Although there are a lot of options, it’s really not that difficult to select a system that will work for you. Get your felt tip marker out as Ken Olson summarizes the options: “If you live in a freeze-free climate, you should choose a batch heater or a small thermosiphon unit.” Although these systems will only serve one to three people, you can always install a couple of batch heaters or thermosiphon solar panels side by side to boost your hot water production.
Or, says Olsen, you should consider “an open-loop direct pump system circulating water from the storage tank to the flat plate collector.”
In colder climates or in regions with hard water, Olsen recommends “one of the closed loop systems with antifreeze and a heat exchanger.”
A closed-loop antifreeze system is recommended in regions with hard water because hard water contains minerals that can deposit on the inside of pipes of open-loop systems. Over time, these minerals accumulate, reducing flow rates and the efficiency of an SDHW system. The open-loop water systems just aren’t worth it in such applications. Using water as a heat transfer medium in such instances, is going to cause you trouble.
What is a Solar Hot Water System?
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