The Pros and Con of a Solar Energy Water Heater
A solar energy water heater, also known as domestic solar hot water systems, has become increasingly more favorable in recent years. They are not just cost-effective, but also an environmentally friendly way to heat water for your domestic needs. However, there are some pros and cons of solar water heating systems. Let’s take a look.
Pros of Solar Energy Water Heaters
Clean and effective water heating
- To start with, solar energy is free and readily available and it has no carbon trail. If you want to get away from gas and hydropower, solar energy water heating is the best option – especially if you live in an area with a lot of sunlight, as approximately 80% of the radiation is turned into heat energy.
Return on Investment
- Although solar power requires a huge amount of money to install, it replaces the energy that would otherwise be purchased from the energy company. Depending on your location, the investment will eventually pay for itself in electric bill savings. It’s estimated that with a solar energy water heating system, you could save up to 80% in regards to your water heating bill.
Easy to Maintain
- The solar energy water heating system does not require much maintenance. All you really need to do is inject a water softener in the pipes every three years. It also reduces noise pollution. The solar energy water has a few moving parts, but, in general, the system produces considerably less noise.
Non-intrusive
- Unlike other solar technology that required the installation of up to sixteen solar panels, the solar energy water heater needs only two or three. You’ll need some extra space for the storage tank if you’re using the passive method, but other than that, it doesn’t take up much space.
Renewable Heat Incentive
- Residential and industrial properties are entitled to claim the renewable heat incentive. This means that you will get paid for generating your own heat energy – even if you don’t use it at all. There’s an easy-to-use calculator available which tells you how much you can earn through this scheme and it can add up to hundreds of dollars a year.
Cons of Solar Energy Water Heaters
Ineffective
- Since this system functions only with the help of solar energy, it would be inefficient to use this during cloudy or rainy days. This will only function well during sunny days as it depends upon the availability of the sunlight. Furthermore, since solar panels function only with the sun’s energy, it would be inefficient to use this during night time.
Costly Bills
- This happens only during the winter period and depends on location. Since there is less solar energy during this period, there would be a need to use electrical, gas, or other fuel as a substitute for the sun’s energy. In other words, you could be paying higher than usual energy bills.
Initial Cost
- The initial cost of a solar water heating system is fairly high, including its installation. However, once you purchase the product, you will be paying less annually in electric bills and maintenance.
Wider Space
- Obviously, you’ll need a wider space since there is a need for you to gather a lot of the sun’s energy if you want to produce more electricity. Some houses are built with roofs which don’t have enough space for many (if any) solar panels. Instead of placing them on the rooftop, some homeowners suggest placing them directly in the yard. Basically, make sure that the location of your solar panel has direct access to the sun’s energy. However, if you don’t have that much space in your house for a solar panel, just purchase a smaller unit that could suffice your needs.
