Solar Water Heating - Renovate Your Home And Save Money

A good house will always have hot water, and now there’s a way to heat the water in your house without relying so much on expensive water heaters. Solar water heaters are a great way to save energy and cut back on your heating costs. Whereas conventional water heaters work by keeping a supply of water constantly heated, using a large amount of gas or electricity, solar heaters use energy from the sun. This is energy that is completely free, which would otherwise go toward generating unwanted heat inside the house. While a solar water heater is a bit of an up-front investment, it will save you money in the long run. When considering a new way to renovate your home, a solar water heater is a great option to keep in mind.

The first step when installing a solar water heater is to find a suitable portion of your roof, house or property for the heating unit. Heaters work by storing a certain amount of water within the heating unit is then heated by the sun, thus the best position is the one which will receive the most light from the sun. In the northern hemisphere, it’s usually a good idea to have a south-facing water heater as that will receive light in both the morning and afternoon. Also, you’re going to have to run a pipe to and from where your current water heater is, so it’s best not to put it too far away from that spot.

Now, continue your renovation project by picking out a water heater. Each model receives an efficiency rating that you can compare with other models, along with price and customer satisfaction that you can find out by doing an online search. After finding the right unit for you, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to install the unit. If you’re putting it on a roof, you’re going to have to be particularly careful, and you should probably consider looking for professional help.

After the unit is in place, you’re going to need to connect it to your water system. Most people doing this home improvement project choose to run their water through the solar heater before it goes into the conventional water heater, allowing them continued access to hot water at night while giving a huge efficiency boost to the heater during the daytime. In order to do this you’re going to have to find the intake for the hot water heater. Once you’ve found it, shut off the water and install a pipe or hose line which connects the water output to the solar heating unit. Depending on which solar heater you’re using, it may be a good idea to add a filter so that the water entering the heater is free of sediments. You’re also going to have to install a pipe or hose leaving the unit to lead into the intake of the water heater. Once you’ve installed these lines securely, the next step is to turn the water back on and enjoy your new heating system.

Solar water heaters are a great way to warm things up around the house. Go to HomeProImprovement to get the latest on how to get one today.