| Using a solar water heater makes the most economic | | | | less electricity and gas to heat the water if the water |
| sense almost anywhere in the world especially now | | | | is warmer. The solar heater can warm the water |
| that the prices of fossil fuels are at a very high level. | | | | enough that the water heater stays off all day, |
| Building your own solar water heater is a very good | | | | especially during sunny afternoon. |
| option, and there are a number of resources where | | | | For the design, a batch solar water heater uses a |
| you can find DIY(do it yourself) solar water heater | | | | water tank inside an insulated box. There are also |
| system. This will help your budget, and this can also be | | | | special solar water heating tanks that can be |
| a very fun project for your family. Although it is not as | | | | purchased, but having a used water tank is also good. |
| effective as the commercially active solar power | | | | Black paint should be applied to the water heater, and |
| system available, it does cost a lot lesser than them. | | | | there are also those special solar paints which are |
| You can have a DIY solar water heater for about less | | | | formulated to absorb more solar heat, and are |
| than $100 depending on scrap materials you can find, | | | | available at a reasonable cost. You can use a sheet |
| and you will cut your electric bills and save more | | | | of clear acrylic plastic or an old glass storm door for |
| money. Depending upon where you are(your climate), | | | | the top. |
| and the specific hot water design, you can expect a | | | | From the tank, run the hot water outlet through the |
| heating energy savings of about 50 percent during the | | | | side or back of the box, and then down near the |
| summer, and 25 percent savings during spring and fall. | | | | ground into your house to the water heater. Place the |
| We made our own solar water heater with the help of | | | | incoming cold water pipe from the water heater to the |
| a very useful guide about using solar power at home. | | | | solar heater. You can insulate them very well, and you |
| Now, you can make a batch solar water heater, and | | | | can use a crossover pipe and two valves to bypass |
| this is basically a preheater for the incoming cold water | | | | the solar water heater when winter comes. |
| before it reaches your standard water heater. It takes | | | | |