Hot water is incredibly useful to have a shower on a cold day and the best thing about having solar hot water is that the water can be heated by the sun’s energy. There are other ways of heating water as well such as using electric water heaters, gas water heaters etc. But these systems use electricity, gas and oil.
Solar energy is a sustainable source of energy and it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from conventional energy. There are certain essential components that a solar hot water system will need such as a storage tank, a heat exchanger, collectors, a backup heater and a controller system. The solar panels are called collectors but they are different from the PV solar panels used for home electricity generation. These panels are used to generate heat instead of electricity. The size and quantity of collector will differ according to the volume of water you use in the home and the amount of sunlight that your home roof receives. When sunlight falls on the collectors and heats up the transfer fluid inside, the fluid will move into the heat exchanger which is a series of pipes. The heat is transferred from the fluid to the pipes and then to the water. Water in the storage tank is prevented from getting too hot by the controller system. There can be cloudy days where heat generation from solar energy will not be sufficient. These days, you can use the backup heater that comes with the system to heat the water with electricity.
When you are looking to purchase solar hot water Sunshine Coast, you need to consider the different types that are available. There are direct, indirect, active and passive systems. You need to consider your requirements to select what is best for you. In a direct system, the water is heated directly by the sun and in an indirect system, solar energy is contained in an antifreeze fluid that will then heat up the water. The antifreeze will rise up once heated and move to the storage tank that is located at a higher level. If you are in a colder climate, it is best to go for indirect as they can retain the heat energy absorbed even in cold months. But these systems tend to be more expensive.
Some solar hot water systems don’t use controller pumps. They use gravity to move transfer fluid or water. These are called passive systems. And in an active system, a solar pump will be used. It is much easier to install a passive system but they can be less efficient when compared to active systems. And as they work due to gravity, you will need to place the system at a greater height on the roof which can put some additional strain on it. There are air systems as well where the collectors will heat air instead of a fluid. The air is moved by the use of fans and the water will be heated from this.
