- 1). To build cheaply, find used materials. An old---but not leaking---water heater tank is ideal for the storage tank, although the insulation and some fixtures will have to be removed and replaced. Make the glass cover from old windows rather than buying them new. Make the boxes from scrap plywood.
- 2). The box should be placed and tilted to best follow the sun's path. The angle will vary, depending on the climate and the latitude of the home.
The wooden box will hold the tank. Essentially it is a box within a box. The inner box will hold the water tank, but needs to have a layer of insulation---old styrofoam and packing peanuts can save money---on its exterior. Build the outer box around the insulated inner box. Both boxes should be caulked and tightly sealed to hold the heat.
Line the exposed surfaces of the inner box with a reflective material to increase the amount of sunlight and heat focused on the tank. - 3). Place the water tank inside the inner box, with connections to the incoming cold water supply on one end and to the home on the other. The home connection should be from the top of the tank because warm water rises. Make sure the pipe connections are tightly sealed where they enter the boxes.
- 4). Place the glass over the top of the box and seal it as tightly as possible. The sunlight should pass through the glass and heat the water in the tank. The hot water will rise to the top and flow into the home when faucets are opened or bath and showers are turned on.
- 5). The hot water may get too hot in some climates and seasons. If so, add a store-bought tempering valve that can be adjusted to add cold water into the system to lower the temperature.
In cold climates, water can freeze inside the pipes. Be careful to insulate all exposed pipes.
Building a Batch Solar Water Heater
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