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Why not use the power of the sun to provide you with a domestic hot water heating system?  You can make and fit diy solar water heating easily and cheaply, perhaps for under 100 dollars depending on the materials you have available.  Ready made solar water heaters usually cost over 1,000 dollars so building your own solar water heater will save you several hundred dollars, paying for itself in just a few months.  Then your hot water will be free!

Solar water heating works anywhere in the world – even in the middle of winter!  It is possible that solar heat might not provide all your hot water (it often does), but it will definitely save you a large chunk of your utility bill.  Savings of one third are quite usual.  These systems are simple, effective and very eco-friendly.  Typically, you can make and fit a complete solar hot water system in a weekend, provided you get properly organized firstand get all the parts assembled.

The system consists of a simple glazed solar collector box containing water tubes that, in turn, are connected to the hot and cold water pipes of your existing hot water tank.  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.  Plumbing is easy and no special skills or tools are needed.  Position the collector box so that it faces the mid-day sun, mounting it on the roof if you wish, or attached to a wall, but ideally close to your hot water tank to minimize heat losses through the pipes.  You will be able to get all the materials needed at your local hardware store, although you will probably find you already have some of them in your shed.

Making and fitting such a system will not interfere with or harm your existing hot water installation.  In fact, by lowering the use of the existing heaters, the solar water heater will help prolong the service of your boiler or immersion heater and also save on utility and maintenance costs.  A further advantage is that solar heat is a renewable resource, so there is an green bonus for installing a solar hot water system as well.

It also has other uses.  Solar hot water systems can be used for heating swimming pools by providing a gentle, all-year-round source of free heating.  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. A diy solar water heating system is an ideal way of getting free heat in your house.

It is amazing how satisfying it is to build a simple system that provides constant hot water without hurting our planet.

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?