Why Consider a DIY Solar Water Heater?

First, a solar water heater is much more affordable and operates more efficiently than most other solar systems. That’s why considering installing a DIY solar hot water heater can be a wise choice for you. Like any solar energy system, the amount of the benefit you derive will be based on the amount of sunlight you get during the year. So if you reside in an area where 60% or more of your days are rainy then you should probably skip on this solar project. However, if you live in an area where most of the days are sunny for around 8 or more months of the year then you should definitely be considering a solar water heater system.

So What Are Your Choices When Choosing a Solar Water Heater System?

There are two systems available for your choosing. Here is a comparison of the two:

The passive system acts as a conduit from the solar energy to the water source. Passive uses the normal house plumbing and gravity to transfer the water between the hot water faucets and the solar collector. There are no pumps in the passive system that moves the water along. When considering a solar water heater, a passive system is easier to set up and requires much lower maintenance. You probably don’t want to install a passive system for use in cold climates. You can run the risk of freezing your pipes and having a real catastrophe.

The active hot water system involves a running process all the time. This does matter when you live in a cold climate. There are two types of active systems, a direct or an indirect system. The direct system is based on a process of heating the water in a collector and then transferring heated water through the pipes with pumps. On the other hand, the indirect system uses a certain non toxic liquid that contains coolant that transfers heat to the water and then it is stored to be used for demand at a later time.

So Do I Really Save if I Have a Solar Water Heater?

One important quetion is how much does a DIY Solar Hot Water Heater save?Well first it depends on the type of water heating fuel you use. So if you are heating your water with either electricity or natural gas and say you have a family of four then most definitely you could be saving. A solar water heater is built to last for a long time and save you monthly operating costs. It is safe to estimate that a typical hot water heater consumes 25% of your annual electricity costs. So if you are paying $4000 a year for your electricity that means about $1000 goes for hot water. If you swtich to a solar water heater you should save a minimum of $700 a year. This is definitely much less monthly than you would have to pay for a gas or electric hot water heater. There is minimal maintenance for a solar hot water heater system and of course the energy source, the sun, is free. If you were planning to reside in your home for a short period of time, say a few years,  then it may not be directly cost beneficial for you. However, it would be a selling feature for a potential buyer.

Finding Help With Your DIY Solar Hot Water Heater Project.

Now that you have decided to move forward with your DIY solar water heater project it would be a great idea to get some valuable instruction. You don’t want to end up frustrated and lost for such a worthy project. You want a guide book or manual that is going to give you step by step installation procedures with diagrams. So do your homework and work with an instruction guide book that makes you feel comfortable. It should be your most important partner when tackling this project. Good luck with your project and be proud of yourself for taking this on!

To take advantage of more information about installing a DIY Solar Water Heater and other free quality information and eBook giveaways visit e DIY Home Projects.