How does solar heating work? Solar heating systems work by using a solar collector.
A solar collector is filled with a conductive fluid or oil that gets heated by the sunlight.
The solar collector can heat water directly or use a "working" fluid to transfer that heat to water.
In active solar heating systems, there is a pumping mechanism that moves the heat through a building.
In passive heating systems however, the heated water moves by natural convection currents in the water.
In most cases, in buildings the solar heat systems work in tandem with electric heating or conventional gas heating systems.
The conventional systems operate to make sure that there is adequate heating happening in times when there is little sunlight to heat the solar collectors or in times when there is no solar thermal storage unit.
Solar thermal storage units are a very effective way to store heat, much like the way a battery stores electricity from solar panels.
Are there disadvantages to using solar heating? The main detractor of purchasing a solar heat system is the initial cost.
Solar heater systems, even though they have dropped in price substantially still prove expensive to many people.
The good news is if you think of solar heating as an investment in your household, the system pays for itself over its lifetime of 15 to 30 years.
It can also add to the resale value of your property.
If you use solar panels with your electric heating system, you will gain even more cost saving benefits.
Again, there is an initial cost for solar panels, but if you are thinking long term this is a very good investment.
You will be saving on monthly electricity costs as well as helping the environment.
Its really a win win situation.
A solar collector is filled with a conductive fluid or oil that gets heated by the sunlight.
The solar collector can heat water directly or use a "working" fluid to transfer that heat to water.
In active solar heating systems, there is a pumping mechanism that moves the heat through a building.
In passive heating systems however, the heated water moves by natural convection currents in the water.
In most cases, in buildings the solar heat systems work in tandem with electric heating or conventional gas heating systems.
The conventional systems operate to make sure that there is adequate heating happening in times when there is little sunlight to heat the solar collectors or in times when there is no solar thermal storage unit.
Solar thermal storage units are a very effective way to store heat, much like the way a battery stores electricity from solar panels.
Are there disadvantages to using solar heating? The main detractor of purchasing a solar heat system is the initial cost.
Solar heater systems, even though they have dropped in price substantially still prove expensive to many people.
The good news is if you think of solar heating as an investment in your household, the system pays for itself over its lifetime of 15 to 30 years.
It can also add to the resale value of your property.
If you use solar panels with your electric heating system, you will gain even more cost saving benefits.
Again, there is an initial cost for solar panels, but if you are thinking long term this is a very good investment.
You will be saving on monthly electricity costs as well as helping the environment.
Its really a win win situation.