PV Gap

Robin Said:

does using a solar hot water heater emit co2?

We Answered:

well, the energy to make it was probably gained through emission of co2, however no co2 is released when you are using it

Theodore Said:

Hot water heater - tankless or solar?

We Answered:

BOTH! They work great together!

Solar water heating is a great way to provide up to 75% of your hot water. However, it can't provide 100%, you need backup. The ideal solution is to get a solar water heater to do most of the heating. Then run the "hot out" from the solar storage tank to the "cold in" off an on-demand water heater. If the water is hot enough, the on-demand doesn't turn on, it just passes it through, no energy used. If the water isn't hot enough, perhaps you had a stretch of bad weather, it will add any needed heat. But instead of heating water from the city at 50 degrees, it will be heating partially heated water, maybe 80 degrees. This requires less energy.

Depending on where you are, and how many people in your household, the equipment can cost about $3000 - $5000. I don't know the cost for an on-demand heater.

http://www.altestore.com/store/Solar-Wat…

Ashley Said:

Is a solar hot water heater worth the upfront cost? What is the average time to pay it off?

We Answered:

Your cost return is going to depend on local sun conditions, local energy costs, initial system cost and cost of maintenance. I have generally heard that it may be as quick as 8 years or as much as 20 years or longer to pay itself off. Of course the higher energy costs rise the sooner the payback time would be.

The department of energy site listed below discusses the costs and payback terms. One thing they point out is that if the solar system heats provides less than 40% of the overall heating of your house then it's probably not going to be cost effective.

Checkout the other site listed below for a comparison of life-cycle costs for different water heater options, including solar with electric backup heat. According to this site, indirect gas hot water heaters are the lowest cost option over a 13 year period and are less than half the cost of the solar with electric backup option.

Troy Said:

How do I make a solar hot water heater system for free.?

We Answered:

Take your garden hose up on your roof and lay it in a circular pattern so as to expose it to the sunlight attach a spray nozzle on the end and turn on the water . Wait one hour for the water to warm up and then you can go back on the roof and take a hot shower . Test water temp first as it may be too hot . For longer showers add more hose .

Donna Said:

have solar panel and hot water heater.solar panel has inlet and outlet,heater has same.where do i hook the col

We Answered:

I presume the hot water heater will be installed in your house an the solar panel on the roof.

It sounds like there isnt a storage tank attached to the solar panel, rather, it connects directly to the hot water heater.

1. the solar panel shoud be installed on a sloping roof. if it is a shallow slope tothe roof, you need to provide brackets to elevate the panel so that it most directly aligned with the sun. if the panel is rectangular it should be mounted so it stands TALL.. and not on its side. This will aid in the thermosiphon process of your solar collector.
2. there should be two ports, inlet and outlet. one on each end (mounted top and bottom) cold water goes in the bottom and hot out the top.
3. there should be a drain feature to your system that drains the solar collector at night. you do not want to recirculate hot water through the collector when it is not collecting solar radiation....then it becomes a water cooler.
4. the top port (outlet ) hot should be connected to the cold water inlet of your hot water heater. the bottom port (inlet) should be connected to the cold water inlet of your house or it also can be connected to the cold water inlet tothe hot water heater.

what will happen is that water willthermosiphon in a loop through the collector and be drawn off as need to preheat the hot water heater inlet.

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