Do-it-yourself solar water heater - we take heat from the sun. Water heating with a solar collector Flow-through - high peak power

Today is New Year's Eve, so let's just rejoice. And, since it's winter, it would be nice to warm up a little. Therefore, today's article is non-traditional water heating in winter and other power outages. , so to speak.

Non-traditional water heating is necessary when hot water is needed, but there are no water tanks, or conventional energy sources - or you want something original. Usually you don’t want the original, so a little needlework, and humor, we hope, will be in the subject.

Let's start with theory. So, everyone knows that fire can be produced by friction. This is due to the fact that friction accelerates the movement of water molecules more and more. Therefore, if water molecules are made to move faster in one way or another, its temperature will rise. Therefore, the first unconventional recipe for heating water:

  1. Let's say you're cold.
  2. Take a half liter jar of water.
  3. Wrap with foam rubber (thermal insulation here is an important point).
  4. Make a small hole in the lid
  5. Place a whisk for whipping (manual or from a mixer) there.
  6. Warm the lid.
  7. Wrap the structure with foil (you can use foil tape).
  8. If you have a mixer, then start whisking the water.
  9. If you have a hand whisk, then start whisking the water.
  10. After a while, the water will heat up.
  11. Yes, you will be warm.

Here is the original version. We guarantee: it will be so 🙂

  1. Go to the pharmacy.
  2. Buy 20 cans of 90% alcohol (per liter of water).
  3. Wrap a two-liter jar with foam rubber and foil (insulation).
  4. Pour water into the jar.
  5. Pour alcohol into a jar.

According to the laws of chemistry, water will heat up. If the water temperature is insufficient, add 200 grams of concentrated sulfuric acid to the mixture. Heating will become more intense.

Both options are designed for a small amount of water. What if the water needs to be heated more? For example, here's what:

That is, candles, coasters, containers. Heating will go faster, and the consumption of candles will decrease if you isolate the pan (at least wrap it with foil tape).

But what if there are no candles, but you need even more hot water? Here's how many people deal with it:

The only but, it is necessary to organize good mixing of water, otherwise the temperature will be uneven.

And here is an improved, hotter version with organized stirring:

Second option:

Third option:

Please note: having girls without clothes raises the temperature much faster than any other option 🙂

Happy New Year with non-traditional water heating!


On weekends, many residents of our country from their cities tend to quickly go to their dacha to breathe fresh air, enjoy nature and take a break from the bustle of the city. And if you have a pool, then the question arises: How to heat the pool in the country?

Swimming in cold water is not fun. And if children also swim with you, they can easily get sick.

Let us remind you that the comfortable water temperature in the pool for an adult is from 25 degrees Celsius, and for children - from +29 degrees.

Today we will consider what methods we can use to heat the pool in the country. Moreover, we will consider both the devices offered by manufacturers and folk methods.

Methods for heating water in the pool

electric heater

This is a fairly simple and popular method for raising the temperature in small pools, although an electric heater also has its drawbacks. The principle of operation is that water passes through a tubular electric heater (TEN) and receives heat from a dielectric heated by electricity.

In installation, it also will not cause difficulties. Above in the photo you can see that a mini-pump is connected to one hole of the pool, then the water passes through the tube into the heating element and gets back already warm. The water heating temperature is regulated by the pressure entering the tubular electric heater - the greater the pressure, the less heating. And vice versa.


Advantages of using TEN:
  • The cheapness of the electric heater itself;
  • Ease of use;
  • The best option for small volumes.

Cons of using TEN:

  • Not suitable for large pools (from 30 m 3);
  • Expensive to use - high power consumption.

Another option is to heat the water in the pool. Heat exchangers are used if you have a second source of hot water - for example, heating in the house. The task of the device is to exchange water from different sources with heat. Hence the name.

The principle of operation is extremely simple. There is a spiral in the body of the heat exchanger. Around there is a space, which should be filled with water from the pool. Boiling water passes through the spiral and, due to the large interaction area, quickly heats the water from the pool.

