| PV panels and PV installations are still pricey | | | | heat resistant and pre-insulated, but it should |
| compared to DIY solar heating systems. I know | | | | never be used with closed loop systems that |
| that solar energy investments involve long range | | | | operate at pressures above 15 PSI. |
| planning but 10 years is too long. Fortunately a | | | | PEX tubing can endure temperatures in excess of |
| skilled handy man can make a connection with the | | | | 270*F and handle pressures in excess of 60 PSI, |
| sun and make his money back in less than three | | | | but PEX is more difficult to work with than a |
| years. Low cost or no cost recycled materials | | | | heater hose. I only use PEX for radiant floor |
| may further reduce the payback period. | | | | heating systems and for collector returns that |
| LOW COST MATERIALS like cull lumber, steel | | | | require high head pressure. Black Polyester Felt is |
| stud slots, isocyanurate insulation, Suntuf glazing, | | | | made from recycled soda bottles. It has incredible |
| heater hose connections, PEX tubing, polyester | | | | water dispersing qualities that can be used to |
| felt and home made PVC gutters can keep the | | | | replace both the copper flow tubes and metallic |
| expense of building materials down. | | | | absorber plates of conventional collectors. |
| Cull Lumber goes on sale because of minor | | | | PVC Pipe is a low cost, commonly available |
| defects. When it accumulates the overall sale of | | | | material that may be used to make gutters for |
| lumber drops so the cull lumber is put on a cart | | | | MTD collectors. PVC may also be used to channel |
| and sold for a fraction of the retail cost. Although | | | | solar heated water from gutter to collector, but it |
| a small portion of the cull lumber is not suitable | | | | should never be used inside a collector where |
| most of the lumber is fine. | | | | temperatures can exceed 180*F |
| Steel Stud Slots may be used to assemble a | | | | NO COST MATERIALS are salvaged from |
| collector frame. Steel stud slots have built in | | | | sanitary landfills, roadsides or companies with no |
| flanges for holding the glazing and insulation | | | | use for empty containers. We have looked at |
| materials. The steel frame also has a professional | | | | materials used to build collectors. Now lets |
| finished look that many people like. | | | | examine the materials used to store heat. Used |
| Polyisocyanurate Foam has an R factor of 7 per | | | | Steel Tanks may be transformed into solar hot |
| inch. It also has a melting point well above the | | | | water storage tanks by bonding heat exchange |
| maximum temp reached by flat plate collectors. | | | | tubes to the exterior of tanks. |
| For these and other reasons Polyisocyanurate is | | | | Recycled 55 gallon Plastic Drums may also be |
| preferred collector insulation. Suntuf Polycarbonate | | | | used to store heat, but the external heat transfer |
| is an ideal glazing material that will not degrade in | | | | from tube to plastic tank is more difficult. Large |
| bright sunlight. It is an amazingly tough, low-cost, | | | | solar heating systems with a dozen or more |
| and long-lasting. | | | | drums are another matter. A multi drum system |
| Twin Wall Polycarbonate is a bit more expensive | | | | provides the needed surface area for DHW heat |
| and hard to find among common building supply | | | | exchange on the bottoms of the drums. This |
| outlets, but this glazing may be right for you. | | | | simplifies the production of heat for both the |
| A Heater Hose may be used to carry water to a | | | | home heating and domestic hot water system. |
| drain back or trickle down collectors. It's flexible, | | | | |