The obvious word here is solar – which means sun. But what is a solar heating system? Simply put, it’s a renewable technology that transforms thermal energy, gotten from the sun, into a solar heating system at That Pool Heating Company. Bearing in mind that solar energy can also be used to power cooling systems. Harnessing the power of the sun displaces the need for natural gas or electrical power.
How does a Solar Heating System Work?
To the science impaired, imagine leaving a garden hose, filled with water, under a hot sun. Within some time, the water in the hose will become hot. A solar heating system works in a similar way.
First the solar panel absorbs sunlight. The sunlight absorbed then heats up a heat carrier fluid, which then goes to a heat storage tank. Once the storage tank has sufficient heat, you can use it to power up whatever it’s designed for – hot water, bulbs, or room heaters.
Does Solar Work in Cold Climates?
Yes and no. The thing with solar panels is that they work by extracting sunlight, not the temperature of the environment. So as long as there’s some sunlight, power will be generated.
Now for obvious reasons, solar panels are less effective during winter – because we experience shorter daylight hours, and cloudy snowy days are in abundance. That’s why most people are advised to combine both solar with traditional power supplies. When one goes out, switch to the other. During the summer, watch out for the sun’s super effectiveness. Note that solar collectors/panels come in different grades, some are more equipped in gleaning every single sunlight available during stubborn winters. So choose according to your climate.
Benefits of Using Solar Heating Systems
- Save costs. The sun’s free! The most you’ll have to spend on is installation and equipment, like you would when building a new home, and periodical maintenance as prescribed by your installer. Supplementing some of your home’s electrical needs with solar can drastically cut down your monthly bills.
- Zero carbon footprint
- Less susceptible to bad weather (unlike poles that may fall during storms)