Most often, heat exchangers are installed in the same way as electric heaters - in the circuit between the pump and the pool. In some cases, it is advisable to use two heat exchangers at the same time.

Advantages of using a heat exchanger:

  • Independence from power sources;
  • Heating of large volumes is possible.

Cons of using a heat exchanger:

  • There is not always a second source of hot water.

For heating the pool in summer, when the main heating is turned off, the use of a heat exchanger is very problematic. You will have to adjust and select the boiler so that it works exclusively for the heat exchanger.

If the water pump pumps out water, then the heat pump pumps out heat. Everything is logical.

Heat pumps come in various designs and take heat from several sources: air, soil, water. To make it clearer, we will show the principle of operation using the example of a heat pump device that takes heat from hot air.

At the moment, such devices are not very popular due to the high price. The cheapest models start at 120 thousand rubles. We will not focus on them, but simply list the pros and cons.

Advantages of heat pumps:

  • Versatility;
  • Able to heat large volumes;
  • Low power consumption.

Cons of heat pumps:

  • High price (from 120 thousand);
  • Works only in warm weather.

Very interesting device to heat the water in the pool. Water is heated by solar heat. Water is filled into the collector tubes with a pump, and when it is heated to the desired temperature, it is released back into the common tank. And again, the solar collector takes another portion to warm up.

In stores, collectors are offered in a variety of sizes. You need to choose a specific model based on the volume of your pool.

Advantages of solar collectors:

  • Affordable price;
  • Easy to use and install;
  • The volume is only limited by your budget.

Cons of solar collectors:

  • Effective only in sunny weather.

Budget options

Let's look at the options that you can use, as they say, at worst. These are far from the most practical ways, but they are very cheap and available to everyone.

Boiler or kettle

If you have a very small pool for children, then you can heat the water to the desired temperature in a simple, proven way. Simply heat water in a few pots and a kettle. The solution to the problem is not surprising, and it has its advantages.

  • For free;
  • Available.
  • Only for scanty volumes;
  • Disappointing process.

Snail

The snail is a solar mini-collector. They have a similar working principle. Water is drawn into the pipes, heated by the sun and returned to the pool. Its design is so simple that homemade snails are not such a rare case.

Since this is a fellow solar collector, the pros and cons are similar. But the snail is smaller in size, so it wins in price, but loses in efficiency.

Pros of using a snail:

  • Very affordable price;
  • Does not require installation;
  • Easy to use.

Cons of using a snail:

  • Effective only in sunny weather.

A thermal cover can also help you heat the water in the pool. It is also called "Special pool cover". You simply stretch a special canvas over the pool, and now the heat from the sun is not reflected from the water, but is retained by the coating. Thus, in a few hours the water can warm up by 3-4 degrees.

It should be noted that in the case of a special coating, only the upper layer of water is heated. To heat the water evenly, turn on the pump, which will mix the upper and lower layers.

Usually they buy a thermal cover for a pool of a special shape for a certain model. If you have an arbitrary pool, then you can cut out the film yourself or order it.

Benefits of using a thermal blanket:

  • Affordable price of the canvas itself;
  • Free operation;
  • Protects from insects, leaves and other dirt.

Cons of using a thermal blanket:

  • Rarely is the only way to heat water.

Pool heating with wood

If you are relaxing in the country, then getting dry firewood for you should not be a problem. Therefore, this method in dachas is as relevant as anywhere else. Therefore, you should take a closer look at such devices.

The principle of operation is similar to that of a heat pump. The device takes a portion of water into its pipes. In them, it is heated by fire, and having reached the desired temperature, it returns to the pool. Then the cycle repeats again and again until the water in the pool reaches a comfortable level.

Benefits of heating a pool with wood:

  • Affordable device price
  • Economical operation
  • Available if there is firewood

Cons of heating the pool with wood:

  • Not available if there is no firewood
Now you know how you can heat the pool in your country house. As you can see, there are really many options. And all that remains is to choose the method that suits you.

