Solar Panel Articles & Resources

Hot Water Solar Panels

Solar panels can provide electricity and energy for various uses in a home, including saving energy on heating water. Hot water solar panels are solar panels that are designed specifically to heat water for residential or commercial use. These are popular additions with businesses that require lots of hot water, such as laundry services and restaurants, but are becoming increasing popular with homeowners.

Instead of using electricity to warm the water, the energy from the sun heats the water. Water is stored in a water cooler and is pumped into tubes placed directly under the solar cells. The sun's energy heats the water under the panels and then the water is transported into a hot water storage tank. The water remains in this tank until it is time to be used.

There is often an electrical element as part of the solar heater to provide auxiliary heat in case the solar panels cannot heat all of the water. When properly designed and installed though, hot water solar panels can provide 70% or more of the energy needed for water heating.

There are two types of hot water solar panels that can be installed to one’s building. “Active” panels use a pump to transport the water through the system, while “passive” panels use no pump. Passive solar panels require the storage tank to be placed on one’s roof. This may require additional structural work to make sure that the roof can sufficiently hold the additional weight of a water storage tank. Hot water solar panels can be installed on either flat or pitched roofs, but flat roofs tend to work better. If installed on a pitched roof, they should be installed on the side of the roof that is facing south.

For more information on the best type of hot water solar panel system for your home,
schedule an appointment with a solar panel specialist today!