| Installing a solar hot water system is one of the | | | | but is dictated by two factors. It needs to get as |
| easier projects to undertake if you are keen to | | | | much Sun as it can, so a south facing location in |
| create your own home made renewable energy | | | | the home is best. But it also needs to move |
| systems. The hardest part in fact is attaching it | | | | water to the boiler system in the home. So the |
| to the current plumbing system in your home. | | | | nearer it is to the boiler the better. If the boiler is |
| This article will give you an overview of the | | | | poorly positioned then you need to pump the |
| component parts of such a system and how they | | | | water to the boiler. If the boiler is well located you |
| work. | | | | could position the solar water collector above the |
| The key to the solar hot water system is the | | | | boiler and let gravity move the water from boiler |
| solar collector. In it's simplest form it is really just | | | | and back to collector based on the heat of the |
| a tank that has been modified to absorb thermal | | | | water. |
| energy from the Sun. So it may be painted black | | | | So there you have it. A solar hot water system |
| on the external surfaces and have insulation on | | | | can be a simple as a solar water collector that |
| the internal surfaces to prevent heat loss. Water | | | | has no moving parts or electricity to worry about |
| is placed in the tank and through the action of the | | | | and a connection to your boiler system. |
| Sun's thermal energy it is heated. | | | | Most people look into a solar hot water heater |
| A more elaborate design is a flat plate solar | | | | because they want to save money on their |
| collector. The flat plate design uses the same | | | | heating bills. With this in mind a solar hot water |
| principles but is designed to squeeze even more | | | | heater will help to reduce your bills by pre-heating |
| juice out of the Sun. The plate is painted black to | | | | water that goes into your traditional boiler. It is |
| again absorb solar radiation and heat. Along the | | | | unlikely that the system will be able to heat the |
| plate is tubing that will hold water. The tubing | | | | water to such an extent that the boiler is not |
| exposes far more water to the heat than the | | | | needed so although you will save some money on |
| ordinary old solar collector. This means more | | | | your bills it is unlikely that you will cut them out |
| water is heated or made hotter. | | | | altogether. But as they say, every little saving |
| Where you place your collector is vitally important | | | | helps when you are on a budget. |