Passive solar water heaters can change the way you use water heating systems forever
Across the world, people are shifting to green solutions for their everyday utilities; and among those solutions, passive solar water heaters are clearly the most innovative and effective.
How you may ask?
When it comes to household energy consumption, a traditional water heating system can contribute up to 1/3rd of it. And you can see this trend across the country since warm water is needed in just about every home.
According to some estimates, you can expect to pay $438 annually on average if you use conventional water heaters.
That’s a whopping price for warming up your water, isn’t it?
But what if you could have a hot water supply to every faucet of your home for free?
Unimaginable as it may sound, passive solar water heating systems can actually bring your water heating costs down to zero.
As the name suggests, passive solar water heaters are powered by the sun’s energy, which makes the usage of electricity from the grid negligible. The result: not only do you stand to save big on utility bills, but you also reduce your carbon footprint by bringing down dependence on dirty energy.
There’s much more to these eco-friendly housing products, so let’s have a look in detail.
What are passive solar water heaters exactly?
Passive solar water heaters utilize the sun’s energy to warm up water in a heating tank.
These heaters pass the water through a collector tube to heat them. And, unlike other water heating systems, passive heaters don’t need any external energy source to warm up your water.
That means a passive solar water heater will warm your water directly using sunlight without the need for electricity to generate heat. And that’s precisely what sets them apart from any other water heater, including their active solar heating counterparts.
In fact, since passive heaters don’t need any additional electricity or heat-generating systems, they’re one of the most cost-effective water heating solutions on the market.
Amazing, right?
The different types of passive solar water heaters:
Now that you’ve seen what passive solar water heaters are, you might wonder what options you get to choose from.
Based on mechanics and functioning, these eco-friendly products are readily available in four different variations, which are:
#1. Glazed flat plate collector-based heaters
A passive solar water heating system based on glazed flat plate collectors is built within a metal structure/box. And to minimize the effect of outside temperature on heating, this box is properly insulated and weather-proofed.
Wondering why this heater is called a glazed flat plate collection system?
It is known so because of a dark absorber plate installed under one or more layers of glass or plastic.
You see, it’s the absorber plate in these passive solar water heaters that are responsible for captivating solar energy to heat water. So as soon as the sunlight hits the absorber plate, heating tubes filled with water get activated. As a result, water gets heated and subsequently flows into the tank.
#2. Unglazed flat plate collector-based water heaters
The passive solar water heaters working on an unglazed flat plate collector-based model are very similar to their glazed plate counterparts. That’s because they are pretty much the same in terms of mechanics and water heating methods.
You may think how these water heating systems are different.
The only way unglazed flat plate passive heaters differ is that they can’t heat water as much as glazed heating units.
That means while you can use a glazed passive solar water heater for all your hot water needs, the application of an unglazed heater is very limited. So you can at best use them to warm your pool water, among others.
Nonetheless, it’s a good way to reduce your dependence on the grid and save on utility expenses.
#3. Evacuated tube collector-based heaters
A yet another variant of passive solar water heaters, these heating systems are made from insulated glass tubes.
Now, here’s a catch.
As you may know, glass materials can lead to heat loss, which isn’t ideal for a water heater.
However, the glass tubes in an evacuated tube collector-based passive heater form a vacuum space which effectively prevents any heat loss.
Talking about the working of this system, water is heated with thermal energy when sunlight hits the water-filled inner tube.
Doubtful about the efficacy of this system?
Rest easy, as these passive solar water heaters can warm your faucet water between 170 and 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
#4. Batch solar water heaters
Are you looking for a low-cost yet energy-independent water heating solution?
If yes, then batch solar water heaters are your go-to passive water heating systems.
Also called integral collector storage systems, batch solar heaters are made of one or multiple water tanks which let the sunlight pass through them.
You see, these heating systems are based on a simple yet effective model, wherein water absorbs the sun’s heat passing through the tanks and gets warm. In fact, what makes these heaters a low-cost solution is the simple heating technique that doesn’t need any additional accessories.
But, the only shortcoming of batch solar water heaters is that they aren’t very effective in the cold winter months. That’s because these heaters depend on the outdoor climate to heat your water, and their functioning is affected as it gets colder.
Nevertheless, this shouldn’t be a problem in Florida as it’s warm here through most of the year. So, rest assured, you can go for this most economical solution and have a warm water supply for free.
Reasons why you should install passive solar water heaters:
As you can see, passive solar water heaters are readily available in so many variations, all with their unique features.