Thematic videos

And at the end, two thematic videos from resourceful people. We are sure you will find it useful. Look!

If you have built a pool in the country, then it is important to solve a number of technical problems that are aimed at maintaining this structure. One of them is pool water heating. There are many methods on how to heat the water in the pool. In this article, we will look at the most common techniques.

Considering that the volume of water in the pool can be large, it will take a lot of energy to heat it. And here it is important not to overdo it by installing too powerful equipment. Water temperature affects not only a comfortable stay in it, but also the health of bathers. For this reason, the temperature indicator is normalized by sanitary rules, along with the content of chemicals and microorganisms in water that can harm the human body.

Based on SanPiN 2.1.2.1188-03 on water quality control in swimming pools, the water temperature should be from 24 to 28 ° C, in health resorts - from 26 to 29 ° C, for children under 7 years old - from 30 to 32 ° C, for children over 7 years old - from 29 to 30 ° C, in hot tubs - from 35 to 39 ° C.

Based on these figures, you should make sure that the temperature compliance is within the specified recommendations.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, today there are many ways how to warm up the water in the pool, here are some of them:

Does anything influence the choice of technology? Yes, there are several factors to consider, namely:

  • customer preferences;
  • the volume of water in the pool;
  • features of existing communications;
  • the amount of water to be heated.

To decide which method is right for you, you should familiarize yourself with each technology in more detail.

One of the easiest and relatively inexpensive ways to heat water for small pools is to use instantaneous electric heaters. Their principle of operation is that they heat a continuous flow of liquid with a small pressure drop. The dimensions of the equipment are quite compact, so there is no need to additionally equip the technical room. A small booth will suffice.

As for the electric heater itself, its body is made of high-quality stainless steel, titanium or plastic. Heating elements are able to withstand high temperatures and this is achieved thanks to the stainless steel alloy.

When choosing this heater, keep in mind that its power must be equal to the volume of water. For example, if you have a shallow pool that is located in a heated room, then most likely a power of 3 kW will be enough.

The maximum that instantaneous electric heaters can produce is 18 kW, which is not much. Therefore, for a large outdoor pool, you will have to look for an alternative, and in particular if the pool has more than 36 cubic meters of water. Plus, the wiring in the house may not pull such a powerful heater.

So, if we talk about the advantages of this unit, then this is a fairly quick warm-up, the ability to control the water temperature, set the automatic control mode, as well as the presence of a sensor that, in the absence of circulation, turns off the heating system. Well, we have already discussed some of the disadvantages, namely low power, high energy costs and restrictions for houses with poor wiring.

This equipment, unlike the previous one, has more advantages, and in particular, in terms of energy consumption. Water heating occurs due to the connection of the heat exchanger to the heating system of a residential building. In appearance, it resembles a flask, inside of which there is a coil. Water moves through it. In the process of circulation, the water is heated to the required temperature. As for the flow of water into this flask, it is regulated by a pump and a valve. This valve is thermostatically controlled. The coil is washed by chilled water from the pool. As you can see, everything is quite simple.

If you install such a water heating system at your place, then the desired temperature is set on the thermostat and the automation will do the rest.

Let's talk about power. It can range from 13 to 200 kW. Accordingly, the choice of power depends, in this case, on the volume of water in the pool. The larger it is, the more powerful the equipment is needed. This also affects the duration of warming up the water.

The principle of the heating system is as follows:

  • At the very beginning, the water is heated by a heat exchanger for two days with maximum power.
  • This is important, otherwise instrumental collapse may occur, which implies a structural change in the heater housing and individual elements.
  • After that, it will be enough for the equipment to maintain the temperature of the water.

The heat exchanger itself is installed between the disinfection system and the pumping station. This will completely avoid equipment breakdowns due to the presence of chlorine in the water. If the water has excessive levels of chlorine, it is recommended to install a titanium heat exchanger.

As can be seen from this description, the heat exchanger is much more economical, easier to manage, and also has high power. The only negative is that it takes a long time to wait for the water to heat up to the desired temperature.

