Save more with solar hot water systems

If you have already made the choice to install a solar hot water system, you can already see the difference on your energy bills. Solar thermal technology is an energy efficient way to provide hot water for all your needs. Saving water is an important element of conservation and helps protect our planet. There are many changes you can make around the house to use less water, which can also reduce your energy bills if you still access backup hot water, or even use an electric well pump to move water inside. If you still use hot water from a backup source, or are looking for ways to conserve hot water, we can help. You can make your system even more efficient with these tips.

Go low-flow when choosing new plumbing fixtures. Low-flow faucets and showerheads use an aerator to mix air and water to keep volume the same while using less water. Regulations for new low-flow showerheads dictate that flow rates cannot exceed 2.5 gallons per minute at a water pressure of 80 pounds per square inch; showerheads made before 1992 may have a flow rate of over 5.5 gallons per minute, more than doubling the flow of today’s low-flow options. Older toilets can be using over 3 gallons of water per flush, while new low-flow models only use around a gallon. Switching to low-flow fixtures will help you conserve 25% to 60% of your current water use!

Fixing leaky plumbing fixtures helps save water as well as energy used by solar hot water systems. If the hot water tap is leaking, you’re not just wasting water; you’re wasting energy, too, if a backup hot water source is in operation. Hot water or not, just one leaking faucet can waste over 1000 gallons of water over the course of a year.

Making these 2 switches around the home will help you save water and energy when using solar hot water systems. For more advice on how you can make your solar hot water systems more efficient, contact Smith Sustainable Design.

Care for solar heat panels through inspection

An important element of owning and maintaining any system in your home, including your solar heat panels, is inspection. Inspecting your solar heat panels regularly can alert you to potential issues needing professional attention, and other problems which may hinder performance or affect the lifespan of your equipment. Inspect your solar heat panels and other system components regularly to ensure peak performance; make sure to include these areas in your inspection.

Shading of your solar heat panels

Shade can cause significant differences in collection. While shading is evaluated before installation of your solar heat panels, vegetation can grow or new structures may have been built which now produce shading. Check to see that your solar heat panels are not shaded during the day. If you find that they are, carefully trim back vegetation if that’s the issue. If the issue is a new structure, call us and we can determine its affects and a plan for relocation if necessary.

Cleanliness of your solar heat panels

Dirt, dust, and other particles can collect on your solar heat panels, which hinders their ability to collect solar energy. If you find that your collectors are dirty, regular cleaning can improve performance.

Glazing and seals on your solar heat panels

Damage to your solar heat panels can affect their performance. You should check your solar heat panels regularly for problems with the glazing and their seals. Cracked glazing and worn out seals should be repaired to keep your solar heat panels in good working condition.

Support structures on your solar heat panels

Inspect your solar heat panels to make sure they are tightly secured to your roof or other structures which support them. Problems with the support structure could lead to major damage of your solar heat panels.

Smith Sustainable Design helps homeowners and business owners maintain their solar heat panels and other components of their solar thermal systems. For inspection or service, please contact us today.

Protect your solar hot water heater system from freezing

Pennsylvania and New Jersey residents know how brutal our winter temperatures can be. Freezing temperatures can also be devastating to your solar hot water heater system if you don’t take precautions to protect it. Solar hot water heater systems that use liquid for heat transfer need special protection from harsh winter temperatures.

Just because your solar hot water heater system has good insulation around the collector and the piping doesn’t mean it has all the protection it needs. This insulation is in place mainly to reduce heat loss during transfer, which increases system performance. It’s not always enough to protect the system from freezing temperatures. You can use approved antifreeze solutions for heat transfer fluid, or drain the collectors and piping when there is a threat of freezing temperatures.

Using an antifreeze solution in your solar hot water heater system allows you to keep using it despite freezing temperatures. Antifreeze solutions degrade, and need to be changed about every three to five years; the solutions are only effective if the level of antifreeze concentration is maintained. Your solar hot water heater system is pressurized, so you’ll need professional help to check the concentration and change the solution.

Draining your solar hot water heater system to protect it from freeze damage means you won’t 

be able to use it during colder months. You’ll need to drain the collector and the system’s piping completely; in integral (“batch”) systems, your collector is your solar hot water heater system’s storage tank. You can place heavy insulation over unglazed collector components to protect it against cold temperatures, but it may still be vulnerable to extended periods of freezing temperatures. Draining your solar hot water heater system to protect against freezing means you’ll have to rely on your backup hot water source during these colder months.

Smith Sustainable Design helps homeowners and business owners protect their solar hot water heater systems against the harsh Pennsylvania and New Jersey winter temperatures. Call us today for antifreeze solution replacement or concentration testing, as well as help draining your solar hot water heater system to protect against freeze damage.

Solar thermal savings

If you’re comparing the costs of installing a solar thermal system versus an electric or gas-fueled tank or tankless water heater, look beyond the equipment and installation costs to see how much each will cost you after they’re in place. Solar thermal systems help many home and business owners save more in the long run compared to gas or electric hot water systems.

Installing a solar thermal system protects you from variances in utility charges. As you’re probably aware, natural gas and electric prices fluctuate. As an electric or natural gas user, you’re also vulnerable to significant price hikes if there’s a fuel shortage, making your operational costs skyrocket. Unlike natural gas and electric energy from your utility company, the sun provides its energy free of charge. Solar thermal systems allow you to reduce or eliminate your need for electric or natural gas fuel to heat hot water, depending on whether or not you have a backup hot water system in place. Solar thermal hot water systems typically drop water heating bills between 50% and 80%, which can be a huge savings depending on your hot water use. Other factors, like system sizing, can also affect your energy savings.

It’s true; solar thermal systems are more expensive to install compared to electric or natural gas water heating systems. The upfront price tag can be a turn off, which is why it’s so important to consider the big picture when it comes to comparing costs. Opting for the lower upfront cost of a natural gas or electric hot water system can haunt you later, and end up costing you significantly more than a solar thermal system.

Don’t let installation quotes deter you from installing a solar thermal system that can save you big money over its lifetime. If fact, there are many financing programs which can help cover the cost of solar thermal installation, including a new mortgage or refinance. Federal tax incentives and rebates from local energy programs can further reduce your installation costs, making the installation price tag on your solar thermal system less.

Smith Sustainable Design installs solar thermal systems which can save you money while providing many years of reliable hot water for your home or business. Call us today to learn more about your installation options, and about the energy savings solar thermal provides.