In the UK it is reported that the average domestic heating bills have increased by 125% over the past five years and that energy prices will likely continue rise. And there is little difference here in North America either. This is very difficult for most people. As these costs rise, the use of the Sun’s solar energy becomes more and more of an option people are considering. Solar technology is advancing more and more and with the government offering grants for Solar panels, solar powered houses are becoming more affordable.

While solar energy is most often associated with the production of electricity, heating is also a major platform. While heating hot water isn’t particularly difficult, the efficiency in doing so is a real key to savings with your system.

Solar panel hot water systems have historically been very inefficient at converting the suns limitless power into usable energy. With improving technology, efficiency has improved to the point where most panel systems can easily produce enough energy to heat water for the home and pool. Research shows that solar hot water heating systems can deliver up to 70% of the hot water requirements for an average household but there are efficient and inefficient ways to go about this process.

To save wear and tear on your panels, you need to consider a flow control system. Older panel systems tended to take a long time to heat up fluid because water more or less randomly circulated through the system. This was very inefficient because the panels are forced to heat up a much larger quantity of water than you actually need. This results in wear and tear, not to mention lengthy waits for hot water.

A control flow system corrects this efficiency problem by reducing the amount of water that must be heated.

How it works:
Most are designed to work on temperature differential strategies. They work by using two sensors. The first is located close to the panels being used to heat the water or liquid substitute. The second is located on or close to the liquid return valve into the panel system. Put in practical terms, one sensor measures the temperature of liquid set to leave the panel while the other measures the temperature of liquid coming into the panel.

When the sun comes up, the solar panels start producing heat. A circulation pump draws the water from your reservoir and pushes it through the solar panel heat exchanger and returns it back to its reservoir. The circulation pump will only switch on if the solar controller instructs it to do so. The instruction will only happen if the advanced controller detects that the solar panel is 10 deg.C hotter than the reservoir water temperature. This process is continued throughout the day, until the sun goes down and the pump automatically switches off. The reservoir thermostat temperature can be adjusted using the advanced controller as well as the element run times as a back up. This ensures that on days where there are absolutely no UV rays around, you will still have warm water. Once the return valve sensor notes the temperature of the returning water is within a particular range of the liquid in the panel system, the pump is shut off. This process allows for faster heating times, more efficiency and less wasted energy.

The benefits of using solar energy for hot water heating are immense. For one the energy source comes for free and investing in solar energy is an investment in the future of the environment and should add to the resale value of your property. By using solar energy to heat domestic hot water you will be helping to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels while at the same time improving the energy efficiency, and potentially the value of your home. Solar can be a cost-effective solution for you as well. Just keep in mind that flow systems are a must if you are pursuing solar water heating.

Want to learn more? One of the best and most popular guides is GreenDIYenergy.

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