Category Archives: Solar Hot Water Heaters

Searching for affordable off grid solar hot water heaters? Click here to read, see and learn more about solar hot water heaters for off grid sheds, cabins, homes and houses in the United States

Living Off Grid - Modern Off Grid Home in Ohio Utilizes Passive Solar and Concrete Floors for Heating

How to Start Living Off the Grid in Ohio

Searching for Information on How to Start Living Off Grid in Ohio? Our Living-Off-Grid.com Site Provides Everything You Need to Research Before Building an Off Grid Cabin in Ohio

Please Follow and Like our Off Grid Living Facebook Ohio Group

How to Start Living Off Grid in Ohio

Have questions about what it will take to live off the grid in Ohio? Visit Living-Off-Grid.com to learn how to buy land in Ohio, select the type of home you want to build, size your solar power array for electricity, build a rainwater collection system for fresh water, provide heat with a wood stove, grow a raised bed garden, and more.

Who Wants to Start Living Off the Grid in Ohio?

Living Off Grid - Single Mom Builds Off-Grid Lakeside Cabin Near Columbus, Ohio

Living Off Grid – Single Mom Builds Off-Grid Lakeside Cabin Near Columbus, Ohio

What is the Best Way to Find Affordable Off Grid Land for Sale in Ohio?

What Kind of Off Grid Home Would You Like Build in Ohio?

How Much Solar Will You Need for Electricity in Ohio?

How Much Rainwater Will You Need to Harvest in Ohio?

How Will You Heat Your Off Grid Cabin in Ohio?

How Will You Provide Food for Your Family in Ohio?

How to Build Fences/Roads for Off Grid Properties in Ohio?

Search other Best States for OffGrid Living:

ALAKAZARCACOCTDEFLGAHIIDILINIAKSKYLAMEMDMAMIMNMSMOMTNENVNH, NJNMNYNCNDOHOKORPARISCSDTNTX, UTVT, VAWVWIWY

Best Countries to Live OffGrid Outside the United States

# # #

Robert Hoskins, a seasoned Front Page PR veteran provides more than twenty-five years of external communications, media relations, digital social media and SEO skills to Front Page PR’s crowdfunding PR and media relations service portfolio.
Robert Hoskins
(512) 627-6622
@OffGridLiving3


Robert Hoskins is a seasoned marketing veteran with a proven track record of helping entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses as well as Fortune 500 corporations launch successful marketing communications campaigns that sell off grid, remote cabin, solar, rainwater harvesting, bushcraft, outdoor adventure, camping, backpacking, tactical prepper gear, tools, products and services that target rural and off grid properties.
On a regular basis, Mr. Hoskins consults with marketing managers, PR contacts and social media specialists as well as websites, portals and ecommerce center that want to launch successful marketing campaigns to an off grid, prepper, and bushcraft target audience that like to prepare for when Shit-Hits-the-Fan situations (SHTF).
Google search “Robert Hoskins Crowdfunding PR” to see why Mr. Hoskins is considered one of the industry’s foremost crowdfunding experts that has amassed a huge social media following, which is dedicated to developing donation-, rewards- and equity-based crowdfunding campaigns to help raise money to introduce innovative new products and services to the marketplace.

Please like, follow us and share our content via:

Sign Up for Our Monthly “Off Grid Living in Ohio” Newsletter:

Advertisement
Guide to Off Grid Living - Log Cabin with a Game Room in Medora, North Dakota

How to Start Living Off the Grid in North Dakota

Searching for Information on How to Start Living Off Grid in North Dakota? Our Living-Off-Grid.com Site Provides Everything You Need to Research Before Building an Off Grid Cabin in North Dakota

Please Follow and Like our Off Grid Living Facebook North Dakota Group

How to Start Living Off Grid in North Dakota

Have questions about what it will take to live off the grid in North Dakota? Visit Living-Off-Grid.com to learn how to buy land in North Dakota, select the type of home you want to build, size your solar power array for electricity, build a rainwater collection system for fresh water, provide heat with a wood stove, grow a raised bed garden, and more.

Who Wants to Start Living Off the Grid in North Dakota?

Guide to Off Grid Living - Log Cabin with a Game Room in Medora, North Dakota

Guide to Off Grid Living – Log Cabin with a Game Room in Medora, North Dakota

What is the Best Way to Find Affordable Off Grid Land for Sale in North Dakota?

What Kind of Off Grid Home Would You Like Build in North Dakota?

How Much Solar Will You Need for Electricity in North Dakota?

