Solar Hot Water Systems – Are They Any Good?

If you want to have hot water at home while saving on your electricity bill, a solar hot water system is probably the best option. Why? This system can be used in all climates and sunshine is absolutely free. In addition, they are easy to install and maintain. The only real effort you have to make is to choose the model that best fits your needs given the climate of the region you live in.

Solar hot water systems or the best gas water heater can be divided into two categories: active and passive. The first solar or passive water heating systems are usually cheaper but also less efficient. The advantage of the passive category lies in the fact that these systems are usually more reliable and can have a longer life.

If your home is in an area where the outside temperature never reaches the freezing point, direct heating can be used. This system takes the actual water used in your home and circulates it through solar panels, heats it, and returns it to your home to use or store for later use. This is the most efficient and also the most cost-effective type of solar heater to implement.

On the other hand, if your home is in an area with freezing temperatures, indirect heating is the best option. This system works in the same way as to direct heating but circulates the liquid through a strip that doesn't freeze as the temperature drops.

The fluid is then piped into a storage tank, which transfers its heat to the water in your home. It never comes into direct contact with water and heat is only transmitted through conductivity.

With one of these systems, it's best if you have a small traditional water heater as a backup for when your family needs more hot water, and on cloudy days when your house is in the north.