24/7 EmergencyIf you’re looking to get a little more environmentally friendly, making use of a solar water heating system can be a great way to make your household hot water use more sustainable. When it comes to choosing a system, it can be a little confusing. With so much information out there, it’s best to get advice from a plumber, such as JPG Plumbing. But in the meantime, we’ve put together a brief checklist to help you choose a solar water heating system.
There are two main types of solar water heating systems:
Active Solar Water Heating Systems
With two kinds of circulation systems, direct circulation active solar water heating systems work by pumping household water through the pumping household water into the home through the collectors. On the other hand, indirect circulation solar water heating systems pump a heat-transfer fluid through a collector and heat exchanger, which then flows into the home.
Passive Solar Water Heating Systems
Thermosyphon systems fall under passive solar water heating systems. In this system, warm water rises while cool water sinks, and this serves to move water through the collector into the home. Integral collector-storage passive systems require cold water to be pumped into the collector to work, and are made up of a solar collection tank, storage tank and pipes to run between the two.
Sizing
As a rule of thumb, a small (50-60 gallon) tank will work well for 1-3 people, whereas a medium tank (80 gallons) will work for 3-4 people. To choose the correct size, you need to determine the total collector area as well as the storage volume of household hot water you’ll need for summer.
By running a solar water heating system, you may drastically reduce not just your energy bills, but also your carbon footprint. Get in touch by calling JPG Plumbing on 0400 987 442 for more information about solar hot water systems today.
