Wash For Less With Solar Water Heating

News bulletins increasingly carry items about the rising cost of domestic energy. Anything which can contribute to a reduction of fuel bills had got to be considered and installing a solar water heating system is probably one of the simplest ways to help this reduction.

Unlike other sources of energy (gas, oil, coal) heat from the sun is free, non-polluting and renewable. It is not expected that the sun will run out of energy for more years than we can comprehend, so a solar water heating system, fitted now, will provide energy for the foreseeable future.

Solar water heating begins with the sun’s heat being collected by a solar panel. A solar panel consists of a tubes filled with water fastened into a frame, painted black to encourage heat absorption and covered with glass. They are usually fitted onto the house roof and need a southerly or mostly-southerly facing side to have a maximum efficiency.

The solar panels work by letting the sun’s heat pass through the glass and heat up the tubes and the water inside them. The hotter water rises to the top of the panel and flows into a pipe attached to the top. Sometimes solar water heating systems have a small pump to speed this process.

The warmed water goes along the pipe and into a solar water heating storage tank. It travels through a coil of pipe in the tank, warming the water in the tank as it goes (like an immersion heater). Then it circulates back to the panel and the process continues.

The water storage tank is linked to the current hot water system either directly to the hot taps or, more usually through the boiler. So the solar water heating system produces warmed water, which can be warmed further by the current system if necessary.

It is estimated that using solar water heating alone, in the summer months, can provide water at a temperature of about 60º, which is quite adequate for most domestic use. Even in the colder months there will still be some benefit if the sun is shining.

People who compile statistics have worked out that an average domestic solar water heating system will contribute about a third of a UK household’s needs each year. This must represent a definite saving on conventional energy bills. In warmer climes – if one has a cottage in Spain, for instance – the saving will increase noticeably.

Although the basic functioning of a solar water heating system is really simple, linking into an existing system may require more expertise. It is possible to fit solar panels oneself and link them in to the storage tank and current system if one has plumbing expertise.

But generally speaking, it is as well to consult with the experts. There are a number of solar water heating companies who can give advice, assess one’s home and needs and carry out any agreed work.