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SOLAR POWER WATER
HEATERS
A solar water heating system is fairly simple. You install
solar panels, typically on your roof, and the sun heats
the panels. Then these solar collectors heat a fluid
in pipes held in the interior of the panel boxes, and
that fluid is transported into the house where it heats
water in a storage tank. The system can include a pump
which circulates the transmission fluid from the roof
to the water tank and back again, but pumpless systems
are also available. In areas where freezing isn't an
issue, systems can heat your water directly. In most
places a type of antifreeze is used and the fluid and
water do not mix.
One convenient and less expensive option if you live
in a warm climate is a solar batch collector. Water
is simply pumped up to a solar storage tank on the roof
and heated by the sun. Then you just use the hot water
as needed. (But you need to make sure you have a roof
that is strong enough to support the weight of the stored
water and the tank.) These units cost less than $1000.
Another great way to save energy and money if you are
a pool-owner is to use solar power to heat your pool.
Solar
Power Overview
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