Why Do You Prefer Solar Vacuum Tubes Pool Heaters Over Plastic Mats?

Earlier, black plastic or rubber tubing was used for solar pool water heating purposes. This type of heating system was cost-effective. Some people buy black plastic hose and prepare a DIY solar poor heater whereas others consider rubber mats available specifically for solar pool heaters.

There are some obvious issues with black plastic or rubberized solar pool heaters. Most homeowners find them unsightly and could diminish the overall value of their homes.

The Shingle Damage –

Generally, rubberized solar mats remain on the roof. So, it’s possible that moisture can go under the mat that leads to improper ventilation causing shingles to rot. It results in premature deterioration of rooftop.

However, you can’t receive any cost savings from your solar systems because of the costly roof replacement. But solar evacuated tubes are installed on the ground or above the shingles so that the roof is able to breathe without leaving space for moisture.

The Solar Wear and Tear –

Plastic never goes well under the sunlight. Solar pool heating mats made of plastic or rubber deteriorate in sunlight. On average, the life span of solar mat collector or plastic piping is five years or less.

As a result, it significantly minimizes the ROI of your solar investment. Most manufacturers claim that the solar systems have over 10 years’ life expectancies. Cracking and leaking are the common problems that you come across while using black solar pool heaters. But solar vacuum tubes pool heaters stand out in any solar or weather conditions.

The Loss of Heat –

Black plastic absorbs solar energy very well and gives off heat easily. If you have ever touched a black colored car sitting in the sun, you may better understand the hot surface temperature. It’s because of the result of black paint that releases solar hot energy absorbed from the sun.

Solar evacuated tubes release very less amount of heat. You can understand it by touching the surface of vacuum tubes. You will find it cold to touch even if the inside temperature may be 300 degrees.

The Loss of Wind –

Heat energy absorbed by black solar mats significantly gets diminished by wind. Wind is the main reason behind the heat loss on a solar pool heater. Usually, roof is windier than the ground which minimizes the solar pool heating efficiency. But solar vacuum tubes pool heaters have zero wind loss and are much more efficient in maximizing solar savings.

The Return on Investment –

Solar pool heating systems by using solar vacuum tubes can deliver paybacks of around ten times than plastic mats. There will be high energy output results that can be half or one fourth the size of plastic mats.

The vacuum tubes work effortlessly in the sun and have life expectancy of 20-25 years. Moreover, the SunRain Solar Pool Heaters are available with standalone metal stands or roof mount kits ensuring optimal flexibility and alternative over the placement of solar pool heater on the ground or roof.

Bottom Line –

When it comes to purchasing solar pool water heating kits, you should look no further than Northern Lights Solar Tubs. For more information about our products, feel free to contact us as soon as possible at  +1 (800) 317-9054.

How Do Solar Water Heaters Work with Solar Evacuated Tubes?

Are you buying solar water heaters? If yes, you will come across a wide assortment of solar collectors available. However, flat plate collector is the most popularly used in North America. This collector works well for residential hot water for most of the time in a year; but loses its performance during winter.

Solar evacuated tubes are highly advanced collectors used in solar water heaters that produce higher temperature. The main reason behind its use is its superior performance during winter. Heating water during winter will outform all solar collectors available.

If you’re looking to produce hot water at higher temperature, you should consider heating water with solar vacuum tubes. Solar vacuum tube collectors work like a coffee thermos. The heat energy gets trapped inside the vacuum tube and can’t escape easily.

A flat plate collector works like an ordinary coffee cup. The flat plate collector produces energy; which will escape quickly through the collector walls. When the surrounding temperature is colder, the heat loss will be much higher with a flat plate collector in winter. That’s why solar water heating systems with solar vacuum tubes are highly preferred in the Northern climates like Canada and Northern UDA.

Solar vacuum tubes are popular solar collectors in Europe and Asia because of their substantially less price. This means, the overall cost of solar water heaters has reduced significantly that make them a popular alternative for residential water heating purposes. Hence, they are rapidly growing in the United States and Canada.

