Simple Solar System Chops Energy Bill
Cold water goes in, and hot water comes out. You can't get much simpler than Larry Brewer's solar water heater, and that's the way he likes it. The 24-ft., U-shaped pipe painted black and mounted to the ridge of his roof heats water and slashes his energy costs six months of the year.
"It holds about 45 gal. of water, and on a 95 degree day, the water will reach 145 degrees" says Brewer. "Even on a 60 degree day it will reach more than 100 degrees."
Installation of the system was simple. Brewer added a valve to the cold water line where it enters his hot water heater. It allows him to run cold water up and through the roof to the solar heater or bypass it and send cold water directly into the water heater. When the roof top unit is in use, a second set of valves directs the solar heated water into the water heater or bypasses it directly to the house's hot water line. A third set of valves on the system allows him to quickly drain the pipe and the solar heater when weather turns cold. Placement of the cold-water inlet at the bottom of one end of the roof top heater and the hot water exit line near the top aids in the draining process.
"I usually start using the system in March and run it until the temperatures drop to freezing," says Brewer. "I figure it works best from April through September."
Costs were minimal, consisting only of the valves, water line and black paint. The 8-in. stainless steel pipe had been scrapped at Brewer's job site and cost him nothing. A few short lengths of pipe with flat plates at one end serve as feet for the heater, securing it to the roofline.
Brewer considered attaching a pump to the system and creating a closed loop between the hot water heater and the roof top unit. While turning it on in the early afternoon did heat more water, the hassle wasn't worth it.
"I would have to put sensors and such on it to do it automatically, and I'm not sure it would be worth the cost," he says. "As it is, there is no extra cost and no maintenance. All I have to do is to remember to drain it in the fall."
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Larry Brewer, 2247 Brewer Rd., Batesville, Miss. 38606 (ph 662 934-4184).
Click here to download page story appeared in.
Click here to read entire issue
Simple Solar System Chops Energy Bill ENERGY Solar 32-3-2 Cold water goes in, and hot water comes out. You can't get much simpler than Larry Brewer's solar water heater, and that's the way he likes it. The 24-ft., U-shaped pipe painted black and mounted to the ridge of his roof heats water and slashes his energy costs six months of the year.
"It holds about 45 gal. of water, and on a 95 degree day, the water will reach 145 degrees" says Brewer. "Even on a 60 degree day it will reach more than 100 degrees."
Installation of the system was simple. Brewer added a valve to the cold water line where it enters his hot water heater. It allows him to run cold water up and through the roof to the solar heater or bypass it and send cold water directly into the water heater. When the roof top unit is in use, a second set of valves directs the solar heated water into the water heater or bypasses it directly to the house's hot water line. A third set of valves on the system allows him to quickly drain the pipe and the solar heater when weather turns cold. Placement of the cold-water inlet at the bottom of one end of the roof top heater and the hot water exit line near the top aids in the draining process.
"I usually start using the system in March and run it until the temperatures drop to freezing," says Brewer. "I figure it works best from April through September."
Costs were minimal, consisting only of the valves, water line and black paint. The 8-in. stainless steel pipe had been scrapped at Brewer's job site and cost him nothing. A few short lengths of pipe with flat plates at one end serve as feet for the heater, securing it to the roofline.
Brewer considered attaching a pump to the system and creating a closed loop between the hot water heater and the roof top unit. While turning it on in the early afternoon did heat more water, the hassle wasn't worth it.
"I would have to put sensors and such on it to do it automatically, and I'm not sure it would be worth the cost," he says. "As it is, there is no extra cost and no maintenance. All I have to do is to remember to drain it in the fall."
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Larry Brewer, 2247 Brewer Rd., Batesville, Miss. 38606 (ph 662 934-4184).
To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click
here to register with your account number.
