In recent times, water heaters increasingly play an important role in home appliances. Because, nowadays most people have started to purchase water heaters to enjoy taking bath even in chill climates.
Also, if you have kids in your home, definitely we need hot water to take care of them. Because using normal regular water would cause infections like cold, cough, fever, etc. In those cases, a water heater will be very useful as it saves energy and time.
There are various types of water heater available in the market such as electric water heater, solar water heater, gas water heater and more. And in each water heater, varieties of brands are there. But still the choice is in your hands as it differs based on their personal preferences.
This article will guide you about how to choose a solar water heater?, that suits your individual preferences.
What is a Solar Water Heater and How Does it Work?
A solar water heater normally absorbs the thermal energy from the sunlight with a solar panel and heats the water without electricity.
Working principle may change according to the type of solar water heater. But in general it comes with a solar panel, pipes and storage tank. The solar panels collect and store the energy, which facilitates in heating water.
Things to Consider While Buying Solar Water Heater
There are certain things which need to be considered while purchasing a solar water heater, since it is a one time purchase with huge investment. So it is better to be more careful and knowledgeable about the product before buying.
Check out another article, to know about the top 10 best solar water heaters from here.
1.Cost
First, we need to decide the budget plan to buy a solar water heater and then start to figure out the type and brand that best suits your specific preferences and needs.
2.Types
There are two types of solar water heater – Active Solar Water Heating and Passive Solar Water Heating. Active solar water heating systems use electric pumps and controllers whereas passive solar water heating systems circulate water/fluid through gravity without using external controllers.
Active solar water heating systems are more expensive compared to passive solar water heating systems.
3.Capacity
The capacity has been chosen depending on the number of people occupied in your home and the average amount of hot water used by them, which include bathing, hand washing, vessel washing, cleaning etc. If there are 3 people in a home and each of them is using 30 Litres Per Day (LPD), then you can choose 100 LPD.
4.Climate
According to the surrounding climate, we can choose the solar water heater. If you are living near hill stations or frequent rainy regions, you can choose passive solar water heating systems. Because the active solar water heating system is not designed to freeze the collected temperature.
5.Installation Area
The solar panels can either be installed on the roof of the house or on the ground surface. But, it is suggested to install on the rooftop for better performance. Because the solar collector works well, if it is installed on the rooftop compared to the ground surface.
Also If it faces the south zone, it would be better to absorb the energy from sunlight during day time.
6.Warranty and Return Policy
We have to verify the warranty duration and how to claim it. Also we have to figure out that they provide repair or replacement if we encounter any issues.
We need to examine the refund conditions and charges like shipping charges, return fee, etc.
7.Reviews and Ratings
We have to compare, cross-check and verify the reviews and comments for different brands.
Conclusion
Here, we have listed certain criteria which need to be considered before purchasing a solar water heater. It would definitely help you to decide the perfect solar water heater for you even at your planned budget that meets your specific requirements.
Additionally, consider the size of the system, its efficiency, and the overall cost of installation and maintenance as it not only helps in saving energy but also contributes to the greener environment.