How Much Rainwater Will You Need to Harvest in North Dakota?

How Will You Heat Your Off Grid Cabin in North Dakota?

How Will You Provide Food for Your Family in North Dakota?

How to Build Fences/Roads for Off Grid Properties in North Dakota?

Search other Best States for OffGrid Living:

ALAKAZARCACOCTDEFLGAHIIDILINIAKSKYLAMEMDMAMIMNMSMOMTNENVNH, NJNMNYNCNDOHOKORPARISCSDTNTX, UTVT, VAWVWIWY

Best Countries to Live OffGrid Outside the United States

# # #

Robert Hoskins, a seasoned Front Page PR veteran provides more than twenty-five years of external communications, media relations, digital social media and SEO skills to Front Page PR’s crowdfunding PR and media relations service portfolio.
Robert Hoskins
(512) 627-6622
@OffGridLiving3


Robert Hoskins is a seasoned marketing veteran with a proven track record of helping entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses as well as Fortune 500 corporations launch successful marketing communications campaigns that sell off grid, remote cabin, solar, rainwater harvesting, bushcraft, outdoor adventure, camping, backpacking, tactical prepper gear, tools, products and services that target rural and off grid properties.
On a regular basis, Mr. Hoskins consults with marketing managers, PR contacts and social media specialists as well as websites, portals and ecommerce center that want to launch successful marketing campaigns to an off grid, prepper, and bushcraft target audience that like to prepare for when Shit-Hits-the-Fan situations (SHTF).
Google search “Robert Hoskins Crowdfunding PR” to see why Mr. Hoskins is considered one of the industry’s foremost crowdfunding experts that has amassed a huge social media following, which is dedicated to developing donation-, rewards- and equity-based crowdfunding campaigns to help raise money to introduce innovative new products and services to the marketplace.

Please like, follow us and share our content via:

Sign Up for Our Monthly “Off Grid Living in North Dakota” Newsletter:

Guide to Off Grid Living - The road less traveled for homeownership: A converted, one-of-a-kind school bus in North Carolina

How to Start Living Off the Grid in North Carolina

Searching for Information on How to Start Living Off Grid in North Carolina? Our Living-Off-Grid.com Site Provides Everything You Need to Research Before Building an Off Grid Cabin in North Carolina

Please Follow and Like our Off Grid Living Facebook North Carolina Group

How to Start Living Off Grid in North Carolina

Have questions about what it will take to live off the grid in North Carolina? Visit Living-Off-Grid.com to learn how to buy land in North Carolina, select the type of home you want to build, size your solar power array for electricity, build a rainwater collection system for fresh water, provide heat with a wood stove, grow a raised bed garden, and more.

Who Wants to Start Living Off the Grid in North Carolina?

What is the Best Way to Find Affordable Off Grid Land for Sale in North Carolina?

What Kind of Off Grid Home Would You Like Build in North Carolina?

How Much Solar Will You Need for Electricity in North Carolina?

How Much Rainwater Will You Need to Harvest in North Carolina?

How Will You Heat Your Off Grid Cabin in North Carolina?

How Will You Provide Food for Your Family in North Carolina?

How to Build Fences/Roads for Off Grid Properties in North Carolina?

Search other Best States for OffGrid Living:

ALAKAZARCACOCTDEFLGAHIIDILINIAKSKYLAMEMDMAMIMNMSMOMTNENVNH, NJNMNYNCNDOHOKORPARISCSDTNTX, UTVT, VAWVWIWY

Best Countries to Live OffGrid Outside the United States

# # #

Robert Hoskins, a seasoned Front Page PR veteran provides more than twenty-five years of external communications, media relations, digital social media and SEO skills to Front Page PR’s crowdfunding PR and media relations service portfolio.
Robert Hoskins
(512) 627-6622
@OffGridLiving3


Robert Hoskins is a seasoned marketing veteran with a proven track record of helping entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses as well as Fortune 500 corporations launch successful marketing communications campaigns that sell off grid, remote cabin, solar, rainwater harvesting, bushcraft, outdoor adventure, camping, backpacking, tactical prepper gear, tools, products and services that target rural and off grid properties.
On a regular basis, Mr. Hoskins consults with marketing managers, PR contacts and social media specialists as well as websites, portals and ecommerce center that want to launch successful marketing campaigns to an off grid, prepper, and bushcraft target audience that like to prepare for when Shit-Hits-the-Fan situations (SHTF).
Google search “Robert Hoskins Crowdfunding PR” to see why Mr. Hoskins is considered one of the industry’s foremost crowdfunding experts that has amassed a huge social media following, which is dedicated to developing donation-, rewards- and equity-based crowdfunding campaigns to help raise money to introduce innovative new products and services to the marketplace.

