Heat your domestic water with solar heatUse your solar heater for domestic water heating and enjoy hot water and hot showers courtesy of clean and free solar energy. |
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It's simple to use solar energy to heat your domestic waterFREEDOM WON solar thermal systems were first designed with domestic water heating in mind. The solar heating system works with industry-standard indirect tanks or heat exchangers, plus the FREEDOM WON temperature regulator prevents overheating in the summer months, so you can size your system to provide enough heat in winter.
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When choosing a FREEDOM WON system for domestic water heating, bear in mind that each 30-tube collector provides enough energy to heat the water for two adults... or one teenager... You'll also want to ensure your hot water tank is big enough. The tank should be sized to hold a minimum of one day's hot water usage to ensure water heated by the sun during the day is available that night and the next morning. The table below shows recommended tank size based on the number of occupants.
Number of occupants |
Hot water usage (L/day) |
Water tank size (L) |
Number of collectors |
1 or 2 |
150 |
160 |
1 |
3 or 4 |
225 |
200 |
2 |
4 or 5 |
300 |
300 |
3 |
5 or 6 |
375 |
400 |
4 |
6 or 7 |
450 |
500 |
5 |
We recommend you use a specialized solar tank with your FREEDOM WON system, though an external heat exchanger will work as well. A properly insulated tank only loses around 1°C to 2°C per day, so you can use the heat you generated yesterday for your morning shower.
Options for solar heating your domestic water
Solar TankStore your solar heat in a dedicated solar tank. With one or two internal heat exchangers, they're suitable for a variety of solar heating setups. It'll take up a bit of space in your utility room and costs more up front, but the extra insulation will pay off over the long run and will ensure the water heated today is plenty hot tomorrow.
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External Heat ExchangerDon't want to replace your current hot water tank? An external heat exchanger can transform your hot water tank into a solar tank. It won't be as efficient as a dedicated solar tank but it costs less.
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Ways to integrate your solar water heater
FREEDOM WON solar heaters generates hot water whenever the sun shines, however many people want a backup water heater for periods of cloudy weather or high hot water usage. Below are the most common methods for integrating FREEDOM WON systems with other water heaters:
Preheat tank to electric or gas hot water tankStore your solar heated water in a tank that feeds a second hot water tank. When the second hot water tank calls for water, the solar heated water flows into it and, if needed, is further heated by the electric or gas heater in the tank.
In the picture above you can see the solar tank on the right and the gas fired hot water tank on the left. |
Single tank with electric backupThe simplest way to use your solar heated water, install a backup electric heater in your solar tank and use your solar tank as you would a standard hot water tank. If you use more hot water than your collectors supply then the electric backup will kick in to keep the tank warm.
In the picture above, the red cyclinder on the left side of the solar tank is the backup electric heater. |
Single tank with boiler backupIf you've got a boiler and a dual coil tank, then connect the bottom coil to the solar system and the top coil to the boiler. If the tank isn’t hot enough from the solar heater then the boiler can turn on and give it a boost.
In the picture above, the bottom coil of the dual coil solar tank is connected to the solar heater while the top coil is connected to the gas fired boiler. |
Preheat tank to instant hot water heaterStore your solar heated water in a tank that feeds an instant hot water heater. When the instant hot water heater calls for water, the solar heated water flows into it and, if needed, is further heated by the instant hot water heater.
In the picture above, the solar tank is the green tank on the left and to its right you can see the instant hot water heater mounted to the wall. |
Unlock the power of the sun with a FREEDOM WON solar heater |