Water heaters work, until they don’t. The most noticeable sign of a failing system is its inability to produce hot water on demand. And what is produced tends to be tepid or short-lived. Whether the system is clogged, not heating well or plain losing heat before the water arrives in the line to the shower or sink, a failing water heater tends to be an uncomfortable path towards replacement. Fortunately, there are a lot of options today, and one of them can actually take advantage of heat provided for free from the sun. A solar water heating system literally translates hot water from solar power.
How a Solar Water Heater Works
The immediate assumption is that water is baked under sun exposure and turned hot and then delivered on demand. While this might technically work on a very hot day, it’s not practical. Instead, the power to heat up water in a water heating system is generated by solar power which is then translated into a heating system that warms the water fed into it. The hot water then exits and goes to the tub, shower or faucet needing it.
This can come in the form of a tankless water heating systems, traditional tank firing systems and similar. With a choice and fit that works for any home or budget, a solar water heating system is quite possible. It makes a lot of sense in areas that normally receive a lot of sun throughout the year.
Professional Installation
With a professional plumbing service, a solar water heater installation can be easily be started and set up with optimum performance in a home. And, they work reliably year-round, as long as the location is in an area that receives a regular amount of solar exposure for power generation. Lots of different water heater models are available. Consumers are not pegged to just one option or water tank size. This is particularly good for households with larger families or smaller than average. And the designs are built with longevity in mind, easily lasting well over a decade or longer.
Again, water heaters come in a lot of different choices including:
- Conventional tank systems
- Tankless systems
- On-demand water heaters
- Heat pump design heaters
Each category has its own pluses and minuses. This provides diversity and matches different homes better than others. With a professional evaluation, a plumbing expert can evaluate a home. Then, recommend the best system fit for the given needs, location and options, especially for a solar water heater consideration.
Noticeable Impact of Utility Charges
Given the fact that a solar water heater utilizes the sun for energy to heat the water involved, homeowners are definitely going to see a difference in their gas and electricity bills associated with what they originally paid for the same. The offset of solar power, being free from the sun and through solar panels translated into storage batteries, can easily save hundreds of dollars a year, especially when matched to a heat pump. That becomes thousands of dollars saved over the life of the system versus what is spent on a traditional water heater.
Modernize Your Convenience
Not having hot water is just miserable. While a home can still function, cold showers and washing are a lot to ask when replacing or upgrading a water heater is very doable today for all types of budgets. Don’t make yourself suffer when you don’t have to. Hot water keeps people healthy, keeps laundry fresh and clean, and it makes cooking and cleaning a lot easier. And with solar power, you can have all the above for a lot less in utility cost than in the past. It’s a win-win solution!
