Solar hot water systems?

Question

I'm think about installing a solar hot water system, but the area i'm in is frost prone, would it just be a waste of time to install it where i'm living? I gets quite cold so... yeah, I've heard about a heat pump water heater, but i don't know how it works... so should i get a solar hot water system or gas? [I have electric at the moment].

Answer 1

Solar water heating can be installed in most climates. If your place is frost prone, flat plate solar collectors are the perfect solution for you. You would circulate a water and antifreeze solution through the collectors, and the heat would be transferred to your storage tank through a heat exchanger. It can generate up to 75% of your hot water for free (100% in summer, 50% in winter). You could tie it into your existing water heater, and it will heat the water up the rest of the way in the winter. You can see an average sized system here http://www.altestore.com/store/Solar-Water-Heaters/Climate-freezes-Closed-Loop-Systems/Closed-Loop-Systems-for-1-4-People/Closed-Loop-PV-Powered-w-Tank/AET-PV-w-80-Gal-Tank-64-SqFt-Collectors/p172/.

Answer 2

Solar water heaters will work pretty much anywhere, you just need an area of unobstructed southern exposure.



They can be pretty simple in design. Some people make them by hand out of scrap material.



These usually circulate the water itself through a collector, and obviously with a setup like that there's going to be an issue with water freezing in the lines in winter at night.



The commercially available designs these days use arrays of glass vacuum tubes to collect the heat. A circulating system of non toxic antifreeze is used to transfer the heat from these tubes to an indoor hot water tank.



It's also possible to make a solar air heater, to augment the existing space heating system in your house. These are even simpler than solar water heaters, and can be easily made by hand.



Aside from solar systems, you can also augment, or replace, your hot water tank with a tankless water heater. These burn no fuel until a tap is turned on, heating water only on demand.

Answer 3

Have attached a link to a site that has includes plans for solar water heaters that can be used in cold winter climates like Montana.



Going solar is not a waste of time. And costs less than a whole solar panel system.

Hot water is 9% of the average electric bill.

Answer 4

we suggest you should install a solar hot water system in your home, although it is very cold in winter in your country. Himin Solar water heater is made of UTLE(Ultro-emission) solar vacuum tubes, it can be working from -40℃ to 40℃, the quality of solar water heater is excellent. himinsun.com himinkeitha at 126 dot com

Answer 5

I use solar to preheat my hot water. In October I drain it and shut it off until March or so. It saves a lot of energy and cost me about 300 bucks to do. I save that much in two years.

If you have natural gas available where you live I would get a gas heater.

As I said you can come up with something to use solar to preheat your water. Another thing I do is to use a temper tank before the hot water heater for use in the winter. My water is 52 degrees year round. By sitting in a tank before it gets to the heater it raises to about 60. That is not a lot of savings but I got my tank for free and with plumbing I have 30 bucks invested. It paid for itself in one winter.

Answer 6

you can install a solar water heater and use it only at summer time, this will help reduce cost at summer time. When in Winter, sunny days still you can use solar water heater, so you can connect solar water heater with electical heater, solar water heating as a pre-heating. www.himinsun.com

Answer 7

An evacuated tube system would still produce plenty of heat in freezing weather, might be too hot for a residential hot water supply.



Consider tankless systems as the backup heat supply.

Answer 8

A mix of glycerol and water used on an exterior system that transfers the heat to an interior shower water supply may work.

Answer 9

now many companies have produce air source heat pump. it use the hot water produced by solar water system and connected with heat pump to produce hot air. and it cost little.

Answer 10

You can install the evacuated glass tube solar system with very good insulation in winter. And the split pressure solar system has glycol as heat exchanger fluid which can resist the freezing weather outside. Please check the details on www.english.himin.com

Answer 11

Excellent idea and glad you are heating your water in the car with solar energy.. eliminates your engine from having to heat the coolant in the radiator, less energy, save the fuel, and feel a lot better about yourself in the process... GO AHEAD... mount the sticker where it will attract the most attention.

Answer 12

the ULTE solar vacuum tubes will get very higher efficiency in cold winter, the vacuum degree is the key to keep warm in winter, we used Himin Brand solar hot water heater, it is very good in winter.

Answer 13

Build Home Solar Power - http://SolarPower.siopu.com/?aDa

Answer 14

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Answer 15

use books on pumps....i hav handbook on pump.....giv me ur email so that i can mail u....