How does Solar Hot Water work?

• A solar hot water system collects heat from the sun and uses it to heat water.

• A solar hot water collector is a 3” x 4’ x 10’ shallow box, covered by specially treated glass. The collector contains thermal absorbing material and copper tubing. Like the inside of your car on a warm day, the glass box traps the sun’s heat which is then absorbed by a transfer fluid inside the copper pipes.

• The heated fluid (not water for freeze protection) is then pumped to a heat exchanger where it pre-heats the water serving the building’s normal hot water tank.

• System components are very simple and include collectors, pipe, tanks, pumps, and a controller system.

• By pre-heating a building’s water, a solar hot water system can produce 60-80% of the annual hot water needs of a commercial host even in northern climates.

CONTACT US to find out if your buildings qualify.

(Image courtesy of Solar Thermal Alliance of Colorado)