Before designing and purchasing your solar water heating system, you should scour your home for ways to make it more efficient with respect to hot water use. Efficiency is the first rule of renewable energy system design! Always Make your home as efficient as possible.
We recommends the following steps to make your home more efficient:
- Turn down the thermostat on your water heater to 120° to 125°F (48° to 51°C). Many water heaters are set between 140° and 180° F (60° and 82°C) but much lower temperatures are just fine.
- Wrap the water heater with an insulated water heater blanket.
- Fix drips in faucets in the kitchen and bathrooms to prevent the waste of hot water.
- Install water-efficient shower heads and faucet aerators to reduce hot water use.
- Insulate hot water pipes in unconditioned space.
