Solar Water Heaters are being increasingly preferred as a great way of conserving our natural resources and for saving money. In this article, we will understand how they work and how much does one cost.

How does a Solar Water Heater Work?


Typically, it has two pipes which connects a solar collector and a storage tank.

To explain it simply, a solar collector primarily collects the solar energy and heats up the water contained in it. This hot water is then transferred via the pipes to the storage tank and stored there.

This heated up water then enters our home as and when we require it.

There are primarily two types of solar water heaters: Active and Passive. In case of active, circulating pumps are used for transfer of hot water. In case of passive, no such pumps are used, in fact gravity is primarily used for transfer of hot water. These systems are usually backed up by a conventional heating system. Since this type of system primarily uses solar energy which is available free, it helps in reducing energy costs too.

So how much does a solar water heater cost?

Right now there are two options available for installing one. The first one is to go in for a commercial one which is quite expensive. The second and probably the best option is to building your own at home itself as a do-it-yourself (DIY) project which cost about 1/10th of the cost of commercial solar water heater.

One can easily learn how to make a solar water heater at home with a good guide and install one easily with the raw materials which too are easily available.