Solar Water Heater Installation
For most Californians, the freezing temperatures of the winter months make winter the toughest season of the year. Everyone needs hot water, and if you have a large family, the water heating bills can rack up quite high. The good news is that with a solar water heater installed in your home, you can easily use as much hot water as you need without having to worry about a high utility bill at the end of the month.
Solar Water Heaters: A Basic Rundown
Unlike traditional water heaters which use electricity to operate, a solar water heating system uses the solar power collected by the solar panels on your roof to provide your home with hot water. Unlike a conventional water heater which uses electricity from the main grid, they're usually paired with a home solar system. A solar water heater has multiple moving parts, comprising a heat exchanger, storage tanks, and other components.
Solar Water Heaters and How They Work
There are two common types of solar water heaters:
Active Solar Water Heaters
If you live in a cold climate, active solar water heaters are the right choice for you. These water heaters use a pump to supply your home with hot water heated by the energy collected from the solar panel systems. Active systems can also be divided into two categories:
Active Direct Systems
Active Indirect Systems
Solar collectors play a crucial role in the performance of active solar water heating systems.
Passive Solar Water Heaters
Passive solar water heaters use passive systems to circulate cold and hot water in the storage tank, which is then distributed throughout your household. Since the process is passive, these water solar hot water heaters use large storage tanks to operate. Passive solar water heaters use two types of storage systems:
Integral Collector Storage Systems
Passive Thermosyphon Systems
Passive systems rely on the circulating pumps to do most of the heavy lifting for them
Benefits of Owning a Solar Hot Water System
Owning a solar hot water system is not a luxury these days and can be quite beneficial for you. They tend to be very energy efficient and can withstand cold climates quite easily. Heating water with renewable energy is also a good choice to decrease energy costs. Solar water heaters are also easy to integrate with your home or business plumbing system, which makes them excellent alternatives to traditional water heaters.
If you want to do your part for the environment, solar water heating systems are the way to go because they significantly cut down greenhouse gas emissions during winter months. You can enjoy your warm water with clean energy.
How to Choose the Right Solar Water Heater System for Your Home or Business
When choosing the right solar water heater system for your residential or commercial property, there are many factors you need to consider. Some of the most common ones include:
The size and structure of your roof
How many solar panels are mounted
The solar water heater cost
The size of the solar collectors
Energy efficiency
Installation and Maintenance of Solar Water Heating Systems
The installation and maintenance costs of solar hot water heaters are comparable to electric water heaters, maybe even less because they're highly durable. If you have a full home solar system, then all your solar installer has to do is install and integrate it with the current system. If you don't have a home solar system, then a couple of solar panels will have to be installed on the roof for the system to work.
How much hot water you need to be calculated by your average domestic hot water usage before the installation to estimate the size and number of solar collectors you need. Maintainance is easy and simple, all you have to do is monitor the water heater stats on your monitoring app and report to your solar provider if any of the readings look like a warning sign
Working With the Best Solar Installers in Southern California
If you want to install a solar hot water heater along with the right solar energy system, Local Solar is here to help you out with over a decade's worth of experience under our belt. We specialize in installing all types of solar heating systems. With the right solar heating system you can easily bring down water heating costs with solar electricity.
Ready to start a project or interested in learning more? Call us at 949-662-3167 or fill out our contact form.
