Discover How DIY Solar Heating Can Reduce Your Water Bills And Help The Environment

DIY solar heating systems are generally composed of solar thermal collectors - the solar panels - a fluid system to move the heat from the collector to its point of usage, and a reservoir or tank for heat storage and subsequent use.

These residental DIY solar heating systems may be used to heat domestic hot water, swimming pool water or for space heating. The heat can also be used for industrial applications or as an energy input for other uses such as cooling equipment.

Performance Analysis Solar Water Heater

In many climates, hot water solar panels can provide a very high percentage (50 to 75%) of domestic hot water energy.

The more progressive solar panels have an overall efficiency of almost 80%, they are much more efficient than electric photovoltaic solar panels (efficiency of 7-15%).

And if we compare them on a like-for-like basis, the price of a Solar Water Heater here in the UK is around 30p/watt (60c) (compared to £6+/watt for solar photovoltaic panel).

Because the passive solar hot water industry has been a closed shop for so long, the cost of hiring a company to install hot water solar panels like this can be expensive (£3000-£5000). There are a lot of cowboys ripping people off with vastly inflated prices.

And some of these so called solar power dealers try the hard sell, bullying people - especially the elderly - into signing up to their ridiculous offers.

However, installing solar panels in homes needn't be a costly exercise. If you have ever scratched your head wondering "how do I go about converting my house into solar energy without it costing ME the earth" then read on...

Convert Home To Solar Energy

Basically, if you have a basic grasp of diy then you can easily purchase your own solar panels and build your own diy solar heating installation.

To build your own residental solar power system you would require

What type of solar panels should you buy?

Well, if you decide to go it alone, I would not recommend flat plates for the cooler climates such as the UK and Canada.

Flat plate collectors only provide a useful amount of heat during the summer months in somewhere like the UK.

The reason for the popularity of flat plate collectors is that traditionally they are cheaper than evacuated tube panels. However, they are not as efficient.

You see, Vacuum tube collectors on the Evacuated tube solar panels will provide useful heat year round as long as the sun is shining. They can even produce heat in overcast weather.

In April, an overcast day without any sunshine hot water solar panels are still able to heat a 210 litre hot water cylinder to 40°C with vacuum tubes. A sunny day in April will warm the cylinder as high as 60C.

Where can I purchase such kits?

Otherwise, I'd have a good shop around because solar heating can vary greatly in price. Do your homework and negotiate witht he solar installers for a better price.