Solar water heaters are an amazingly cost effective investment for any household, allowing them to save money while insuring a greener planet for future generations. While many households may have heard of these ingenious systems, most people think wrongly that these systems are too expensive for the average homeowner.  The truth is that this is a technology easily integrated into any household without the need for thousands of dollars. Many systems start at a few hundred dollars, and they are easily installed into any home. One of the easiest times to upgrade is during a home renovation of any kind.

Each system needs essentially two things to work properly: a storage tank and fuel collectors, with the fuel being free as it is sunshine. However, there are two types of systems to choose from when deciding which is right for a household. There is an active system that has a number of pumps for circulation and control, and there is a passive system which doesn’t require any type of controls or pumps. Deciding on the right system for a particular household requires a bit of investigation and understanding as to how this amazing technology works.

When it comes to solar water heaters, active systems usually breakdown into two popular choices for residential purposes: direct circulation or indirect circulation. With the direct circulation, it is important that the climate in the region stays fairly warm and freezing is not an issue. A series of pumps will push the water directly into the household via the collectors.

The indirect circulation introduces this technology to more households because it is good for any type of climate, even freezing climates, making it perfect in even the harshest conditions on the planet. With the indirect systems, a pump is used to circulate a combination of fluids that do not freeze through a collector before finally going through a type of exchanger. This exchanger heats the water that then finds its way into the household.

Homeowners are able to choose from a few common collectors to find one perfect for their household. There are collectors such as the flat-plate, the integral storage system, and the evacuated-tube system. Knowing which collector is right for residential solar water heaters is going to depend a lot on personal preference as well as the climate zone of the home.

Solar water heaters that are considered passive are generally less expensive and require less installation expertise. However, many households find passive systems are not as reliable or efficient. There are generally two popular types of systems considered passive: the thermosyphon system, and the integral collector system.  The integral collector system is best for above freezing climates while the thermosyphon system is good for any type of climate.  Whichever system is purchased, it is always best to have the system professionally installed.

Households today more than ever before are deciding that going green is important for future prosperity. While many households wrongly believe that solar water heaters are too expensive, other households are embracing the fact that having free fuel is as easy as installing the proper system. In addition, these systems whether active or passive are more affordable than ever, allowing for more households to appreciate and enjoy the technology involved.