Home Solar Hot Water Systems

Even if it doesn't make economic sense to install a home solar hot water system in your area at the moment, it seems inevitable that it will make sense in the very near future. Given the upward spike in traditional energy resources, the cost of home water heating will only go up. And it will continue to do this until alternative energy is found. Solar power has been used for many years in some homes but it was always perceived as too expensive for the average home. This is changing as fossil fuels go up and more research goes into solar energy. This article will focus of the steps needed for residential properties to have home solar hot water systems.

Before you get a solar hot water system, you have to do two things. The first is to make your home more efficient in terms of how it uses hot water and how it stores hot water. By doing this you will reduce the amount of hot water needed in the home. This will mean that the solar system does not have to generate as much hot water which could make it cheaper or more viable as a sole source of hot water.

Some ideas to make your home more efficient are to install low-flow shower heads and flow restrictors on faucets. Set the hot water tank thermostat to 120° F. Many homes have the tank set to a higher temperature than this (140° F) but this isn't really needed to supply adequate hot water. Ensure that the blanket insulation around the hot water tank is in good order to prevent heat loss. Replace it if it is shoddy or old. You may even consider installing an energy efficient boiler or water tank if your current tank is old.

You will be surprised how much hot water you can save by doing some of these things. Next, you should work out how much hot water you use and get estimates on how much hot water the solar system will produce. This will help you work out the pay back time that it will take for you to get your money back on your solar hot water system investment.

You can get a good idea of how much hot water you are using by looking at your utility bill.

How much hot water the system will produce depends on a number of factors. You should be aware of the climate in your region. Warmer weather will be better if you are using a passive solar hot water system. However, regions that have plenty of clear days of sunshine without the heat may work as well, if not better, when an active solar hot water system is installed.

You also need to think about the location of the solar system. Ideally, it should be placed in a location that is not blocked by trees or other obstructions in a south facing aspect. In this way it will get maximum benefit when the Sun is at it's brightest – 10.00 through to 15.00 hours.

When you have analyzed some of these conditions, you should arrive at the type and size of system (based on your hot water needs) that you need. This will have a cost plus installation costs.

Depending on the life of the system (some can last upwards of 25 years with only 20% degradation) you should be able to work out how long it will take to pay back the initial costs. This will also determine how quickly you will be saving money using the system.

Other considerations are likely inflation on current energy resources. Hard to predict but almost certain to go up. Also you can check with local, state and federal governments about any loans, grants or rebates that are available. This may make installing home solar hot water systems even more cost effective.

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