If you are new to DIY solar power conversions the solar water heater is the very best place to start. I absolutely love this project for any home because it can have an immediate impact on any home’s monthly energy costs.

To start with, it is easy and limited in scope, allowing the beginner to maintain focus and learn important solar concepts along the way. This basic knowledge will be very valuable later on when you move to bigger, more complex solar projects.  It is also very cheap to complete.

Tankless hot water heaters are typically 24% - 34% more energy efficient than storage water heaters.  This is because they are not in full time employment, heating a 40 – 75 gallon vat of water, as is the standard with most homes.  They only kick in and heat the water when the faucet, shower, washing machine or dishwater etc is turned on. So in theory, you should see a significant saving on your utility bills.  But unfortunately, this is not necessarily the case.  In this article I am going to tell you why you are not making a saving and how you can guarantee that you do no matter how large or small your household.In order to keep up with the flow and water demands, storage water heaters store hot water at a temperature much higher than would be comfortable to use straight from the tank. This wasteful process means, the water is being heated up to a very high temperature, only to be cooled down again so it can be used.  Coupled with the 20% standby energy losses, this is all money you are throwing away.  And on top of that, you are paying to keep the hot water heated in the tank all day long, whether you are using it or not. No wonder you decided to install a tankless water heater.  With its temperature control, no storage tank and only heating the water as and when it’s needed, it’s bound to save you money.  Well, not necessarily.Cold water must pass all the way through the water heater when it is called.  Which means it will take slightly longer for you to receive your hot water, and you will be running more water down the drain in the meantime. No saving there. In a single person or couple household, tankless hot water heaters are brilliant ways of saving energy. But if you have children and are not conscious of your water consumption, you may not end up saving much money a tall. People can often spend more on their monthly fuel and water bills because of their families over indulgence in the endless supply of hot water. Also, gas fuelled tankless water heaters can waste energy if the pilot light is constantly being burnt. So, as you can see, if you are buying a tankless water heater to purely save money, you maybe in for a surprise.  But this doesn’t have to be the case.  There are a couple of ways you can guarantee the savings.For preserving your energy and financial savings, a tankless hot water heater and solar energy are a match made in heaven.  You can combine one of two or both solar systems.  The first is to install a solar hot water heater system, which can cost less than $100 when done as a DIY project in your own back garden. This does require a storage tank to hold the water heated naturally by the sun, but the savings you will make by pre-heating the water before it reaches your tankless hot water system will be noticeable.  It makes sense that if the tankless hot water heater has less to do, it’s going to cost you less and use less energy and the quicker you’ll have hot water running out of your faucets. The second system is to generate your own free electricity by installing solar panels. Solar panels are straight forward to install, and again, can be done as a DIY project for $200.  Even if you have a gas fuelled tankless water heater.  Installing solar panels to save on your electricity bill will offset the cost of running your tankless gas hot water system. Powering your home with solar energy can give you a 70% saving on you energy bill.  And any excess electricity you produce, the electricity company is obligated by law to buy it back from you.  So your local electricity company could end up paying you.Tankless water heaters by themselves may not be the answer to your prayers, but by working with nature’s very own solar power, they can more than meet you needs and expectations.To find out more about tankless hot water heaters and solar power, all you have to do is Click Here.

There are two thoughts when it comes to a solar hot water heater, depending on the location your hoping to put the hot water, solar panels might not be required. Nevertheless, to provide hot water through your entire home a solar hot water heater must be connected to an adequate number of solar panels to charge your batteries once the hot water usage is completed.
Active and Passive Systems
There are usually two kinds of systems: active and passive with active systems incorporating pumps and other types of controls whereas the passive systems doesn’t need such accessories. Typically in a solar hot water heater the heat will transfer the water into pipes or other types of storage systems then it is exposed it to sunlight, heating the water contained in the pipes. It is moved to storage tank by various pumps in an active system whereas gravity is normally used to move the water in a passive system.
In a solar hot water heater the storage tank needs to be very well insulated to keep the water’s heat level elevated.. In numerous systems there are two tanks where water is heated using the collectors and then it is moved to a separate water heater that is electric of gas fired to further heat the water until a person needs to use it.
Because of the preheating the energy level can be kept low within the water. But in cases when the heating panel is hooked with the solar heater system, the heating cost tends to be negligible.
Having a Backup System
No matter how successful your system might be, having a backup for your solar hot water heater is going to be required. Because you will use hot or warm water daily, even when the days are cloudy, you will wish to have a traditional hot water heating system for the days when sun is not shining so clearly through the clouds.
Without one, you can plan on having a cold shower periodically. Particularly in colder climates as even if the sun is shining, you might end up running out of water prior to rinsing off all the soap.
If you have a plan to install a solar hot water heater, it would be best if you have it installed through a qualified and skilled contractor who has some experience installing these types of appliances. Many passive systems depend on the water temperature to move water to the storage tank as cold water sinks to the bottom and hot water ends up rising to the top. An unqualified installer might end up making mistakes and as a result you have a hot water supply that is severely diminished.

In the 1970’s and 80’s Solar Energy first emerged as a potentially viable and cost-effective alternative to traditional heating sources such as fuel oil, natural gas, coal, wood, and electric. Unfortunately, these first generation solar collectors were expensive, inefficient, and delivered long payback periods and lower returns on the initial investment than expected.

In the following decades leaders in the Solar Energy Industry went back to work, striving to create more efficient, more affordable, and more cost-effective Solar Water Heaters that would not only be a viable alternative to traditional heating sources, but would be able to supplant the majority of our heating needs, lowering the world’s dependence on non-renewable energy sources, which cannot be replaced once they are depleted.