Solar Hot Water System How It Works

A solar water heater is typically used in conjunction with a traditional heater since weather affects solar hot water production.

Solar hot water system how it works. Solar water heating systems work by capturing sunlight and using it to provide a significant proportion of your annual hot water demands. How solar hot water works on your home when the sun shines collectors on the roof convert the energy in solar radiation to heat the water. Flat plate collectors suitable where tank roof mounting is necessary. As the hot water comes in it pushes colder water to the bottom of the tank because hot water rises so cold water must drop where its only option is to go back into the solar panel to get hotter.

In the simplest panels sun heats water flowing in a circuit through the collector the panel on your roof. There are two types of collectors in solar hot water services. How solar hot water works aside from cost and greenhouse gas emissions savings the beauty of a solar hot water system is its relative simplicity and durability. But solar is on another level.

How it works solar water heaters solar water heaters come in a wide variety of designs all including a collector and storage tank and all using the sun s thermal energy to heat water. In both direct and indirect systems water in the solar storage tank flows through a roof mounted solar panel. Solar hot water systems either heat the water to be used direct or heat a working fluid and transfer the heat via a heat exchanger to the water indirect. The water leaving the collector is hotter than the water entering it and carries its heat toward your hot water tank.

Solar water heaters are typically described according to the type of collector and the circulation system. The water is pumped to the bottom of the storage tank. Our solar hot water heater systems are automatically controlled to maintain optimum temperatures. Hot water rises so the heated water moves to the top of the tank.

The solar panel absorbs the sun s heat and passes it on to the water as it circulates. An indirect system would use a working fluid consisting of water and anti freeze and possibly corrosion inhibitors. Both high efficiency and tankless water heaters can cut back on energy use.