Using Solar Heating Technology

by DB Sales | Nov 8, 2020 | Blog

Whether you are looking for ways to help preserve the environment or you are trying to shave a few bucks off your electric bill, solar heat can be a great option for you because of the technology that is now available to power solar heat. This is also a great way to generate heat for large buildings and other commercial spaces.

The Uses of Solar Heat

There are a variety of uses for solar heat, and you can use this type of heat almost anywhere — residentially, commercially, or at industrial sites. For residential use, many people like it because it saves on their electricity bills, and entire communities sometimes make use of solar heat. Residential homes can also make great use of this type of heat to heat swimming pools. There are retirement communities that are powered just by solar technology.

In your Home

At your residence, you can use solar heat technology for many applications such as:

Hot water
Swimming Pools
Space Heating
Powering your Air Conditioning

Technical Considerations

There are a few things to consider regarding the technical components behind solar heat technology.

Overheating – Stagnation could occur which means there is no fluid movement and a high temperature. This type of stagnation is the main cause of system failure. Solar heat technology can help remedy overheating and help the system regain its efficiency and effectiveness.
Collector Locations – The location of the collector matters, with the ideal location being south facing with tilt equal to latitude. Try to get as short of pipe as possible as this will help reduce a variety of different types of costs. Keep in mind that if you are installing solar heat technology in a building greater than 5 stories you might need to pay a little extra for things like pressure relief valves and expansion tanks.
Balance of System Components – How many tanks and pipes there are makes a difference. If you do one large tank you might pay more and require different certifications but if you get too many smaller tanks, then you will need additional labor charges and additional piping. The team that installs your solar equipment will be able to make a recommendation. You will also need to make sure the pipes are installed in the right location and protected from the elements.

Identifying the Best Projects for Solar Heat Technology

If you are still wondering if solar heat technology is right for you, there are a few times when you should definitely consider this type of solar technology. Matching load to solar availability — what this means is if you have high daytime or summer usage, using this type of technology can help you level-load and even out your usage. In reality, any market can make use of this technology. Whether you are in a single family home or are making plans for a retirement community or industrial space, you can find a use for solar heat technology. If you have a space that needs to be heated, solar heat technology could prove to be the best heating method.

How to Size your Solar Heat System

The solar heat system you need in your single family residence is obviously going to be a lot smaller than the system you would need if you were powering up an entire community. Consider things like the average daily use and how much roof space is available. Also, will your commercial space have a large boiler room available? There are a variety of factors to consider.

Let the experts at DB Sales help. Reach out and contact us today, as we can help you gain an understanding for what types and sizes of equipment would be best suited for the space you will be heating.