Is solar water heating system worth installing?

[russ]

solar hot water

I like our solar hot water system - 3 Schuco panels with a Schuco controller - active system. All summer the water temperature is 90+ degrees C.

The last house had a Buderus panel (single panel) and a home made controller (by the contractor). There I liked the panel but hated the controller.

Even with the single panel I turned off the electric power on 1 April and would only turn it on in November - family of 2.

The panels are isolated from the water supply (heat exchanger in the hot water tank) so no problems with hard water.

I looked at using solar panels for hydronic heating but passed it up as not at all cost effective. At present I am using an air source heat pump for the hydronic hot water supply. Took too many panels to get 3.5 m3/hour of 55 degree C water.

[Davetech]

Very nice site, rumpole!

Lots of good photography to accompany an in-depth showcase of your installation. Kudos!

[Mike90250]

I've documented my system here: http://davetech23.tripod.com/preheater.html

I've designed the electronic control board for the heliostat to but have been slowed down by the need to etch the board ( it is too complicated to lay out the resist by hand) so I'm side tracked right now building a tabletop cnc milling machine to mill my circuit boards.

There is a simple, freeware PCB layout program, and getting PCB's made via mail order is fairly inexpensive. http://www.pcb123.com/

[solar_farm]

I am thinking of getting a solar water heating system. I have heard some negative comments on usability and on going maintenance. I would like to hear from anyone who has any personal experience with solar water heating. Thank you.

Lakersfan,
In 2004 I installed 6 solar panels that heat water in a water stove. This system heats my domestic water from April through October, sometimes to a temp of 190 deg in August and Sept. It also assists with the heat through the winter but not as much as in the summer. I have a drain down system and have done very little maintenance. A taco 009 pump circulates the water through the panels. I put an hour meter on the pump to calculate power usage, and over the course of a year, the pump used less than $16 (sixteen) of electricity. Hope this helps.

[iamshane]

Solar Hot Water Heating - The Way For The Future

I firmly believe that solar heating installation is beneficial and very advantageous. Yes, true, it may be a costly endeavor, but in the long run, it will pay off. Once you installed it, it will definitely help you decrease your energy bills. Another good thing about this solar hot water heating system, is that we now have our way to contribute to the environment in a positive way.

[Mike90250]

Why are you even asking this question? as shane said in above quote yeah, it may cost quite a pretty penny in installation. but imagine in the long run it would save you lots of money and also it promotes the advocacy for living green, well i was reading this article about buildsolar.net/solar-heating/new-solar-heating-systems-a-sure-shot-to-avoid-coming-energy-crisis Solar Heating Systems and ive learned a lot of benefits of using solar heating systems, and im planning on installing one my own.

OK, you've posted this link enough for one person.

[iamshane]

addition

Here are some of the many benefits why solar water heating system is worth installing..

1. Solar Water Heaters Work In Every Climate: Today's Solar hot water technologies can be operated efficiently and affordably in any climate. Systems are specifically designed for various climatic and geographical areas of the country.

2. Reduce Energy Costs: By installing a Solar water heating system, a typical household can meet 50 to 80 percent of their hot water needs. In southern climates, a SWH unit can meet nearly 100 percent of a household's hot water needs.

3. Proven Efficient Technology: Currently there are more than 300,000 Solar Water Heater units installed across the United States (excluding swimming pool applications) and because these systems have been proven efficient and reliable, the number of installations continues to grow by the thousands every year.

4. Improved Environment: Reduced demand for fossil fuels will improve the environment by reducing air and water pollution as well as the heat-trapping gases that cause global warming. And though they cost a little bit more up front to install, a carbon free Solar Water Heating system will save consumers money in the long run as the fuel source (the sun's energy) will always be free.

[CADucatiman]

If its built properly and in tune for your climate it will be great.

If freezing temperatures are an issue use a closed loop system filled with propylene glycol. A heat exchanging coil mounted in a water storage tank will allow for storage of hot water and for freeze proof exterior plumbing. It also allows for storing up some heat during the day to be used at night.

[russ]

The standard configuration for a solar thermal water heating system is with propylene glycol in the loop passing through the panels and with the heat exchanger in the hot water tank.

Another configuration that is attractive is a drain back system where if the ambient temperature is too low the contents of the system are dumped into a storage vessel until safe conditions are once again reached. It is all automatic and the homeowner never knows what is happening.

Propylene glycol is a nontoxic antifreeze - unlike the stuff in your car's radiator - that you do not want to drink. A leak in the heat exchanger will not cause health problems for one's family when propylene glycol is used. Might not taste too great but that is not a serious problem. A special tool called a refractometer is required to test a propylene glycol system for concentration. The little thingy you use to check your cars radiator is useless for propylene glycol.

Very few locations have water quality adequate to run tap water through the panels and then to the tap. Hardness in the water will cause problems over time. It can be done but may get expensive when you need to replace a panel/panels.

Russ

[So solar]

Absolutely. If designed right. The need for active controls can be eliminated. I prefer a passive indirect system. Glyclol thermosyphon. Look into a product called Solahart. 10 year warranty. And with a simple fluid change every 5-7 years. The system can last atleast 20 years.

[AdvapointSolar]

It could be worth installing or not worth installing for it simply depends on the place, the durability of the product itself something like how many years will it has to serve. But then if you think that as for yourself it would be very helpful then why not install it? For a thing like solar water heating system, great decision must be done.

[Naptown]

Check out my site solar-hot-water.org . We installed an evacuated tube SHW system at the beginning of '08, and we're totally happy.

Thank you for your kind words

[UKJeff]

My company in the UK supplies a switch and heater system that enables an electric water heater to operate from the National Grid only when the PV system is producing enough energy to do so e.g. the PV system produces 1.5kW's then a 1.5kW element is heated from the grid = free hot water when the sun shines !!

UKJeff

[Naptown]

Using PV to heat water is a waste of money and IMHO an immoral act to perpetrate on the general public.
PV is maybe 15% efficient where a DHW system can be upwards of 50%.

[cssolar]

Solar Water heating

I have solar water heating on my house and would never go back to conventional heating !!