Build a Solar Hot Water System

Posted: March 21, 2010 – 11:58 pm

Do you believe that solar power is a wonderful way to get free hot water in your home?  You can make and fit diy solar water heating easily and cheaply, perhaps for under 100 dollars depending on the materials you have available.  Buying a ready made solar hot water heater will cost upwards of 1,000 dollars so making and fitting your own solar hot water system will save you hundreds of dollars, paying for itself in just a few months.  After that your hot water will cost you nothing!

The sun will heat your water anywhere in the world – even in the winter!  It might not provide all your hot water (although it often does), but it will certainly make a large dent in your utility bills.  Expect to save at least one third.  Solar water heaters are simple devices, very efficient and environmentally friendly.  It is quite possible to make and fit one of these systems over a weekend, provided you get properly organized firstand get all the parts assembled.

A typical solar water heater system simply includes a collector box with integral water pipes that are connected to the existing domestic hot and cold water pipes near your hot water cylinder.  A drain valve is usually fitted in case you need to isolate the solar water heater for any reason, such as leaving the house empty in winter.  You will find the assembly easy and will not need any special skills or tools.  The solar collector box will be sited and angled to face the sun at noon, and this can be on a roof or against a suitable wall.  Your local hardware store will have all the materials you need, although you will probably find you already have some of them in your shed.

You will not damage your existing hot water system when making and fitting a solar water heater.  In fact, by reducing the operating demands on your existing system, the solar water heater will help extend the life of your boiler or immersion heater as well as save on utility bills.  A further advantage is that solar heat is a renewable resource, so there is an eco-bonus for installing a solar hot water system as well.

It also has other uses.  Solar hot water systems can help heat a swimming pool with constant, gentle heat all year.  Do you have, or are you planning on fitting, underfloor central heating?  This typically operates on a constant supply of warm (not hot) water with a low flow rate. Diy solar water heating is a great way of warming your house for free.

There is something very satisfying about making a simple device that saves you money, gives you free hot water on demand and helps save the planet at the same time.

However, even though a solar water heating system is simple, it is easy to make mistakes during installation if you are not experienced enough.  It makes a lot of sense to get expert guidance and advice at the planning stage and before you start to build.  This is a small but vital investment that costs surprisingly little but will ensure you do everything safely and properly. We have  more information about this on our specialized website.

In conclusion, we know from experience that making and fitting a solar water heating system will give you immense satisfaction, a lot of fun and really significant savings, so why not give it a try?

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Mias Purchasing Ideas To Grasp When You Are Shopping For Outdoor Wood Furnaces

Posted: March 15, 2010 – 4:05 am

Outdoor wood furnaces have numerous uses. One of these is an ability to heat domestic water. Outdoor wood furnaces offer a lot of advantages to householders today. 

Outdoor wood furnaces are even more important currently that we are more reliant upon foriegn sources of oil. If you want to be energy independent, with an outdoor wood furnace, call our number these days and see what we may do for you! Outdoor wood furnaces are the majority of commonly found in residential locations. They’re an economical heating supply, and use of such a furnace has show to scale back overall home energy expenses. Outdoor wood furnaces are usually located up to 500 feet away from the house being heated. The majority of wood furnace applications will pump heated water thru insulated, underground piping which is a nearly all economical method to push heat over distances. 

Stainless Steel is additionally made from other metals that shrink and expand differently inflicting hairline fractures. For the additional price of approximately $1400. Stainless-steel outdoor  wood burning furnaces are simple to load and maintain, efficient to operate, and are accessible in a wide decision of attractive colors. Each furnace is designed, tested, and proven to outlast gentle steel brands up to 3 times longer. Stainless is the only way to go for the firebox plus tank. The installation is significant, with special attention required in insulating and waterproofing the underground lines. 

Heating with wood can be very safe, convenient, economical, plus clean! With the appearance of the outdoor wood furnace, the age old issues of fire hazards, dirt, and uneven heat have been eliminated. Heat can be generated in such a furnace by using an electrical arc or by sending an electrical current through resistive components in the furnace. If the material to be processed is electrically conductive, heat may also be generated by making an electric current in the fabric by induction or by inserting into it electrodes to which a voltage is applied. Heat is lost underground unless the pipes are extremely well insulated. It looks hard to detect much heat energy being left after a run of 500ft.

 

 

 

 

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The Advantages and Disadvantages of Getting Storage Heaters for Your Home

Posted: March 15, 2010 – 1:22 am

It is pretty often that one finds storage heaters confusing, not knowing what its purpose is. To explain in simple terms, these devices get electricity from the grid during daytime, which is the period when base load electricity costs are extremely low as compared to other periods. Whatever amount of electricity is gained throughout the day will later be used at night to heat the house. To cut it short, the whole structure of the storage heater leads to homeowners saving their money due to less electricity consumption during evenings. This is due to the fact that evening electricity is higher in demand, which then translates to higher costs. Now, with the help of storage heaters, you do not have to pay extra for electricity at night for it gives off heat for your home. So the storage in storage heaters refers to the storing of electricity for later use.

However, just like anything in this world, storage heaters also have its own share of advantages and disadvantages. A number of these advantages and disadvantages are as follows.

Advantages of Using Storage Heaters

The most obvious advantage, which was mentioned earlier, is that it saves you money. The electricity, which is the primary heat source, can be very expensive. Luckily, with storage heaters, you do not have to pay the extra fine that you would in case you use other gas-controlled heaters. Storage heaters work and collect heat earlier so that you can get your house in the right temperature as night falls.

Another big upside of having storage heaters, especially if you like room in your home, is that they take up less space than the normal oil fired or gas fired heating systems. This is due to the fact that storage heaters can be placed in hidden areas of your home like under your floor or inside the walls. This is in large contrast with portable natural gas heaters or Honeywell humidifier that take up floor space and get in the way. Also, people who choose to have gas heating or other kinds of heating systems normally turn the systems off at night to save more money. As a result, the house can turn really cold at night or even during the break of dawn. But with storage heaters, the main idea is to leave them on overnight so that they can heat your place. Once you wake up, you will be able to enjoy the heat since the abode is being warmed throughout the night.

For houses that are situated in areas where gas sources are limited or totally cut off, the storage heater is the perfect heating system. If you are asking why, it is due to the fact that you will have to pay extra fine for having a gas-powered heating system installed for there is no gas source anywhere near. If you choose to simply have the storage heater, you not only save cash but also effort of having people connect gas sources and installing the unit in your place. There are some people who pay so much just for maintaining their systems. One great example is Britain. In here, the people pay as much as 200 pounds worth of insurance just to keep the gas heaters in good condition.

Disadvantages of Using Storage Heaters

Storage heaters, however, also possess some disadvantages. Luckily, these downsides are not much of a concern. One disadvantage is that you need to choose the right size of storage heater according to your home size. Heaters that are too big are more expensive and will take up too much space. Another downside of using storage heaters is it cannot be cut off. So if the homeowner goes out and stay somewhere for some time, the heat that will be generated by the storage heater will all be put to waste.

You should not worry much, though, for all of these downsides are mild and there are more benefits that can be gained from owning a storage heater.

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