5 Factors to Choose the Right Collector for Solar Water Heaters

Solar energy comes to earth through electromagnetic radiation, i.e., infrared, visible, and ultraviolet light. A solar collector or solar thermal collector is a device that collects heat by absorbing solar radiation. It's a significant device in a solar water heating system. Indeed, there are two main types of solar collectors, i.e., flat plate and solar evacuated tube collectors. Read on the below-discussed factors and make a well-informed selection for your solar water heating system.

1. Cost 

Cost is essential when choosing a solar collector for a solar water heating system. The advantage goes to the flat plate collectors. Usually, solar evacuated tubes cost 20%-40% more than flat plate collectors. But you can get maximum return from your investment in solar evacuated tube collectors within a few years, making them a cost-effective investment for solar water heating systems. 

2. Efficiency 

There is no heat loss through convection and conduction in evacuated tube collectors. Hence, these systems heat water more efficiently than flat plate collectors. Efficiency means the heating efficiency per active collector, not the total device output or efficiency. 

You can expect higher efficiency from solar evacuated tube collectors year-round, especially during winter. However, flat plate collectors can match their efficiency in summer when there's a slight difference between the temperature of the heated water and the ambient environment. 

3. Installation Process 

Installation of flat plate solar collectors is a difficult task. The collectors are heavy and take the shape of panels. These collectors need to be hoisted onto the roof and mounted. Meanwhile, evacuated tube collectors come with lightweight individual tubes, making them much easier to assemble and install than their counterparts. 

4. Durability 

Convection in solar collectors generates corrosion which badly impacts the system's performance. Generally, solar evacuated tube collectors have no air, so there can be no convection in these devices. That makes them more durable collectors than flat plates. Currently, most solar collectors are available with a ten-year manufacturer warranty and a 25-year 80% power warranty. 

5. Maintenance 

From a practical point of view, solar evacuated tubes are maintenance-free. If a tube loses its vacuum, you could need to replace it. But when a flat plate collector is damaged, you need to replace the whole plate, which could cost you significant time and money.

Final Consideration –

When choosing between solar evacuated tubes and flat plate collectors, you should consult Latitude51 Solar for further information on solar water heaters. Please go through this post, and we hope these tips will help you make an informed decision on which solar collector is suitable for your solar water heating system. Then, please contact the Latitude51 Solar team at 1-800-317-9054 for further inquiries on solar evacuated tubes and flat plate solar collectors.