Understanding the Mechanics of Solar Water Heaters

Understanding the Mechanics of Solar Water Heaters

Confused by solar water heaters? You’re not alone.

Solar Water Heaters

Solar powered residential energy has been around for a long time, but a solar product that’s relatively new to homeowners is the solar water heater. Solar power seems simple. You take energy from the sun and create energy for your home. But the mechanics are a little more complicated. Here’s a basic guide to how solar water heaters work:

Solar Power Basics

Solar water heaters actually work very differently from traditional solar power that powers your home or HVAC system. Traditional solar power takes sunlight and turns it into electricity. But with solar water heaters, it’s much simpler than that: you use sunlight to heat the water directly. Because of this simplicity, using solar to heat water is more energy efficient than converting it to electricity.

How It Works

A solar water heater has two parts: a collector and a storage tank. The collector is an insulated box that houses tubes or pipes for water to flow through. The collector also takes the radiation from the sun and converts it to heat. From there, the hot water gets stored in the tank, where it then gets pumped into your home when you need it.

The Benefits

Solar power is a great money-saving technology in general, and solar water heaters are no exception. For most homeowners, when you switch to solar water heaters, you will cut your water bill in half. Another benefit is that you’ll help save the planet. Solar powered hot water heaters will cut your carbon emissions by approximately 50%, and will reduce your use of nonrenewable fuels at the same time.

If you’re looking for alternatives to traditional water heaters, consider switching to solar water heaters. The mechanism is relatively simple, and the benefits are huge.

Find a McCall’s Supply location near you to find out more about solar water heaters.