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Installing A Solar Power Water Heater - Will You Save Money
By: Adrian Fletcher.
Solar power water heater systems are a way to save money on your utility bills (heating water is usually one of the most costly uses of electricity or gas) so should you install a system or not. This article will ask if it makes sense economically for the home owner to install a solar water heating system.
Solar power water heater systems are normally used with an existing hot water system. The principle behind such a system is that they absorb the sun's heat energy. They are constructed to maximize this ability to absorb heat and insulated so that the heat is not lost to the environment. This is known as a solar collector and can be a specially design water tank or a length of piping that absorbs the sun's energy.
Water is circulated through the tank or tubing based on it's temperature. As it passes through the tank or tubing it is heated up and is then passed to the regular boiler or plumbing system in the home.
The household saves money on the reduced cost that is needed to heat water using the normal heating system, as the solar water system has already partly heated (or in some cases it is hot enough) the water. But is this saving enough to go to the trouble of installing a solar system and the costs that this will entail ?
In terms of saving money on energy bills, the first thing to consider before getting a solar system is how efficient your current system is. Many traditional hot water systems have advanced in terms of energy efficiency and insulation of heated water. Check that your current system is the best you can get in terms of energy efficiency and has adequate lagging. This can also apply to the home in general as hot water may be used provide warmth in the home. It will be wasted if most of this heat escapes because of poor insulation and draft spots.
Once you have worked this out, there a 5 things to think about when it comes to the viability of a solar power water heater. These are :
The annual amount of hot water used by your family - Take an average over a few months or record a whole year if you have the time. If you are taking an average remember that usage may increase in colder seasons and factor this into the total.
What time is hot water used - There will be greater efficiency of the solar system when the sun is at it's hottest. This will be the best time to use the system.
How compatible the current heating system is with a solar powered heating system - How easy will it be to hook the two systems up.
The cost of a solar water heating system - the cost will depend on your needs as this will determine the size of the solar water system. However costs are coming down and with continued research in solar energy should continue to drop in the future.
The cost of the fuel you are currently using now and in the future - this seems clearcut but hard to quantify. Existing fuels like coal and gas will continue to go up in price as they become harder to find and extract. This argument forms the basis for the increased attention and championing of many renewable energy sources, including solar energy.
So it seems clear that in the future it will make sense to get a solar water system but it cannot really be quantified. But what about the here and now ? when you investigate possible systems you will be given indications of the saving you can make. You can factor this into the predicted annual usage of your home and get a figure on how much savings can be made. Again it is not rigorous but it will give you an idea.
Article Source: http://www.ezarticles.info
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