Choosing a New Design for Your Home and Garden

Solar water heating provides an easy, affordable and long lasting way to heat water in your home while also helping to protect the environment. Below is a brief guide to solar water heating systems.

The Components of a Solar Water Heating System

A solar hot water system is composed of different components, such as a water storage tank, a solar panel, an expansion tank and a booster. The solar panels are normally positioned in a location where they can receive the most sunlight, such as the roof of a property. Water is then pumped through the system and is heated before being stored in the storage tank. The booster operates using either gas or electricity and is designed to heat the water when the sun does not provide enough energy.

Active and Passive Solar Systems

When it comes to installing solar hot water equipment, you have the choice of using either an active or a passive system. An active system uses a pump to circulate water around the system. Passive systems use the force of gravity and heat pipes to allow water to naturally flow through the system. For this reason, if you are installing a passive system, it is vital that the tanks are properly located above the rest of the system to facilitate the flow of water.

Open and Closed Systems

The other decision you will have to make is whether to use a open or a closed system. An open loop system uses a solar panel which is separate from the storage tank and the water is heated directly from solar energy collected by the panel.

A closed loop system is more complex and instead sends an intermediary fluid through the solar collection unit to be heated. This heat is then transferred to the water via a water exchange system.

Open loop systems are simpler than closed loop systems and are ideal for domestic use in relatively mild climates. Closed loop systems offer greater efficiency and can cope with more extreme environments and changes in outside temperature.

If you are thinking about installing a solar hot water heater in your home, you should seek advice from a solar hot water professional who will be able to answer any questions and recommend the best set up which is the right size for your property, climate and hot water needs. They will also be able to carry out any inspections or maintenance required after installation.