Please like, follow us and share our content via:

Sign Up for Our Monthly “Off Grid Living in North Carolina” Newsletter:

Living Off Grid - Dante DiPirro is a lawyer who lives off grid in East Amwell Township, New Jersey

Homes for Living Off Grid in New Jersey

Searching for Information on How to Start Living Off Grid in New Jersey? Our Living-Off-Grid.com Site Provides Everything You Need to Research Before Building an Off Grid Cabin in New Jersey

Please Follow and Like our Off Grid Living Facebook New Jersey Group

How to Start Living Off Grid in New Jersey

Have questions about what it will take to live off the grid in New Jersey? Visit Living-Off-Grid.com to learn how to buy land in New Jersey, select the type of home you want to build, size your solar power array for electricity, build a rainwater collection system for fresh water, provide heat with a wood stove, grow a raised bed garden, and more.

Who Wants to Start Living Off Grid in New Jersey?

Living Off Grid - Dante DiPirro is a lawyer who lives off grid in East Amwell Township, New Jersey

Living Off Grid – Dante DiPirro is a lawyer who lives off grid in East Amwell, New Jersey

What is the Best Way to Find Affordable Off Grid Land for Sale in New Jersey?

What Kind of Off Grid Home Would You Like Build in New Jersey?

How Much Solar Will You Need for Electricity in New Jersey?

How Much Rainwater Will You Need to Harvest in New Jersey?

How Will You Heat Your Off Grid Cabin in New Jersey?

How Will You Provide Food for Your Family in New Jersey?

How to Build Fences/Roads for Off Grid Properties in New Jersey?

Search other Best States for OffGrid Living:

ALAKAZARCACOCTDEFLGAHIIDILINIAKSKYLAMEMDMAMIMNMSMOMTNENVNH, NJNMNYNCNDOHOKORPARISCSDTNTX, UTVT, VAWVWIWY

Best Countries to Live OffGrid Outside the United States

# # #

Robert Hoskins, a seasoned Front Page PR veteran provides more than twenty-five years of external communications, media relations, digital social media and SEO skills to Front Page PR’s crowdfunding PR and media relations service portfolio.
Robert Hoskins
(512) 627-6622
@OffGridLiving3


Robert Hoskins is a seasoned marketing veteran with a proven track record of helping entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses as well as Fortune 500 corporations launch successful marketing communications campaigns that sell off grid, remote cabin, solar, rainwater harvesting, bushcraft, outdoor adventure, camping, backpacking, tactical prepper gear, tools, products and services that target rural and off grid properties.
On a regular basis, Mr. Hoskins consults with marketing managers, PR contacts and social media specialists as well as websites, portals and ecommerce center that want to launch successful marketing campaigns to an off grid, prepper, and bushcraft target audience that like to prepare for when Shit-Hits-the-Fan situations (SHTF).
Google search “Robert Hoskins Crowdfunding PR” to see why Mr. Hoskins is considered one of the industry’s foremost crowdfunding experts that has amassed a huge social media following, which is dedicated to developing donation-, rewards- and equity-based crowdfunding campaigns to help raise money to introduce innovative new products and services to the marketplace.

Please like, follow us and share our content via:

Sign Up for Our Monthly “Off Grid Living in New Jersey” Newsletter:

Guide to Off Grid Living - How to Select between Mono-Crystalline vs Polycrystalline Solar Panels

Off Grid, Grid-Tied or Hybrid Solar Power Array – Which Option Is Best for Your Rural Shed, Cabin or Home in Massachusetts?

Which Solar Power Option Is Best for Your Rural Shed, Cabin or Home in Massachusetts? Off Grid, Grid-Tied or a Hybrid Solar Power Array?

Off Grid, Grid-Tied or Hybrid Solar Power Array - Which Option Is Best for Your Rural Shed, Cabin or Home in Massachusetts

Off Grid, Grid-Tied or Hybrid Solar Power – Which Option Is Best for Your Rural Shed, Cabin or Home in Massachusetts

Please Follow and Like our Off Grid Living Facebook New York Group Page

Woburn, Massachusetts – As energy rates spike and frustrations with local utility companies continue to increase, a growing number of homeowners here in Massachusetts are seeking out ways to become more energy independent. Boston Solar often gets asked if it is possible to go completely off-grid with solar in Massachusetts for remote cabins and off grid properties.