The superior performance in winter and higher operational temperatures make solar water heating systems ideal alternative to homes, shops and commercial facilities. You should use a larger size system to produce residential hot water and provide additional heat to help the home heating system.

Solar vacuum tubes water heaters are considered as ideal way to capture the full solar energy potential. Residential hot water accounts for as much as 80% of the energy consumption at home.

When installing this system, you have to remember that heat energy demand during summer is zero. Therefore, the additional solar heat needs to be controlled. It can be done by diverting the heat energy to pool or hot tub or by using simple covers.

Northern Lights Solar Tubs specializes in providing solar water heating systems by using solar evacuated tubes ensuring optimal performance and maximum energy efficiency. We offer pre-packaged solar water heaters that works really well for residential hot water and home heating. They are ideal for heating pools and hot tubs. For more information about our cold weather heat pumps, feel free to contact us right now at +1 (866) 800-8123.

How Do Solar Vacuum Tubes Work?

A solar collector works like an engine of any solar water heating system. Solar vacuum tubes are very much efficient in producing solar powered systems. The vacuum tubes work similarly like the coffee thermos.

The vacuum tubes comprise of two glass layers with vacuum in between the layers. The outer layer of the tube is made from Borosilicate glass, which has very low iron content. The Borosilicate glass allows around 98% light energy to enter. The second layer is applied with special coating.

However, there are two types of solar vacuum tubes used in solar water heating systems like: Open Vacuum Tubes (Non Pressurized) and Heat Pipe Vacuum Tubes (Pressurized).

How Does Non Pressurized Vacuum Tubes Work?

These heat tubes use open vacuum tubes. Water fills up the inner vacuum tube and gets heated internally by the sun likewise liquid in a thermos. Generally, warm water is lighter than cold water. That’s why it rises up to the top of the tube where it fills the collector.

The heavier cold water goes to the bottom of the vacuum tube to take the place of heated water which will be heated again by the solar energy. This is a natural phenomenon, known as thermo-siphoning. The main reason behind using this heat system is that no expensive copper piping is used, making open tubes much more cost effective.

One disadvantage is that they can be used only in an open loop system and controlled by atmospheric pressure. This type of heating tube is ideal for swimming pools as water flows directly into the tubes. However, non pressurized vacuum tubes are used in applications above freezing. As a result, they can withstand small amounts of pressure and can’t be used in the most closed loop applications like residential hot water and space heating.

How Does Pressurized Vacuum Tubes Work?

Pressurized vacuum tubes are considered as high performance heat tubes that extend the possibilities of water heating through solar power. Its working principle is same like the open solar vacuum tubes. Only difference is that water doesn’t enter the vacuum tube physically.

However, the specially designed hollow copper heat pipes are inserted to the vacuum tube. Copper is an excellent thermo conductor as it conducts heat efficiently. The heat pipe contains pure water residing within vacuum.

Water will boil at less than 30 degrees. The hot vapor rises quickly to the top into the condenser tube. The condenser bulbs start transferring heat to the manifold (heat sink) in contact with it. They are specifically designed to attain temperatures of 200 degrees Celsius or more.

High temperature inside the heating tube results in higher efficiencies. The condenser bulbs are inserted into a copper heat transfer manifold by using multiple tubes. These manifolds can be able to withstand around 116 PSI pressure.

Remember that, the water present inside the heat pope system enters the vacuum tube. It means, this heating tube can be used in systems in colder climates. If a vacuum tube breaks down, the system continues functioning without any hassle.

The heat pipe solar tubes can be used for different applications like hot water tanks, radiators and in-floor heating. The copper collector carries a small amount of liquid and can be used with any heat exchanger by using glycol mixture to prevent freezing.

Bottom Line –

Are you thinking to use solar vacuum tubes? If yes, then you should definitely look no further than Northern Lights Solar Tubs. For professional help with the purchase, feel free to reach out to us at  +1 (800) 317-9054.