Does a Solar Water Heater Still Work When It’s Not Sunny?
A solar water heater can help homeowners cut back on their use of electricity and natural gas while still enjoying full access to hot water, no matter the weather outside. However, some people may have concerns about whether this type of water heater still works if there’s no sunlight to provide power. Learn more about how it works in the breakdown below.
How a Solar Water Heater Works
Solar water heaters collect energy using photovoltaic panels, which trap heat from sunlight and send it to a heat exchanger. This component produces usable energy to heat the water inside your tank.
On the surface, these products operate similarly to traditional water heaters. You can still access hot water throughout your home on demand and change the temperature of your tank as needed.
How It Operates on Overcast Days
On overcast days, solar panels can often still collect UV rays to power the water heater. This is often enough to keep the system running purely on solar power if there’s just a scattered cloudy day every so often.
The only issue that may arise is if there are several cloudy days in a row. However, solar water heaters also come with backup systems that run on electricity or natural gas. These are rarely needed, so you shouldn’t have to worry about expensive utility bills. They only power on when there’s not enough solar power available to heat the water in your system. Once the sun comes back out, the system automatically reverts back to receiving solar power.
If you’re interested in having a solar water heater installed at your home, contact Solar Help Hawaii. Based in Honolulu, the company serves customers throughout Oahu, offering full solar power systems, panels, water pumps, attic fans, and heating and air conditioning systems. The company’s presidents and trained solar experts are available for service calls and will help you create a personalized plan that works for your home’s specific energy needs. Visit the company’s website to see a full list of options. To discuss your solar needs, call (808) 548-4357.
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