Solar power has many uses and even though most people think of it as a great way to generate electricity, it can also be used to heat the water in your home. A solar water heater makes use of the thermal component found in sunlight and can typically heat all the water your home needs with nothing more than simple sunlight for fuel. A solar water heater is easy to install and a very inexpensive way to lower your monthly energy bills.

Solar hot water systems only contain a few components and can be installed on your home in an afternoon. The main part in the system is the solar collector and this is typically mounted on a southern facing roof. The solar collector looks very similar to a solar panel used in a typical solar power system, but is fundamentally different in every other way. Inside the solar collector is a webbing of thin pipes that are mounted inside its weatherproof enclosure. These thin pipes are all connected to an entry and exit plumbing fixture and will channel any water passing through the collector into this webbing. During the day these thin pipes become very hot when exposed to sunlight and can quickly heat up any water that is passing through them. By connecting this solar collector to your home’s hot water system, you can use this thermal collector to heat the water you use for bathing and cooking. The best part is this system can be very passive and will use the water pressure in your home to circulate the water through the collector naturally.

A slightly more sophisticated solar water heater system is used in colder climates or on larger homes that require more substantial amounts of hot water. These types of solar hot water systems use a small circulating pump to force a specialized liquid through the solar collector and back down into a thermal holding tank. This circulation system is a closed loop and the same liquid makes the round trip through the collector several times each day. The home’s hot water plumbing is also passed through this thermal storage tank and as it sits in the tank, it is warmed by the hot solar plumbing. The home’s water never touches the liquid passing through the solar water heater; it is simply heated through contact with the pipes.

The advantage of this type of system is that it can be used in colder climates where water would freeze if it were passed through the solar collector directly in the winter months. By using this specialized liquid you can enjoy all the benefits of a solar water heater without the risk of freezing. The other advantage is by using a thermal storage tank you will always have a good supply of hot water for use. This allows you to enjoy the benefits of a solar water heater through the evenings when the sun is no longer able to heat the water.

These types of systems have also been adapted for heating the water in pools. In this type of system the solar collector is connected to the circulatory system for the pool’s water and heats it with the sun. This provides a very cost effective way to keep your pool at a comfortable temperature for swimming without spending any money on fuel.

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