What is a solar water heater?
A solar water heater uses the sun’s energy rather than electricity or gas to heat water, thus reducing your monthly utility bill. When installed properly, solar water heaters are more economical over the life of the system than heating water with electricity, dedicated heat pumps, heat recovery units or propane. In Florida, three types of solar systems are used: pumped, integral collector storage (ICS), and thermo-siphon. The direct circulation system (see Figure 1, page 2) circulates potable water from the water storage tank through one or more collectors and back into the tank. The solar collector is the main component of the solar system. It is usually a metal box with insulation and a black absorber plate that collects solar radiation and heats the water. The circulating pump is regulated by either an electronic controller, a common appliance timer, or a photovoltaic (PV) panel. In integral collector storage systems, the solar water storage system is built into the collector. The p
Heating water is the single largest user if energy in the household, responsible for 40% of the average household’s energy costs. A solar water heater is basically a water heater system which utilises natural energy from the sun (UV radiation) to heat up water, thus potentially saving up to 40% of your monthly electricity bill.
