How Solar Hot Water Heaters Work

The short version is that solar hot water heaters gather heat from sunshine and use that heat to create hot water.  Solar hot water heating systems can also heat swimming pools to save energy or extend your swimming season.

Here is a diagram of a typical system.

There are two kinds of solar hot water panels -

• Flat Plate Collectors
• Evacuated Tube Collectors

Both kinds of collectors use black backgrounds to gather heat which is then transferred to a non-toxic glycol solution that circulates through the pipes in the collectors.  The solution then travels by pipe to a high efficiency hot water storage tank where it heats the water in the tank.

For year round use in Maine, we recommend the evacuated tube collectors because they work well in cold weather as well as warm.  In these collectors, the pipes travel through a vacuum so the heat is not lost to the cold air outside.

To see the components for yourself, learn about the pros and cons of different solar hot water heating options or to meet us and find out more about solar hot water installation and warrantees, stop by our store on Route 1 in Searsport.

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