How to Make a Solar Powered Water Heater: DIY Tips

Solar-powered water heater

Building a solar-powered water heater is your first step in reducing energy dependence; participate in greenhouse emission reduction and saving money on energy bills.

Keep in mind when building a homemade solar water heater that solar energy can provide the needed power for your domestic hot water needs, but it greatly depends on geographic location, collector orientation, panel size, and your designing and DIY skills.

DIY Solar powered water heater: Things to consider

Moreover, you should be proud of yourself, not only because you are using "free" and renewable energy, but because you contribute to saving the environment from greenhouse gases and other pollutants.

Here, we will introduce passive solar hot water systems as they are simple, easy to make, and economical for budget-oriented homeowners.

They don't require complex elements but a storage tank, solar collector to absorb solar heat, and backup energy source if you need one. Of course, there are other elements involved, such as valves, pipes, and controllers for better performance, efficiency, and safety.

Designing and building this kind of solar water heating system can be a very simple and challenging DIY project at the same time. It depends on what you want to get from the system.

Also, keep in mind that the success of your solar-powered water heater depends on its ability to collect, save, store and transfer solar energy, even when there is no direct sunlight and if there is only diffuse radiation from the sun (cloudy periods, for example).

Before you start building your first or second solar power water heater, it is good to know that there are two types of passive systems:

• Passive system - where the tank is integrated into or located above the collector.
• A system with combined collection and storage, called integral passive solar water heater - IPSWH. This system is also called a batch water heater, where water is heated and stored inside the collector. They are suitable for warmer climates.

Building and installing tips

Location and position

The first thing you want to consider when building solar water heaters is the location of your collectors or panels. You need sun exposure and lots of it. So, install the system in a sunny spot. The best location is on the roof of your house. If it faces south, better. It can also be a free-standing one.

If you are using a solar-powered water heater mainly during the summer, install the solar panel at an angle - closer to horizontal. The highest heat absorption and the most efficient heat transfer is when the sunlight is perpendicular to the solar collector.

That means the slope of the panel can be changed based on what part of the year is when it is used and the place of the site.

How to increase the efficiency 

To gain even more solar heat, you can build reflectors, like polished aluminum or mirrored panels, usually parabolic in shape, and concentrate the sun rays on the tubes or in the tank.

The solar collector has to be effective to attract enough solar heat to retain and transfer it to the fluid. The easiest way to make your solar-powered water heater effective is to paint it black. This works great when it is sunny outside, but what to do at night or during the colder days?

How to insulate

Put your solar water heater in a tight, insulated box with the glazing on the top facing the south so that it can attract even more solar energy. Multiple glazing is also desirable to keep collected heat inside the panel or a box.

Glass is best for glazing, actually tempered glass, but you can apply other materials like fiberglass and acrylic, and be sure to select one which can handle temperatures of up to 220 F (90 C).

How to improve the system

Tips: An insulated box has to be well sealed so hot air cannot escape. The movable insulation (shutter controlled by the actuator or small motors), or simple blanket, on top of the glazing, can be used to keep the temperature during the night and reduce the heat loss.

Plan and design the collector with the correct size and based on your hot water needs and other requirements. To provide enough hot water, consider building a collector with no more than 2.5 gallons per sq. ft., or 100 lit. per 1 m2 of the panel.

Make the necessary plumbing work and connections. This refers to connections between the collector panel and the plumbing system, so it is as efficient as possible, with reduced distances wherever possible and putting the insulation. The idea is to reduce heat loss through the heating system.

How to protect the system

For the long life of your solar-powered water heater, you should also consider; freeze protection, corrosion protection, proper drainage, maintenance, and servicing. For example, for protection, use copper whenever possible and as much as you can as it is corrosion-resistant.

Prepare the exterior surface for painting and use the appropriate primer and finish coats to prevent tank corrosion. For inside protection, you can use the sacrificial anode. Spend even more money on quality elements as you want to build a solar-powered water heater that will last.