The DIY Solar Hot Water Heater - Our Favorite Project

If you are new to DIY solar power conversions the solar water heater is the very best place to start. I absolutely love this project for any home because it can have an immediate impact on any home’s monthly energy costs.

To start with, it is easy and limited in scope, allowing the beginner to maintain focus and learn important solar concepts along the way. This basic knowledge will be very valuable later on when you move to bigger, more complex solar projects.  It is also very cheap to complete.

Considering these factors it has a huge and immediate impact on your power bill. Most people don’t realize it, but a full one-third of their monthly home power expense goes toward heating water. This is second only to HVAC (air conditioning and heating).

You can usually build a solar hot water heater for under $100 - impressive when you consider that a professionally installed system will cost well over $1000. The local home center or hardware store usually has all the parts you need.

There are no special tools required. Most DIY'ers have a basic understanding of plumbing and wiring connections, which is all you really need to know to get started. In most cases, you can start the project on a Saturday morning and be taking a nice hot solar shower by Sunday evening.

There is no need to worry about the local climate as solar water heaters are in use all over the world. The design technology has been around a lot of years and is very reliable. However, like with any solar component, it is recommended to have a backup source for long periods of cloudy weather. This doesn’t come into play too frequently because unlike some other solar applications, water in the tank will stay hot for quite a while once it has been heated.

Still, your sunlight and consumption may be different than mine so it makes good sense to always have a backup when using solar power for anything. Fortunately, your backup is already in place. The home’s existing water heater is more than adequate as a backup. Because the unit is dormant most of the time it will last years longer than it would when being used every day. By the way, your solar water heater will also last years longer than a normal gas or electric water heater and require very little maintenance.

Beware of the mis-information on the internet about building solar water heaters. I’ve seen claims that boast about being able to build one for $5. These are usually junk, so don’t waste your time. The last thing you want is to run out of hot water on a chilly morning, so if you are going to do this fantastic project, you should do it right.

The honest truth is you can spend less than $100 and save 33% on your monthly energy bill simply by converting your home to solar hot water. Get more information on the solar hot water heater project here.