Some Basic Information About A Good Solar Hot Water System

By Author: Carolyn Clayton
Total Articles: 497
Comment this article

It may come as a complete surprise to learn that investing in a solar hot water system can prove to be better than investing in the stock market. After all, it means getting to invest in something that does not carry any risks and which also provides a fifteen percent initial return on capital and that too without having to pay any taxes on these returns. Many states in the US even offer tax credits to those who invest in solar hot water systems.

It is equally interesting to note that hot water is something that is required in great quantities all through America. However, costs of the estimated one hundred and fifty million BTUs that are consumed in generating heat to produce eighty gallons of hot water for a typical American family are about three thousand six hundred dollars for the life of the hot water tank.

Given that there are no or very low costs involved in generating solar hot water, it makes sense to take a closer look at what it is and how you can make use of it. In America, typically a family would need about fifteen to thirty gallons of hot water per person per day for their normal home usage. Included ...
... in this figure is using water to bathe, wash clothes and do the dishwashing.

Depending on your needs, you will need to choose suitable solar hot water systems, and this in turn will depend on the kind of environment you have to deal with in your city or town. If there is little risk of experiencing freezing conditions, then you will not need more than an inexpensive heating system.

However, a majority of solar based hot water systems do require certain degree of protection against freezing and so you need to look for features such as drainback and also closed loop systems that have antifreeze as well as heat exchangers. These features are even more necessary if you live where the temperature does freeze up in the winter months.

The more number of features that your solar based hot water system has, the higher will be the costs and this may even result in lower efficiency. On the other hand, you do not want to risk having the system freeze up because that would lead to a disastrous situation. So, paying a little extra for protection against freezing conditions, will in the end, prove to be good for you.

You may also want to pick your solar hot water system that incorporates direct pump recirculation in which hot water is circulated through a collector. In any case, you should look for a system that incorporates the KISS factor (keep it simple, stupid). In that case, it makes sense to go with systems using batch water heaters which are very simple systems that were once called breadbox water heaters.

Since then, these systems have been improved upon and are now a much improved lot. Ultimately, when it comes to choosing an appropriate Solar Hot Water system, you have to look at whether or not the system should have freeze protection. For those who live where temperatures rarely, if ever, freeze, and then using batch heater systems is recommended. On the other hand, if you require freeze protection then you will need to look at closed loop systems that have antifreeze and also heat exchangers.
Northern Gas Heating - the UK's local supplier of new Central Heating Systems offer Solar Hot Water Systems and Boiler Installation.