to most existing hot water systems.