Drainback Solar Water Heater

The second tank, which we will call the drain tank, also has a pump which pushes the water up, only this time through a coil. This coil than goes through the thermal tank, thus heating the water in the drain tank. In this fashion, the water is heated in the drain tank after many cycles and is then sent to your home. The reason that the drainback method can offer resistance from freezing temperatures though is because it incorporates a sensor into the thermal tank that can sense when the sun is out and when it is cloudy. If the sun is not out, the sensor will automatically shut off the flow off water through the solar collector, this way the water in the thermal tank will still stay warm, thus heating the drain tank water. This is why the drainback solar heating method is one of the more effective methods used today.

Another advantage to the drainback solar heating method is that it is capable of producing a fairly large amount of water in a relatively short amount of time. Although it will probably not be enough to support a large family. It can however, when paired with another electric or natural gas water heater, dramatically reduce the electricity bill that heating water incurs. This is because the electric or natural gas heater will barely ever have to turn on and when it does, it will only have to heat up the water an extra few degrees.

The drainback solar heating method is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to heat water using solar power. In Europe, hardly any other method is used. If you are considering installing a solar water heating appliance be sure to consider the drainback method.