Solar thermal water heating

Wintertime is right around the corner and as Cache Valley residents we can count on at least two things; freezing cold weather and the inversion that keeps a layer of smog hanging over the valley.

I grew up in Cache Valley and didn’t notice the smog problem. Like most people I don’t pay attention to a problem until it starts to affect the way I live. Now that we’re to the point of having red and yellow air days we need to come up with more creative ways to travel and heat our homes. This brings me to my topic that will hopefully spark some interest for those who would like to be “green” and also for the ones who live in Cache Valley and want to have better air quality.

I am a plumber by trade and am frequently in and out of homes in Cache Valley and surrounding areas.  I am constantly in mechanical rooms and basements so I get a first hand look at what is heating your water and homes. I began to realize that maybe the car emissions aren’t responsible for the whole air quality problem.

I regularly see water heaters and furnaces in homes that are not energy efficient. Water heaters give us the hot water to shower and clean, but that isn’t the problem.   The problem is with the water heater. These heaters keep anywhere from 5 or 10 gallons to hundreds of gallons of hot water so it’s there when we need it, but is also there when we don’t need it.

With that in mind let’s talk about why regular hot water heaters aren’t very efficient.

All day most of us are at work or play. Most of us shower at one point during the day, but all day our water heater is doing its job heating water we aren’t using. There are advertisements that say, “You wouldn’t let your car run 24/7, why heat your water 24/7?” Why do we waste our money on a water heating system that heats water during the times we don’t use or need it? This problem is also compounded by hard water.

As hard water builds up in your water heater it sits over the burner or around the electric elements causing the heat transfer to heat through “rock,” which is what those mineral deposits are. There is more heat loss while the unit is not being used because the burner kicks on and off more often than needed because it’s heating through those deposits. This wastes energy, causes more smog, gives you less and less hot water, and you get to pay more money every month because the older your water heater is, the more hard water deposits are piling up in it. Now those of you with water softeners are laughing to yourselves, saying “We aren’t the problem it’s those guys who don’t have a water softener!” BUT you’re still heating water you’re not using and some of us have 1 or 2 water heaters in our homes. How often are you actually using those 100+ gallons of water to justify having them there?

It’s time we start looking at a greener solution. Although I’m a plumber and selling hot water heaters is part of how I make my living, I am also concerned about the environment, especially when it comes to my home. We want to keep Cache Valley green, in more ways than one, for our children, our neighbors, and our friends. Some “green” solutions may depend on your pocketbook. The one with the most rebates available right now is the solar hot water system. You may have seen our truck with the “75% off on a total Solar Thermal System after the rebates” sign on the back. Solar hot water has been around since the beginning of time. Some of you may remember the rise of solar in the 1970’s followed by the decline in the late 1980’s and 90’s.

Solar hot water is simple to explain and understand. There is solar hot water panel that’s mounted on your roof which heats up. We put these on the south facing roof since that direction collects the most heat from the sun. The panels have water tubes with black metal attached, as the water passes through the tubes in the panel, it heats up from the sun. Here is a diagram to help illustrate what I am describing.

The water enters the panel at a slow rate of speed so the heat from the sun is transferred into the water. This water goes into a specially designed tank to hold heat and to withstand high temperatures. These tanks usually have coils inside to transfer the heat into the water that you use to bathe and clean with. The controls on the solar system are simple. There is a temperature sensor inside the solar panel and a sensor inside the tank.  When the panels are at a warmer temperature than

the water in the tank,  it turns on a pump and the heat is transferred. When the panels cool down the pump turns off stopping the water to heat transfer.

Some of you hear the word “solar” and think one thing, “How much?” The system is expensive, but you get what you pay for; most solar hot water systems last 30-40 years with very little maintenance. If you factor in the cost of the solar hot water system, the longevity of the equipment, the feel good factor of helping the environment, AND the money you save every month, combined with the rebates, you really aren’t paying as much as you think.

The federal and state governments have been very generous in giving back our tax dollars to allow us to upgrade our current water heating devices for more energy efficient models. Questar, with the Thermwise program, has allowed natural gas customers to receive cash rebates. Also, the State of Utah still has cash rebates left in their program for upgrading your water heating appliances. These rebates start around 30% up to almost covering the entire cost of the system. The more you spend, the more you get back, which allows homeowners to choose a system that fits their budget and their green initiative.

Basically Cache Valley, as a community, needs to do something about the air quality problem. If we can decide to “go green” as a community then we can watch our valley become a cleaner, healthier place to live. Take advantage of these great rebates to save money, save the environment, and feel good about it!

If you’re interested in getting a FREE quote on a system please call or visit our website at www.bridgeplumbing.net.