Solar Water Heating FAQ’s
The installation of a solar water heater enables you to make a positive contribution to our global environment, while also saving you money in the long run.
This simple act can save 40% – 50% of your electricity usage, which means that our local power utility will burn less coal or gas to generate electricity. Reduced burning of fossil fuels will cut the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, especially carbon dioxide (CO2). Solar water heaters are therefore one of the best long-term investments you can make – both financially and for the environment. Moreover, solar energy is not affected by our current shortage of electricity.
Besides making a positive contribution to the environment, you gain:
A hedge against spiralling energy costs.
Free hot water for life.
More independence from erratic power supply.
An investment in your children’s future.
The release of much needed energy to industry.
An increase in the resale value of your property.
A good quality, correctly installed system should be able to save at least 40% of an average household’s electricity bill.
Based on current electricity prices paybacks are typically 5 years or less, depending on geographical area, water consumption patterns, number of people in the household, type of system chosen and energy cost.
Solar water heating is a system for heating water using energy from the sun. Solar energy is collected by a solar collector (either a panel or a set of evacuated tubes) which is then connected by means of pipes to a hot water storage device such as a hot water cylinder. A correctly designed solar water heater system is an extremely simple and reliable concept. Today several million homes and businesses all over the world use solar water heating, which supplies 40% – 70% of all the energy your home or business needs for water heating.
You’ll need a storage tank with solar ports, a solar collector (panel or tubes) and a minimum of 4-6 hours of daily direct sunlight. The XSTREAM range of storage tanks is a standard solar unit – the extra fittings required are standard built-in.
You’ll find “split-systems”, “thermosiphon systems” and “pumped systems” and a variety of temperature controllers as additional options.
We believe a thermosiphon system (where the tank is installed at a point above the panel) is the best option as it does not contain any working parts and it works on a basic law of nature: heat rises. The heated water will rise and remain inside the storage tank while the colder water at the bottom of the tank will circulate through the panel to be heated again.
Facts on Solar Systems
For more information feel free to download the Facts on Solar Systems PDF.
What size solar panel or what tube set to use with the geyser
