Why You Should Build a Solar Hot Water System for Yourself

Solar power is a wonderful way to get free hot water in your home.  You can make a solar water heater easily and cheaply, perhaps for under $100 depending on the materials you have available.  Commercial solar water heaters can cost over $1,000 so making and fitting your own solar hot water system will save you hundreds of dollars, paying for itself in a month or two.  Then your hot water will be free!

Solar water heating works anywhere in the world – even in the middle of winter!  It might not provide all your hot water (although it often does), but it will certainly make a large dent in your utility bills.  At least one third is quite common.  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 get properly organized first and 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 going away for a winter vacation.

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.

Doing this work is very easy, and you do not have to be any kind of expert.  You will be able to get all the materials needed at your local hardware store, although you will probably find you already have some of them in your shed.

You will not damage your existing hot water system when making and fitting a solar water heater.  In fact, by reducing the operating demands on your existing system, the solar water heater will help prolong the service of your boiler or immersion heater and also save on utility and maintenance costs.  Also, this is free energy that helps reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and reduces our carbon emissions, so there is a 'green' bonus for installing a solar hot water system as well.

You can also use it for other things.  Solar hot water systems warm swimming pools by providing a gentle, all-year-round source of free heating.  Are you thinking about underfloor heating, or do you already have such a central heating system?  This typically uses a constant supply of warm (as opposed to hot) water with a low flow rate.  Solar hot water is a great way to heat your home for very little cost.  We have more information about this here to help you.

It is amazing how satisfying it is to build a simple system that provides constant hot water without hurting our planet.

However, even though these systems are simple, it is easy to make mistakes during installation if you are not experienced enough.  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.

If you want more ideas and recommendations, please visit 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?