Solar Water Heater Vs. Gas
Hot water is used in a number of home appliances including dishwashers and sinks. Water does not come into your home hot. It must be warmed by a water heater. A number of water heaters can be used with the most popular being solar and gas water heaters. Both have advantages and disadvantages. A homeowner should consider her particular needs when deciding on which one to install. Does this Spark an idea?
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Solar Water Heater
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Solar water heaters are water heaters that utilize solar power. The two main types of solar power water heaters are known as direct and indirect solar power water heaters. Direct heaters have circulating pumps and controls, while indirect do not. Both types include storage tanks and solar collectors, the most important parts of the heater system.
Gas Water Heater
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A second type of water heater is the demand water heater. These types use either electricity or gas to heat the water. Incoming cold water is heated by the gas burner and then expelled at a rate of 2 to 5 gallons per minute depending on the quality and size of the machine and pipes.
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Advantages of Solar Water Heaters
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An advantage in having a solar power water heater is that solar power heaters can be installed in nearly any place where sunlight is found. Sometimes a home may be in so remote a location that a gas supply or a company to install a gas water heater will not be available. A second benefit is that solar water heaters are environmentally friendly. Solar power is very clean and does not release carbon compounds like other power systems. Also, solar power does not require drawing power off of a power grid, which is likely created by burning fossil fuels.
Disadvantages of Solar Water Heaters
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Unfortunately, solar water heaters are not perfect. Solar power itself has limitations. Some areas at high latitudes will not be able to use it efficiently because the winter months do not provide sufficient sunlight. Also, the startup costs for solar water heaters are very expensive. Solar power itself still remains a very expensive technology. However, the initial startup costs can be overcome within 15 to 30 years. A third disadvantage of solar water heaters is the fact that they have a storage tank. Because water is idle in storage tanks, a great amount of heat is lost over time.
Advantages of Gas Water Heaters
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Solar water heaters are environmentally friendly. Gas water heaters do not require a storage tank like most solar water heaters. Thus, the heat of the water will last much longer and you will not have to spend money to reheat the water. A second advantage is that gas water heaters can be used at all times of the day. During cloudy days and dark nights, gas water heaters continue to work, unlike solar water heaters.
Disadvantages of Gas Water Heaters
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Just like solar water heaters, gas water heaters also have limitations. For one, you cannot expel hot water from two different sources. This means that you will not have hot water if you run your washing machine when trying to take a shower. Second, gas water heaters are not environmentally friendly, relying on combustion to operate. Combustion releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere contributing to the greenhouse effect.
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References
- Photo Credit home sweet home image by David Dorner from Fotolia.com Solar Panel image by kuhar from Fotolia.com
