Solar Water Heating For Single-Family Homes
By joinwithme on Jul 29, 2010 with Comments 0
Solar water heating systems for homes are used to produce hot water in your household for showers, washers, sinks, dishwashers.
Private solar systems supply around 40-70% of the hot water requirement. A solar hot water system that provides a minimum 50% of the hot water demandqualifies for federal tax credits.
You must put in a conventional water heater as a backup, even if you decide to have a solar water heating system installed in your home. The intent of the stand-in water heater is insure that you will have sufficient hot water after a series of cloudy days.
Number and size of solar collectors required to meet your hot water requirement will depend on the type of collectors you select to install. The two most common types are the flat plate collectors and the evacuated tube collectors. Flat plate collectors are just fine for warm and sunny regions, whereas the higher efficiency evacuated tube collectors which are superior for colder, rainy climates. You will pay more for the more efficient evacuated tube collectors.
The water heated in the collectors will be stored in a storage tank until it is used. A solar hot water storage tank is in additon to the standard water heater mentioned above. The solar collectors basically (pre)heat the incoming cold water, which is then stored in the solar storage tank. The regular water heater will not need to supply hot water on most cloudless days, if the solar heating system is designed well.
A sufficient solar heating system will have the capcity to preheat the incoming cold water to about 80-100degF on overcast summer days or cold, sunny winter days. The stand-in water heater will then have to heat the water up to the required 140degF.
A solar heating system can supply around 70% of your yearly hot water requirement, if it is well designed and correctly installed. Tax credits, and maybe local utility incentives, are here to help you decrease the first expenses of a solar heating system for your home.
Learn more about solar hot water heatings systems at www.greenandsustainablehomes.org
Filed Under: Solar Power
