A solar water heater collects sunlight and uses it to heat water. It might be a cost-effective way to provide your household with hot water.
In comparison to natural gas or fuel oil, a solar heater not only saves you money on energy, but it also saves you money. Furthermore, it provides a means to generate hot water for sanitation all year without releasing any Carbon dioxide.
Households in Kenya continue to face expensive electricity rates and unreliable power supply. Solar energy has emerged as the new energy frontier. Developers and homeowners are seeking to employ it in their homes because it has proven to be efficient, inexpensive, and dependable. Choosing the best solar water heater for your home, on the other hand, might be difficult.
Consider the following factors:
1. The Number of People in the House
One person uses about 30 liters of water per day on average, so a household of three requires about 1litre per day. In smaller homes, 150 to 200 litres of water should be enough, since this feeds two to three people in a household.
In larger homes, however, 300 liters may be required, as this serves an average of 5-7 people and can also be used for other purposes such as the kitchen and laundry. Larger systems, ranging from 500 liters to 5,000 liters, are used in industrial capacity like in hospitals and schools.
2. Functionality and Kind
Flat plate collectors (FPC) and evacuated tube collectors (ECT) are two types of solar collectors.
The FPC are composed of metals and are better suited for tropical regions due to their high conductivity and emissivity, which makes them have poor heat retention at low temperatures. Flat plate solar water heaters are big and therefore more expensive than vacuum tube solar water heaters.
The flat plate, on the other hand, has the added benefits of robustness, longevity, and ease of serviceability. The vacuum has a higher heat retention capability, suitable for hot and temperate climates. However, because they are constructed of glass, they are extremely fragile and should be handled with extreme caution during installation, maintenance, and repair.
Both systems can be employed in open or closed loop configurations. An open loop system works best with clean, soft water since the odds of the tubes cycling the hot water clogging and scaling are low.
The closed loop system, on the other hand, is ideal for situations where hard water is present or where the source of water is unknown. It employs a different heating medium than the water in circulation, such as a heat pipe for the tubes or glycol for some flat plate systems, and so does not mix with the water being heated. A magnesium rod helps when the water is salty.
3. Installation and after-sale Service by Professionals.
It’s just as vital to get solar water heaters from trustworthy businesses as it is to have them professionally installed. This guarantees that the solar water heater functions well and for a longer period of time.
A developer or homeowner should also hire a solar provider that provides after-sales services, such as rapid and timely responses to clients for problems. Al though, this makes the solar water heater price higher than expected.
Installing a solar water heater begins with mounting the solar collectors on the roof or on the ground, followed by installing the storage tank and plumbing, and finally filling the tanks.
4. The Water Source and Pressure
It’s crucial to think about the house’s pressure system while buying and installing a solar water heater. The pressure is determined by the source of the water or the location of the water tanks feeding the residence.
5. Company With a Good Reputation and a Long Solar Service Life
Finding reliable companies to purchase a solar water heater is the first step in obtaining authentic products because such products have been tried and tested, and consumers who have utilized the systems may provide testimonies.
Before acquiring a solar water heater, always check warranty and choose which system would work best for them: flat plate collectors or vacuum tubes.
Bottom line
In conclusion, we make certain that quality requirements are met while working on our projects. Buy one that will last for a long duration of time.