But you may wonder why exactly you need a passive solar heating system. After all, there are other water heaters that run on solar principles and provide you with hot water at zero cost.
So let’s see what edge passive solar heating offers you:
#1. Passive solar water heaters are an eco-friendly alternative
The biggest drawback of traditional water heaters, apart from the hefty utility charges they cost you, is that they’re unsustainable.
How?
Your regular water heaters rely on electricity from the grid to run their heating components and warm your water. And in most cases, electricity is sourced from a fossil fuel-burning power plant, which contributes immensely to environmental pollution and climate change.
That means the hot water supply in your home is effectively powered by dirty energy.
By simply switching over to passive solar water heaters, you can bring down your electricity consumption and thus the dependence on fossils by one-third. And since a passive solar water heater is emission-free, you don’t need to worry about pollution of its own.
So you can have hot water for all your residential needs, guilt-free of harming the ecology.
Want more?
You can complement your solar water heater by installing the Apollo solar roofing system. As such, your home will become completely energy-independent and carbon natural. Not to forget the fact that you will save your electrical expenses entirely.
Interesting, isn’t it?
#2. A cost-effective warm water solution
Did you know that passive solar heating systems are the most affordable water heaters on the market?
You don’t need to break the bank to have one of these installed in your home, as you can easily get one for $1000. In fact, a passive solar water heating unit is way cheaper than active solar water heaters, which cost $3000 on average.
You see, for an active solar water heater, you’ll need to install a solar panel which is necessary to run the heat pumps. Also, you’ll have to source additional electrical components, which together increase the upfront cost of such systems.
Since passive solar water heaters need no electricity at all, you aren’t required to invest in any add-ons apart from the heating unit itself. And that’s exactly why these heaters are so cost-effective when compared to other alternatives on the market.
Talking about the traditional electricity-run water heating systems, they can cost you upward of $10,000.
You don’t want to spend so much on a water heating solution that’ll only increase your utility cost. Do you?
#3. Have hot water around the year
The biggest fear you might have while investing in a passive water heater is that it might not run on cloudy days.
However, you’ll be surprised to know that these systems can function effectively regardless of the weather. That means you’ll have constant warm water running throughout your home, whether it is raining or snowing.
So, contrary to the assumptions, passive solar water heaters can ensure a reliable and sustainable year-round hot water supply.
Sounds awesome, doesn’t it?
#4. Passive solar water heaters need little to no maintenance
If a low-maintenance water heating solution is your ideal choice for residential water heaters, then you’re at the right place.
Most passive solar water heaters need either very little or zero maintenance, meaning you need not invest your time and money in their upkeep. So you can simply install a passive solar water heating unit and be worry-free about maintaining it.
But that’s not the case with other water heating systems, including active solar heaters.
You see, even a solar panel-powered water heater will need frequent maintenance to function. And to that end, you’ll need anywhere from minor repairs to expensive replacement of electrical and other components.
#5. DIY friendly installation
When it comes to installing your water heating system, you might want to do it yourself. Apart from saving on installation charges, DIY projects also give you a sense of satisfaction.
And nothing beats a passive solar water heater in terms of DIY-friendly installations. That’s because such heaters are the least complicated in terms of components and involve very basic installation steps.
In fact, you can easily install one just by following the user manual provided by the manufacturer.
On the other hand, if you buy an active solar heater, you’ll need expert installation since you can’t assemble complex parts and install solar panels, among others, by yourself.
Passive solar water heaters: FAQs
#1. Can you recover your investment in a passive heating system?
Unlike conventional water heating systems, which don’t offer any payback, you can actually recover your upfront investment in a passive solar water heater.
Talking about the payback period of passive solar water heaters, it can be anywhere between 8 and 10 years. That means you will recover your investment in this time by saving on energy expenses.
#2. How does a passive solar heater function?
Passive solar water heaters are based on a very basic yet effective method of water heating. Herein, the water is passed through a collector, which is already heated with direct sunlight.
It’s the heat collector in these systems that heats up the water, which is then passed back to a water tank using circulating pumps.
Wrapping it up
Nothing comes close to passive solar water heaters when we talk about eco-friendly warm water solutions, and you can see why that is so.
And the best thing about passive water heating units is that you need not spend a fortune to have one and go green. Not to forget how drastically you can reduce your carbon footprint just by switching over to these.
If you’re looking to install one such heating unit in your home, you can reach out to us. We’ve got the best passive solar water heaters from market leading manufacturers, that too at the most competitive prices.
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