Boston Solar says that installing solar is one of the best investments off-gridders can make for greater energy independence, and consulting with customers on what the best options are for families that are trying to decide exactly how much energy usage they need to offset for 24×7 operation.

For example, will homesteaders reduce their reliance on the power grid significantly by installing a grid-tied solar PV system, or will they want to cut ties to the local utility completely by installing an off-grid system? Or, will you opt for an in-between, hybrid option? We’ll explain what each of these systems means and help you choose which solar system is right for your home.

Which Solar Power Array Configuration is the Best?

One of the most important decisions you will need to make when you invest in residential solar is whether to install a grid-tied, off-grid, or hybrid system and understand what each of these mean. Here is a brief look at the benefits of each option, and what the implications are for your solar panel installation.

Grid-Tied Solar Power Array

Grid-tied solar systems are designed to provide a large percentage of your electricity needs while still allowing you to draw from the power grid as needed. During the day when the sun is shining, your grid-tied system supplies free and clean power for your home. Then, at night, you draw any electricity you need from the power grid.

Grid-tied systems are a popular option here in Massachusetts because they have a lower upfront cost but still offset a significant portion of a household’s electrical needs. Plus, if your solar system generates more electricity than you need during the day, you have the option to “sell” that electricity back to your local utility for credit if your utility participates in net metering.

Off Grid Solar Power Array

If you want to completely cut ties with your local utility company, you must install an off-grid system. Off-grid solar systems have more solar panels, plus a backup generator and enough battery storage to provide 100% of a household’s electricity needs.

Off-grid solar is typically only for properties that do not have access to the utility grid. If you are someone who heavily values energy independence and therefore want to minimize your reliance on the grid but not fully ready to go completely off-grid, you may want to consider a hybrid system.

Hybrid Solar Power Array

If you are looking for something like a hybrid of grid-tied and off-grid solar, you might consider a grid-tied system with a solar battery. This option is similar to an off-grid system in that it features battery storage, but it is not large enough to provide 100% of your electricity needs.

With this option, you can enjoy the greater energy independence that solar-plus-storage offers, without installing quite as large or expensive of a system on your property. Keep in mind, however, that solar batteries are still relatively expensive compared to solar panels.

Want to speak to an off grid solar expert? Call Boston Solar at 617-841-8484.

Read more => https://www.bostonsolar.us/solar-blog-resource-center/blog/off-grid-grid-tied-or-hybrid-which-option-is-best-for-you/

# # #

Robert Hoskins, a seasoned Front Page PR veteran provides more than twenty-five years of external communications, media relations, digital social media and SEO skills to Front Page PR’s crowdfunding PR and media relations service portfolio.
Robert Hoskins
(512) 627-6622
@OffGridLiving3


Robert Hoskins is a seasoned marketing veteran with a proven track record of helping entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses as well as Fortune 500 corporations launch successful marketing communications campaigns that sell off grid, remote cabin, solar, rainwater harvesting, bushcraft, outdoor adventure, camping, backpacking, tactical prepper gear, tools, products and services that target rural and off grid properties.
On a regular basis, Mr. Hoskins consults with marketing managers, PR contacts and social media specialists as well as websites, portals and ecommerce center that want to launch successful marketing campaigns to an off grid, prepper, and bushcraft target audience that like to prepare for when Shit-Hits-the-Fan situations (SHTF).
Google search “Robert Hoskins Crowdfunding PR” to see why Mr. Hoskins is considered one of the industry’s foremost crowdfunding experts that has amassed a huge social media following, which is dedicated to developing donation-, rewards- and equity-based crowdfunding campaigns to help raise money to introduce innovative new products and services to the marketplace.

Off Grid Living - How to Install Solar Lighting Systems for an Off Grid Property

Guide to Off Grid Living Launches New Living-Off-Grid.com Website to Complement Its Facebook Groups and Pages Targeting Arizona, California, New Mexico, New York and Texas

The Facebook pages/groups and off grid website provide info on building off grid homes, producing solar power, growing organic gardens, raising livestock and harvesting rainwater

Sacramento, California (November 11, 2019) – The Guide to Off Grid Living announced today that it has launched a new website, Living-Off-Grid.com, to educate people that want to buy a rural piece of property and build an off grid homestead in Arizona, California, New Mexico, New York or Texas.

