Solar Water Heater—Should You Go for D.I.Y?
When it comes to setting up solar water heater in your home, you actually have two options to choose from. You can either go ahead and do the project on your own or you can also seek the services from professional companies. How do you decide which choice will work best? What is the best way to maximize the money that you are ready to spend of the installation of a water heater that is powered by the sun?
D.I.Y Solar Water Heater
Even if you are not really the type who frequently does projects for the house, you can find a do-it-yourself solar water heater kit that can work perfectly for your home. Truth is, it is best if you would not expect it to be as easy as one, two, three. You also have to learn how to put all necessary components together so that your water heater will work properly. Aside from that you would need to gear yourself up with the necessary tools. If you are a bit apprehensive about the level of your skills, it would be a great idea to start with a simpler kit first. As you go along, you can always do improvements which would enhance your system.
The most common among the solar water heater DIY kits are the batch water heaters. The components that you will need can be bought from your local hardware store and the process is not too complex. You would need to have a collection tank installed at a strategic location where the sun can heat it up more quickly. Then, you also need to interconnect it with the entire plumbing system of your home.
Black matte paint can help your tank collect more heat and entrap a high temperature inside it. Another option is to put your collection tank in a glass case which will serve as insulation.
Professionally Installed Solar Water Heater
If you need a more complex system for your house, having a professional company install it would be a great choice. This may cost a bit more but it is an investment that will result to continuous savings in the years to come.
Professional companies are experts when it comes to installing water heating systems that utilize solar energy. They can put up solar panels that can be adjusted and moved towards the direction of the sun. This will increase the amount of solar energy that it can collect.
If you live in a location where the temperature can be really cold during the winter months, having the professionals install your solar water heater is also a good choice. For locations like this, the system may require more complex plumbing like the closed loop system. If this is not done properly, the water inside the tank might freeze up and the icy water could cause break downs. Professionals can also give you the right anti-freeze agent that could solve your problem when it comes to freeze ups.
Aside from saving you the trouble of having to install everything on your own, you will also know who you should contact in case you need maintenance and repairs. They can even have the job done in half the time and you can start saving money much sooner.