Building a Solar Water Heater

venturist | Mar 31, 2010 |

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A lot of reasons exist why solar water heaters should be built. Most people will want to cut down on heating bills while others are thinking about the environment and want to save trees or fossils. The truth is quite simple: a good water heater is beneficial for any home. Many variations are possible and available for every person. We recommend that you choose a solar water heater that is passive and will not need an extra energy source to work.

The first step in building solar water heaters is analyzing your personal water needs. While statistics show that a person uses around 30 gallons daily you might need more. Costs can be reduced if you are thinking about looking for discarded electrical heater tanks that have good sizes to suit your needs. Think about where you will put the new heater. It should be placed outside the house with it facing south so that good sun ray exposure is possible.

The tank must be painted black so that more sun energy is to be absorbed. Also, you are going to need one plywood box for your water tank. In order to place the heater in a proper upright position there is a need for it to feature one incline. Fiberglass insulation can be used on the interior of the box so that energy loss is minimal. After this the water tank has to be installed.

Different pipes and plumbing fittings have to be linked to the bottom of your tank. They are going to carry the water from the home towards the installed solar heater. Then connect another pipe set from the water heater's top. Such pipes will be linked to a simple heater that you already have attached inside the home.

It is recommended to have one so that you would have a good backup unit to keep the water warm for a longer period of time. Exposed pipes have to have insulation so that they do not freeze during winter. You can use insulation foam although fiberglass is a lot more effective. Now you need to cover your box with clear plastic or window glass. When doing this anyone can easily keep the heat inside the box.