When we generally talk about solar energy, minds of most people automatically wander to solar panels. But, that’s not the only mechanism to harness the energy of the sun. Yes, we are talking about solar water heating systems, which are also known as solar thermal systems. These basically make use of the process of converting solar energy into thermal energy. This mechanism consists of a solar collector that attracts the sunlight, and then converts it into heat energy. Then, this heat is used to heat up water for household, as well as commercial purposes.
This way, solar energy can be used in domestic hot water systems, hot-tub heating systems, space heating systems etc. This is a clean source of energy that relies on the abundant energy source, the Sun. By using this form of energy to heat up water in place of fossil fuels, it actually helps to reduce your carbon footprints. This is a reason big enough to go for these heaters. And in case of any malfunctions, you can simply call for solar hot water repairs in Perth. A. Able Plumbing is going to come to your rescue, when it comes to hot water problems. They are known to repair, service and maintain all kinds of heaters be it gas, electric or solar.
Ways to improve the performance of your solar water heater
Solar water heaters are the best, when it comes to matters of maintenance and low utility bills. But, you can make them work even better, when you take the correct control over them. Finding a reliable and good gas plumber in Perth may not be that easy, but making the best use of these heating systems is. Just make sure to follow the following, as that will make all the difference.
- Back-up heat: Make the use of boiler timers so that the water gets heated up only by the back-up heating source. This refers to the boiler or the immersion, but it should only be after the water has been heated to the maximum extent possible. When we use hot water during the evenings, or early mornings, we make sure that there’s plenty of cold water in the cylinder for the sun to heat up the next day. On the contrary, using back-up heat during the mornings will not fully utilize the power of the sun.
- Dedicated solar section: You need to have an adequate part of the hot water storage vessel kept only to be heated by the solar heating system. There will most probably be a twin coil cylinder where one section is the solar collector’s responsibility. If this dedicated solar volume isn’t used up, the timing of the back-up heating has an even greater effect on the heating performance.
- Proper insulation: The cylinder and the pipes should be adequately insulated. Heaters having poorly insulated cylinders can lead to inefficient hot water provisions during the mornings.
- Electric showers: As we know, electric showers heat water by themselves, without making use of the solar heated water. So, using these showers will reduce the total use of the solar-heated water. And thus, you won’t be able to extract the maximum benefits from your solar hot water system.
- Varying temperatures: It’s very important that you allow the temperatures of the hot water to vary. In case you don’t need high temperatures all the time, you won’t need back-up heating that much. This will consequently reduce the heat loss. But, yes, you need to make sure that the cylinder reaches high temperatures at least once a week.
So, these are the main factors which can impact the overall performance of your solar water heaters. Now you know how to get your heater working to your advantage. You can thank us later! Do enjoy your hot bath first!