Five Tips for Boosting the Temperature of Your Solar Hot Water
If your solar hot water heater isn't producing water that is hot enough, there may be several things you can do to boost the temperature of your water. If you're tired of lukewarm showers, take a look at these heat boasting ideas:
1. Eliminate shading.
Ideally, your solar collectors should get as much sunlight as possible. Track the path the sun takes over your house during the day, and look for any areas of obstruction. Then, if possible, remove them.
Be prepared to trim tree branches or potentially ask your neighbours if they will allow you to prune some of their trees.
2. Clean the glass covers.
In some cases, even if your solar collectors are receiving a lot of sunlight, they may not be able to process it if their glass is dirty or grimy. Gently clean the glass using a mixture of warm water with a small amount of dishwashing liquid -- it helps to cut greasy build up and also remove dirt.
3. Ensure your tank is large enough.
In some cases, you may have cool water simply because your solar hot water tank isn't large enough to hold all of the water you use. Look carefully at your consumption, and take into account all of the places where you use hot water including your dish and clothes washers.
If you invest in a larger tank, you will have more ready access to a constant supply of hot water.
4. Use hot water during the sun's peak hours.
It also helps if you schedule your water use strategically. Instead of washing clothes or doing dishes in the evening after the sun has set, try to do those tasks in the middle of the day. That way, the sun is at its peak, and even if you use all the hot water in your tank, the sun can reheat the rest of the water quickly.
5. Install a solar hot water tank booster.
Many hot water tanks come with heat boosters, and if your tank doesn't have one, you may be able to retrofit one. A heat booster is an electric component designed to heat up your water when the sun isn't shining. You can schedule your booster to come on at the same time everyday, or you can install one that you simply turn on or off as needed.
For more tips on keeping the water in your solar water tank as hot as possible, talk with a solar water heater expert like Solar Repairs today.