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Solar water heater height above bathroom

Posted: November 14th, 2012, 5:29 am
by Viswa
We are planning for the solar water heater location. We are planning to put the solar heater on the south side, just above the master bedroom slab, while the water tank is @ 10 feet height from the slab. We are planning to pass the solar water heater line through the geyser. Will this affect the water pressure coming from solar heater? Should we raise the height of the solar heater?

As always, I appreciate this forums help :-)

Thanks
Viswa

Re: Solar water heater height above bathroom

Posted: November 14th, 2012, 8:01 am
by blrsiteseeker
We have ours in exactly the same position - the water tank is on the south west corner at a height of 10' above the terrace, the solar panels and water tank for it are on the south east side facing south. And solar water passes through the geyser (though we don't have a geyser in all bathrooms - we have provision for that to be done when ever we decide to install one). We get decent hot water and good pressure. We have installed pressure booster - but even without that being turned on, we get good hot water.

Re: Solar water heater height above bathroom

Posted: November 14th, 2012, 2:15 pm
by pvr59ksl
Hi Viswa :D

We have been using a solar water heater for the past 10 years. I have found out the following with regard to solar water heaters(SWH).
1.While using the SWH, initially we get cold water(about ¾ bucket) till the water in the connecting pipe between the SWH and the tap is emptied. Lengthier the connecting pipe, more the cold water. Hence, the connecting pipe from the SWH to the tap should be as short as possible.

2.It is best to have heat resistant plastic connecting pipe to keep the water in the connecting pipe hot. Otherwise, when the second person goes to bath, after some time, the water in the connecting pipe will be cold. (Ours is GI pipe insulated with locally available insulating thread and white cement and the heat loss is more). It is better for the members of the house to take bath in quick succession so that everybody will get hot water.

3.If you are passing the connecting pipe to an electric geyser, initially you will be getting cold water equal to the volume of the electric geyser + that in the connecting pipe.

We have been using the SWH without an electric connectin for the past 10 years and we save 100 units per month.

Re: Solar water heater height above bathroom

Posted: November 15th, 2012, 12:04 pm
by Viswa
Thanks for all the inputs!!!

We are planning to use Ashirwad flow-guard cpvc pipes. I heard it is good! Any opinions?
Does it need additional insulation?

Thanks
Viswa

Re: Solar water heater height above bathroom

Posted: November 20th, 2012, 4:13 pm
by dev13
".If you are passing the connecting pipe to an electric geyser, initially you will be getting cold water equal to the volume of the electric geyser + that in the connecting pipe.
"
to avoid this lag/loss...why not use an 'instant' water geyser as opposed to the 'storage' type, especially useful in winter and rainy seasons.

Re: Solar water heater height above bathroom

Posted: November 21st, 2012, 1:05 pm
by sholla
In our case we have a stair case room (12x9 feet, 9 feet height) on terrace. As our
terrace is small I would like to keep both the water tanks (one for kaveri water
and another for borewell water, both 750 litres) and the solar heater on
top of this stair case room. I am told that the solar heater should be atleast 5 feet
below the water tank. This means in our case I will have to put a MS stand on the
stair case room and then place the tanks above the stand. This Eiffel tower setup
has started to bother me a lot. How important is the height difference between
the solar and the water tanks ? All my bathrooms are 10-20ft below the solar heater
in this "architecture".

Re: Solar water heater height above bathroom

Posted: November 21st, 2012, 5:08 pm
by msn1270
Main Reason for placing the Overhead Water Storage Tank by at least 8 ft from the roof level and the Hot water collection tank by at least 1 ft above the Panel, is the water inlet for the Solar water heater panel is at the lower end of the Panel. During the sun light, as the water gets heated up, it moves towards higher end and enters the Hot Water storage tank. To do this sufficient water pressure from the cold water at the entry of the panel to push the Hot water towards upper end & then to the collection tank.

Even If both the Solar Panel & Hot Water collection tank or the Heater & the Over head cold water storage tanks maintained at the same level, there won't be sufficient water pressure to push the hot water upwards or during the cold time(nights) hot water will re-enter the cold panel.

Re: Solar water heater height above bathroom

Posted: November 21st, 2012, 8:24 pm
by sholla
Thanks @msn1270, now it is clear !