Solar Water Heater

[everlastsupport]

A long, long, time ago... a friend and I decided to sell a solar power clothes dryer in Reader Guide for $10.99. We sold 5 before we were sent an Important looking letter from an attourney informing us that we need to give back the money we made and stop selling two nails and a piece of string! Hey, we tried!!

You were just just trying to keep yourself off the streets. Wonder what the law is on that. I mean that is pricy for two nails and string, even today. I would have saves that letter. It is funny.

Wonder if one of the first 5 sales was not that attorney.

[ShaneJackson]

Just a quick update for anyone interested... So far I have only had one time the hot water wasn't too hot, It was rainy all day and after my wife took her bath the hot water was only warm. I checked the tank and it was 92. Considering that we had probably used most of the hot water the night before and the 50 - 60 gallons my wife used for her bath... I still say not bad. As long as I don't have 2 days strait of all day clouds, most of the hot water should come from solar heat.

[everlastsupport]

Just a quick update for anyone interested... So far I have only had one time the hot water wasn't too hot, It was rainy all day and after my wife took her bath the hot water was only warm. I checked the tank and it was 92. Considering that we had probably used most of the hot water the night before and the 50 - 60 gallons my wife used for her bath... I still say not bad. As long as I don't have 2 days strait of all day clouds, most of the hot water should come from solar heat.

Hope it holds up when the snow comes. Still not bad figuring all the time the hot water heater is not one. Maybe flip it on for a backup at 96 or so?

[ShaneJackson]

Yea I am wondering how well it is going to do in a few months as well. One of the things that is affecting the performance is the fact that the house is blocking the sun on the tubes until 9:30 - 10am and then there are trees in the back that block the sun after 5:30-6:00pm. I am guessing I am loosing about 4 hours of sun (or getting 8 good hours). I am not sure how much of a difference the 4 hours would make because that is the times the sun would be at very sharp angles to the tubes anyways. I am guessing around 20% more BTU output if I had those 4 hours.

Depending on how things go this winter I may expand the system. One thing I have thought of doing was doubling the tubes and using it to heat the house as well.

[jakeru]

Is breeding harmful bacteria that thrives in warm water (like Legionella) a concern for these types of water heating systems? Are you piping your potable water through that solar collector?

[ShaneJackson]

No. There is a double walled heat exchanger in the hot water storage tank. The water that circulates thru the solar collectors is isolated. This is also done so you can use antifreeze in the system.

[everlastsupport]

Normally all potable water and spent within a day. Sounds like Shane's might be a sealed unit if he can add anti-freeze.

Mine WAS freon from the AC units on the house, through the hot water tank in hot pipes. I like the potable water thru the system, shower wash, maybe cook and done.