Solar Geysers.

Solar geysers can be a cost-effective way to generate hot water for your home. They can be used in any climate, and the fuel they use—sunshine—is free.

How Solar Geysers Work.

Solar geyser systems include storage tanks and solar collectors. There are two types of solar water heating systems: active, which have circulating pumps and controls, and passive, which don’t.

Most solar geysers require a well-insulated storage tank. Solar geyser storage tanks have an additional outlet and inlet connected to and from the collector. In two-tank systems, the solar geyser preheats water before it enters the conventional geyser. In one-tank systems, the back-up heater is combined with the solar storage in one tank.

Three types of solar collectors are used for residential applications:

Flat-plate collector

Glazed flat-plate collectors are insulated, weatherproofed boxes that contain a dark absorber plate under one or more glass or plastic (polymer) covers. Unglazed flat-plate collectors—typically used for solar pool heating—have a dark absorber plate, made of metal or polymer, without a cover or enclosure.
Integral collector-storage systems

Also known as ICS or batch systems, they feature one or more black tanks or tubes in an insulated, glazed box. Cold water first passes through the solar collector, which preheats the water. The water then continues on to the conventional backup geyser, providing a reliable source of hot water. They should be installed only in mild-freeze climates because the outdoor pipes could freeze in severe, cold weather.

Evacuated-tube solar collectors

They feature parallel rows of transparent glass tubes. Each tube contains a glass outer tube and metal absorber tube attached to a fin. The fin’s coating absorbs solar energy but inhibits radiative heat loss. These collectors are used more frequently for U.S. commercial applications.

There are two types of active solar geysers:

Direct circulation systems

Pumps circulate household water through the collectors and into the home. They work well in climates where it rarely freezes.

Indirect circulation systems

Pumps circulate a non-freezing, heat-transfer fluid through the collectors and a heat exchanger. This heats the water that then flows into the home. They are popular in climates prone to freezing temperatures.

Selecting a Solar Geyser

Before you purchase and install a solar geyser or heat pump, you want to do the following:

Consider the economics of  solar and heat pump water heating systems
Evaluate your site’s solar resource
Determine the correct system size
Determine the system’s energy efficiency
Estimate and compare system costs
Investigate local codes, covenants, and regulations.

Installing and Maintaining a Solar Geyser System.

The proper installation of solar geysers depends on many factors. These factors include solar resource, climate, local building code requirements, and safety issues; therefore, it’s best to have a qualified, solar thermal systems contractor install your system.

After installation, properly maintaining your system will keep it running smoothly. Passive systems don’t require much maintenance. For active systems, discuss the maintenance requirements with your system provider, and consult the system’s owner’s manual. Plumbing and other conventional water heating components require the same maintenance as conventional systems. Glazing may need to be cleaned in dry climates where rainwater doesn’t provide a natural rinse.

Regular maintenance on simple systems can be as infrequent as every 3–5 years, preferably by a solar geyser contractor. Systems with electrical components usually require a replacement part or two after 10 years.
For more information about system maintenance. Research the following subjects:

Solar Geyser System Maintenance and Repair
Solar Geyser System Freeze Protection
Scaling and Corrosion in Solar Geyser Systems

After your solar geyser is properly installed and maintained, try some additional energy-saving strategies to help lower your water heating bills, especially if you require a back-up system. Some energy-saving devices and systems are more cost-effective to install with the solar geyser geyser.
Do some  research on these other water heating  options like :

• Conventional Storage Geysers
• On-Demand Hot Water Heaters
• Heat Pumps