Make a Solar Water Heater

Did you know that the sun can give you almost free hot water?  Building a diy solar water heating system is easy and cheap – some people manage to do it for less than 100 dollars.  Buying a ready made solar hot water heater will cost upwards of 1,000 dollars so making and fitting your own solar hot water system will save you hundreds of dollars, repaying its cost in one or two months.  And think of the savings every month after that!

Solar heating works anywhere and at any time of the year – even wintertime!  It is possible that solar heat might not provide all your hot water (it often does), but it will definitely save you a large chunk of your utility bill.  Expect to save at least one third.  Solar water heaters are simple devices, very efficient and environmentally friendly.  Typically, you can make and fit a complete solar hot water system in a weekend, provided you plan the job in advanceand assemble all the necessary parts.

A typical solar water heater system simply includes a collector box with integral water pipes that are connected to the existing domestic hot and cold water pipes near your hot water cylinder.  A drain valve is usually fitted in case you need to isolate the solar water heater for any reason, such as leaving the house empty in winter.  Doing this work is very easy, and you do not have to be any kind of expert.  Position the collector box so that it faces the mid-day sun, mounting it on the roof if you wish, or attached to a wall, but ideally close to your hot water tank to minimize heat losses through the pipes.  Your local hardware store will have all the materials you need, although most likely you will have some or all of these materials already.

Making and fitting such a system will not interfere with or harm your existing hot water installation.  In fact, by reducing the operating demands on your existing system, the solar hot water heater will help prolong the service of your boiler or immersion heater as well as save on utility bills.  A further advantage is that solar heat is a renewable resource, so there is an green bonus for fitting a solar water heater as well.

You can use it for other things as well.  Solar hot water systems can help heat a swimming pool with constant, gentle heat all year.  Are you thinking about underfloor heating, or do you already have such a central heating system?  This typically operates on a constant supply of warm (not hot) water with a low flow rate. Diy solar water heating is a great way to warm your home for free.

There is something very satisfying about making a simple device that saves you money, gives you free hot water on demand and helps save the planet at the same time.

These solar water heating systems are simple and fitting them is straightforward, but it is very easy to make mistakes that will be hard to rectify later.  It makes a lot of sense to get expert guidance and advice at the planning stage and before you start to build.  The cost will be very small, and you will get full assurance that you are doing the job properly and safely. We have  more information about this on our specialized website.

In conclusion, we know from experience that making and fitting a solar water heating system will give you immense satisfaction, a lot of fun and really significant savings, so why not give it a try?

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