Home Improvement

Active Solar Water Heaters Versus Passive Solar Water Heaters

Installing solar water heating in your home is one of the best decisions you can make.

Not only is solar environmentally friendly, but it’s also actually cheaper, and it saves energy. It’s one of those win-win situations that homeowners dream about.

However, if you’re deciding to go solar, you have another decision to make: would you be going with an active or a passive solar water heater?

image - Active Solar Water Heaters Versus Passive Solar Water Heaters
Active Solar Water Heaters Versus Passive Solar Water Heaters

To make the right decision, you have to be properly informed about both types. Let’s get right into their differences:

Mechanism

The major difference between active and passive solar heating is their mechanics; in other words, how they work.

Active solar water heaters take a more active or hands-on approach to water heating by making use of pumps and/or environmentally-friendly anti-freeze to heat the water.

Passive solar water heaters, on the other hand, take a more passive approach by relying on natural laws and occurrences such as gravity and convection.

In case you wondered, convection is the tendency of hotter fluids to rise.

Which One is Better?

Now that you know how everything works, let’s get into helping you pick the right one.

If you Want Something Simple, Go for the Passive Solar Water Heater

Passive solar water heaters have fewer parts and are much simpler to manage.


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If you’re getting an active solar water heater, realize that it will need more maintenance and skilled operation than a passive solar water heater.

If you prefer to keep things simple, go for the passive solar water heater. See this leading solar company in Hervey bay.

If you Want Something That Works Even in the Winter Go for the Active Solar Water Heater

Due to the simplicity of the machine as well as its mechanics and how it works, passive solar water heaters cannot be used in the winter. This is mainly because of the temperature drop.

If you are very particular about your hot showers in the winter, solar water heaters won’t work for you.

If you Want Something Cheap, Go for the Passive Solar Water Heater

If you have a little budget and time and would like your heater installed immediately, passive solar water heaters are the best choice for you.

They are cheaper than active water systems since they have fewer parts and require less work.

If you don’t want to spend so much money, passive is just right for you.

If you Want Something Light, Go for the Active Solar Water Heater

Passive solar water heaters are heavy. They are very heavy and have to sit on your roof. If your roof isn’t really sturdy, it might not be up to the task.

Active water heaters aren’t as heavy as passive water heaters so they are perfect if your roof isn’t all that sturdy.

If you Want Something More Efficient, Go For the Active Solar Water Heater

Do you want something with a performance that you can count on, active water heaters are your best bet? They are built to fulfill demand and you can rely on your model to work when you do need it.

Making The Choice

When it comes down to it, make your choice based on your most important needs.

A professional consultation might be required to determine whether your chosen solar water heater would be able to work in your home or if something (such as a weak roof) can force you to pick one option.

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Perla Irish