“Today’s world is full of high-technology gadgets, computers, cell phones, cloud-based services that are all dependent on electricity, but as more than 2 million people found out in California, that can change instantly overnight and without warning,” said Robert Hoskins, Editor, Guide to Off Grid Living. “Our Guide to Off Grid Living is written specifically to help people learn how to survive as long as the sun is shining and the clouds are raining.”

“Even if you live in a suburban or a downtown urban environment, almost anyone can prepare themselves and their family to live in a world without water, gas or electricity from the local utility company, which might vanish overnight, whether it be just for a couple of days or many months at a time,” Hoskins continued. “Imagine what it would be like to live in a house with no utility or grocery bills.”

For shelter, the site provides insightful information that beginners can use to research, plan and build their first off grid home, cabin and/or shed.

Off Grid Living - How to Build a Shed, Cabin, Tipi, Yurt, Earthship, Tent, Wilderness Shelter, Bunker, Tiny House or Steel Building for an Off Grid Property

Off Grid Living – How to Build a Shed, Cabin, Tipi, Yurt, Earthship, Tent, Wilderness Shelter, Bunker, Tiny House or Steel Building for an Off Grid Property


For energy, the site details how to harness solar energy to produce electricity, heat, hot water, lights and ovens for cooking.

Off Grid Living - Installing Solar Power to Produce Off Grid Electricity

Off Grid Living – Installing Solar Power to Produce Off Grid Electricity

For food, the site details how to plant organic raised-bed gardens, how to build aquaponic gardens/fish farms as well as how to raise chickens, ducks, rabbits, bees and other live stock to put food on the table.

Off Grid Living - How to Build a Greenhouse to Support an Off Grid Aquaponic Garden and Fish Farm

Off Grid Living – How to Build a Greenhouse to Support an Off Grid Aquaponic Garden and Fish Farm

For water, the site details how to collect water utilizing rainwater harvesting systems using rooftops and collection barrels and cisterns, how to build a fresh water ponds for raising fish and aquatic plants and how to drill your own well if the water table is close to the surface.

Off Grid Living - How to Install Rain Barrel Cisterns to Collect Rainwater and Store It to Provide Water for an Off Grid Homestead

Off Grid Living – How to Install Rain Barrel Cisterns to Collect Rainwater and Store It to Provide Water for an Off Grid Homestead

 

# # #

Contact:
Robert Hoskins
Living-Off-Grid.com
512-627-6622

How to Build an Outdoor Solar Heated Shower for Your Off Grid Cabin

Off Grid Living – How to Build an Outdoor
Solar Heated Shower for Your Off Grid Cabin

Click on the photo to see more pictures:
Off Grid Living - How to Build an Outdoor Shower for Your Off Grid Cabin

Off Grid Living – How to Build an Outdoor Solar Heated Shower for Your Off Grid Cabin

How to Build an Outdoor Solar Heated Shower for Your Off Grid Cabin

New Mexico – Outdoor showers are a great way to get clean outdoors, a smart way to provide an auxiliary shower for guests during a crowded weekend and a convenient place to clean up sandy feet or after messy yard work. But the question is: What type of outdoor shower? A fully plumbed shower can be complicated. A solar powered shower, on the other hand, is appealing in its simplicity.

But you can still enjoy a warm – and fashionably green – shower under a blue sky by making a few tweaks to the traditional design. In this shower plan, the tank is replaced with a homemade solar coil connected to a garden hose, with both cold and hot supply lines. The end result is an open-topped, efficient solar shower with plenty of pressure and a quick recharge time, perfect for a quick rinse after yard work or before going for a dip in the hot tub or a steam in the sauna.

Source: https://cabinlife.com/articles/article/how-to-build-enjoy-an-outdoor-solar-shower

Please join our Off Grid Living Discussion Group on Facebook

  1. To learn more and discuss off grid topics, please join our free Facebook group at: Off Grid Living: Prepping to Live Off the Grid
  2. Or, read more topics in our “Guide to Off Grid Living” => https://livingoffgrid.home.blog/guide-to-off-grid-living/

# # #

#Bathroom #Cabins #Corrugated #Metal #Design #Ideas #Homes #NewMexicos #News #OffGridLiving #LivingOffGrid #Outdoor #Sheds #Showers #Solar #HotWater #Heaters #Stone #UnitedStates #Water

Rustic Outhouse and Bathroom Design and Decorating Ideas for an Off Grid Sheds, Cabins or Homes

Off Grid Living – Rustic Outhouse and Bathroom Design
and Decorating Ideas for an Off Grid Sheds, Cabins or Homes

Click on the photo to see more pictures:
Off Grid Living - Rustic Outhouse and Bathroom Design and Decorating Ideas for an Off Grid Sheds, Cabins or Homes

Rustic Outhouse/Bathroom Design & Decorating Ideas for an Off Grid Sheds, Cabins or Homes

Off Grid Living Bathroom and Outhouse Design Ideas

Arizona – Many off grid cabins use self composting or septic systems. In addition, many off grid bathrooms are designed to conserve and separate gray from #2 waste which is either composted or fed into a septic tank.

