About Solar Hot Water

Solar Thermal FAQ

To put it very simply, solar thermal is simply a way to capture the sun's energy as heat - usually by transfering it to water.

Of course, there are many variables.  Each site has its own unique requirementrs.  But in gerneral, residential and light commercial systems work like this:

First, heat energy from the sun is captured by solar thermal collectors.  Most commonly, these are flat plate collectors - solar panels made up of a heat-absorbing plate and fluid-filled tubes covered with a sheet of glass.  As in a greenhouse, the sun's heat is trapped inside the glass, where it hits the absorber plate and heats up the interior.  The fluid inside the tubes heats up as it flows through. 

The hot fluid then flows into a heat exchanger, where the heat is transferred into another medium - usually water.  For space heating purposes, the storage medium could be water or something else, like concrete or sand. 

In a solar water heating system, the water circulates between the heat exchanger and an insulated storage tank, making the tank temperature rise steadily all day.  The storage tank is fed by the cold water supply line, and in turn feeds the existing water heater.  If the water is hot enough, the backup water heater never turns on since the water feeding it is already hot enough for household use.  

On a sunny day, there is no need for additional fuel, even if the outside temperature is very cold.  On partly cloudy days, there is usually enough solar gain to preheat the water, so much less fuel needs to be burned to get it up to its final temperature. 

The cooled fluid is then pumped back up to the collectors and the cycle starts over again.  (You can even use a solar-powered pump!)

See Solar Thermal FAQ for more information!

Solar Hot Water History

Call 715-218-8654 today to schedule your free solar water heating consultation!

 Solar heat - our children will thank us for it! 

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