And when you think about the high costs that some solar installation companies tend to charge for their services then it's little wonder people are turning to the solar power DIY route.

There are several benefits of solar power. Here are the main reasons why you should think about installing solar panels for your everyday needs.

Saves you money - With the rising cost of fossil fuels, solar panels will save you money in the long run. Of course you have the initial start-up costs but after that, your costs are zero.

And with a solar pv system, if you produce more electricity than you use, you can sell it back to your utility company.

If you have a solar hot water system then you will save money there as well. Just think of all that piping hot, free hot water.

Solar heating systems must not be mixed up with photovoltaic panels or solar electric that generate electricity from the sun. They are 2 completely different types of solar energy system.

DIY solar hot water systems are gaining popularity due to the sometimes ridiculous price of having a system fitted by an installation company.

The provision of hot water consumes from 25% - 35% of the average household’s energy needs and therefore contributes significantly to greenhouse gas production.

Obviously if you’re going to be “clean and green” hot water is a great place to start a campaign of energy reduction. In warm climates there are many simple do-it-yourself hot water system ideas you can use to cut your energy needs.

If you have a basic knowledge of DIY then fitting your own is a breeze. If you're not 100% sure of your abilities then just get a qualified plumber to check it to make sure it is ok. Even with the cost of a plumber it will still work out a lot cheaper than having a solar company install it for you.

However, in my never ending search to make diy solar hot water even less expensive I am always scouring the net for new methods, guides and instructions.

In many climates, a DIY solar hot water system can provide up to 85% of domestic hot water energy. In many northern European countries, combined hot water and space heating systems (solar combisystems) are used to provide 15 to 25% of home heating energy.

While PV panels still seem a bit out of financial reach for many people, a solar hot water system is within range.

Traditional uses of DIY Solar Hot Water Heating include:

•Domestic Hot Water for Homes •Radiant Heating •Hot Water for Hotels •Hot Water for Apartment Buildings •Hot Water for Laundromats •Hot Water for Carwashes •Hot Water for Industrial and Commercial Properties •Pool Heating •Spa Heating

Solar water heating panels should provide most of the hot water needs of an average household for the sunniest four or five months of the year. The rest of the time they will contribute to the heating needed. Over a whole year, about half of your hot water will have been heated by the sun.

Solar energy is clean and renewable. A DIY solar water heater will not emit horrible nasty emissions into the environment.

Solar panels have no moving parts therefore require no maintenance whatsoever. Which is another advantage.

DIY solar pool heater

If you are looking to install a DIY solar pool heater that is easy to build so you can enjoy a dip in the winter months without freezing to death then read on.

These DIY solar pool heater panels can be mounted either vertically on a fence or horizontally on a roof. It’s as easy as ABC.

This diy solar pool heater will raise pool or spa water temperatures during the cooler periods of spring and autumn adding months of enjoyment to your investment.

Proportions can easily be varied to suite particular locations or applications. As a rough estimate, a single standard sized solar pool heater panel is effective on pools up to 30,000 L (approx 6,500 gallons) capacity.

A standard solar pool heater panel has 12 heating elements but extra elements or multiple solar pool heater panels can be used for increased efficiency or to heat larger pools.

A standard sized solar energy panel is 3.4m (11’ 4”) long by 1.4m (4’ 8”) wide and weighs approximately 35 Kg (77 lbs) once full of water.

Solar Hot Water

A DIY solar water heater is a great resource for slashing your household bills. But do you know that installing solar power is also beneficial to you and your family? Nowadays more and more people have realized that and they are looking for ways to install a DIY solar power hot water system.

Learning how to install a DIY solar water heater is very easy these days. Apart from hiring solar energy companies to do the job, you can purchase a DIY solar hot water guide to learn how to build the systems on your own in just a few days and at a lower cost.

In fact making your own hot water heating system is relatively easy as well as cheap compared to other solar energy projects.

The tools and material that you will need to construct the whole system are components that are readily available and can in fact be sourced and purchased from your local hardware store.

So all you will need to do to make your own solar water heater are basic tools such as a hammer, a wood saw, glue and to buy some relatively cheap materials that will be required for its construction.

The most significant advantage for having solar power is that it will help you save tons of money each month. You are going to save more than 80% on the electric bills.

If you have a solar power house, it means that you will be enjoying a reliable, safe and long-lasting source of energy for a long time in future.

You do not have to spend lots of money on maintaining your solar energy system. You will find that the need of replacing the parts is rare. This, in return, saves you much more money.

To think big, having solar power lets you become one of the members protecting your planet for your next generations. You will no longer causing air pollution because you are using a clean energy.

By having more and more people using environment-friendly energy, both your and others’ effort will prevent the planet from being further destructed. Your children will appreciate what you decide to do today.

Very basic systems are commonly used to raise the temperature of swimming pools. They can also help reduce the cost of heating the running water that you use in your home. Even if you live far away from the equator, you can offset your water heating costs by 25% or more with a DIY solar water heater. Sunnier places can approach a 100% savings.

A DIY solar water heater requires only the initial cost of installation with no other further costs for the number of usages. These water heaters require a storage tank, thermal panels and pipelines attached to it.

DIY solar water heaters are preferred by many people because it helps to cut costs and saves energy. It uses solar energy to produce hot water in a few minutes. The solar energy from the sun is captured by the panels installed in the water heaters and it is further transferred to the batteries which help to heat the water. This way energy is recycled and made use of in an effective way.

Solar water heating systems are useful and controllable systems. You can have them installed by a professional or as a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) project and they can prove to be a wise economic payoff.

Why Solar DIY Systems?

Environmentally friendly - This is obviously one of the main benefits of solar energy as it doesn't add to global warming. Solar panels are clean and renewable. It doesn't pollute. And it does not add to the cost and problems of storing dangerous radioactive waste.

Low maintenance - Solar panels operate silently with no moving parts. This makes them virtually maintenance free.

Independence - Solar panels operate entirely independently of the power companies so you are not beholden to the rising costs of fossil fuels. And it makes it easier to get electricity if you live in a remote location where electricity might not be so readily available.

And it doesn't need to cost you a fortune to set-up the various installations. Click here for the easy, low cost ways to go 'green'.

Check out our DIY solar heating plumbing section.

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