If you’ve never hear of using black soldier flies in tandem with composting toilets, you should do some research on them. They are a great way to turn human manure into free chicken feed.

Different areas of the country have different regulations about this. For example, most cities are against it and only more rustic regions of the country will generally be accepting. Even if you are allowed to have one however there will be a lot of restrictions put in place including the distance away from any water source for sanitary reasons.

Feel free to like, share and make comments about which off grid bathroom design you think will work best for your home.

Please join our Off Grid Living Discussion Group on Facebook

  1. To learn more and discuss off grid topics, please join our free Facebook group at: Off Grid Living: Prepping to Live Off the Grid
  2. Or, read more topics in our “Guide to Off Grid Living” => https://livingoffgrid.home.blog/guide-to-off-grid-living/

# # #

#Arizona #OffGridHomes #OffGridCabins #OffGridSheds #OffGridLiving #LivingOffGrid #HowTo #Build #Rustic #Outhouse #Bathroom #Bathtubs #Design #Decorating

How to Heat Water with Solar Hot Water Heaters and Stove Water Heating Jackets

The Benefits of Using Passive Solar Heating and Wood Stove Water Heating Jackets to Heat Water for an Off Grid Shed, Cabin or Home

Click on the photo to see more pictures:
How to Use Off Grid Solar Collectors to Product Free Hot Water

How to Use Passive Solar Collectors to Product Free Hot Water for Off Grid Properties

Various Types of Solar Hot Water Heaters to Heat Water for Off Grid Homes

United States – There are many options for solar water heaters that range from inexpensive home-made jobs to high-end state of the art commercial models.

If you switch to a solar water heating system, your use of electricity or propane will drop significantly; that number will approach zero rapidly if your backup heating system is a wood stove or firebox with a water jacket rather than occasional use utility electricity.

The home-made options are typically not suited for use during times of the year when temperatures dip below freezing. You would need to winterized them before any threat of fall or winter weather arrives.  There are probably hundreds of variations that may be found on the internet. They range from coils of black plastic pipe on one’s roof to coils of copper inside a box with outer glass cover (creating a greenhouse effect).

Some of these utilize a DC electric circulating pump. It pushes the heated water into a storage tank and bring fresh cool water into the heater.  This pump may be activated by a switch that is temperature controlled. But some are directly connected to a solar panel and only run when the sun is shining (precisely the same times that the water is being heated and needs to be circulated).

Evacuated Tube Solar Hot Water Heaters

Evacuated tube models are composed of numerous rows of glass tubes with another smaller tube inside each of the larger tubes.  A vacuum is pulled between each of the two tubes which greatly lessens the loss of heat to outside weather.  Water or an antifreeze solution is then circulated through the inner tubes.

The advantages of evacuated tubes lie in greater efficiency and less heat lost.  So they work quite well even during surprisingly cool temperatures.  However they are somewhat fragile and may not be as suited to areas with a great amount of snow and ice due to the potential for breakage from buildup.

Flat Panel Solar Hot Water Heaters

These heaters look much like solar electric panels but contain tiny water passages which enable a great amount of surface area to come in contact with the heat from the sun.  While not as efficient as evacuated tubes, flat panels still work very well and are certainly more rugged when faced with heavy snow and icy conditions.

Typically an antifreeze solution is circulated through the tubes or panels and the hot fluid is routed inside to a heat exchanger which transfers the heat of the fluid to the home’s hot water.  There are some varieties of evacuated tube heaters that are called drain down systems, which do not require the use of antifreeze because the water drains away from exposed areas once the water cools off.

Thermo-Siphon Solar Hot Water Heaters

It is possible to set up a solar water heating system that doesn’t require an electric circulating pump.  This would be called a thermo-siphon system, operating on the principle that heat rises.

This was the type of system we planned to install for our cabin in the summertime.  The disadvantages would be the amount of work involved in installation, significant cost of commercial systems, and reliance on an electric circulating pump (unless it is set up as a thermo-siphon system).

# # #