How to Store Solar Heat
- 1). Choose a hot-water tank size that can be fully heated with the solar panels during a typical day in your location. The solar panels should have a rating, and you can use the rating on your solar panels to determine the size of tank.
- 2). Choose a spot to place the hot-water tank that exploits the natural environmental characteristics. If you live in the southwest or Gulf Coast where large stretches of the year are hot and sunny, placing the tank on the roof may be a good choice. This will allow the tank to heat itself during the day, reducing the amount of energy lost. Be careful, though, just the water in a 50 gallon tank will weight over 417 pounds. Proper structural support is needed if the tank is placed off the ground. If you live in a northern state where it is cold during the winter, placing the tank in a basement may be your best choice. Any lost heat will simply warm the house during the winter.
- 3). Insulate the hot water tank. Insulation should wrap closely to the tank and cover all parts. Insulation with a high R value (R45 or higher) is preferable. Any sensors controlling the solar panels designed to be attached to the side of a storage tank should be attached prior to insulating the tank. If you attach the senors onto of the insulation, the pressure release valves may not function correctly, causing the tank to become overheated.
- 4). Connect the hot-water tank to the solar panels per the instructions with the solar panels. The solar panels can be connected to either the heating exchange line or the water storage line of the tank if the tank is only going to be used for storage of recirculated water. If you intend on directly using the storage water, the solar panels should be hooked up to the heat exchanger ports.
- 5). Insulate the pipes to and from the solar panels.
- 6). The output of the hot water tank can be connected to a heat exchanger on a furnace to heat your home or a heat exchanger on a domestic hot-water tank to produce hot water.