If you are looking for the most inexhaustible source of energy, then this, of course, is the sun. The main thing is to tame its energy so that you can heat the water in the pool. One of the easiest ways to do this is to install solar panels. Although in the open air, the water itself can warm up from the sun's rays, a completely different picture is in the case of a covered room. Just the same, solar and solar systems will direct the energy of the sun in the direction you need.

This system represents separate modules, consisting of screens, tubes or cones. Each individual module can heat up to 30 cubic meters of water. If there is more water, then more such modules are needed.

The principle of operation of solar panels is described below:

  • The collector receives the sun's rays. The collector itself is usually black.
  • The collector completely absorbs the rays.
  • The collector inside is heated up to 140°C.
  • After that, the circulation pump starts. It is installed in the storage tank.
  • In just a short time, the water in it quickly becomes hot.
  • As a result, it can be used for the pool.

More expensive collector models include sensors and three-way automatic valves. Due to this, water is sent to the heat exchanger automatically. Thus, continuous circulation of water is organized.

If we highlight the positive aspects of this technology, then it is a very fast heating of water, a simple control system. But if the weather is cloudy, then the efficiency of such a system will decrease significantly.

If you are interested in the speed and power of heating, then heat pumps are the new and most popular way to heat water. The only thing that scares many buyers is the high price. The principle of operation is as follows (the action resembles the operation of a coolant that uses condensates, etc.):

  1. The primary source of heat can be industrial or domestic wastewater that has been treated.
  2. An external pipeline is located underground.
  3. The working fluid is pumped through it using a circulation pump.
  4. Due to the temperature of the soil, at the outlet, this liquid rises in temperature by several degrees.
  5. Next, the mixture is sent to the heat exchanger.
  6. In it, the liquid gives off its heat to the refrigerant, which boils quickly. For him, even a small temperature is enough.
  7. As a result of boiling, steam is formed, which enters the compressor and is compressed to 25 atm.
  8. During this process, the temperature rises to 55°C.

The resulting energy is sent to the pool to heat the water. The work of the whole system is carried out in a vicious circle, according to the principle of circulation. As a result, the power of the heat pump can be used for other household needs. For example, you can provide heat for a house up to 300 m 2.

An important advantage is expressed in high power and speed of heating water. Free energy sources are also used: heat from the earth, waste gases, wastewater, and the like.

We considered the options for heating the pool are quite expensive. Now we bring to your attention heating options from homemade masters. The main advantage of these techniques is the minimum cost. Consider one of the many options for a home-made unit for heating water in the pool.

Firewood has been and remains the most affordable source of fuel. Strange, but there are no industrial units using this fuel. Therefore, a home-made water heating system was invented. The essence of this idea is that a metal coil is installed inside the furnace. Water is supplied to the inlet by means of a pump. Through the second hose, the heated water in the coil enters the pool.

The main thing in this method is to choose the speed of water movement. Otherwise, the water may either boil or not warm up enough.

Another option is to install a coil, inside which a fire is made. A risky method, but it has its place. They can be easily used while traveling. The only thing that needs to be considered is the removal of hot water. To do this, you can use a heat-resistant hose or metal-plastic pipe. In this case, heating will be implemented without electricity.

It is one thing to heat water, but without good heat retention, you will incur huge energy costs. It is known that a large amount of heat leaves at night. To reduce losses, you can build a canopy over the pool. In this case, the canopy can be:

  • Folding.
  • Sliding.
  • Stationary, etc.

If the canopy cannot be placed, then you can use a blanket or a film that floats on the surface of the water. It is necessary to straighten the film at night, and remove it in the morning, then the water will have a fairly comfortable temperature, and the cost of heating it will be reduced.

Instead of a film, you can use awnings that cover the entire surface of the pool. But the disadvantage of this option is that it will be inconvenient to pull one over the pool, even a small awning. However, they are quite effective.

For example, if you have a rectangular pool, then straightening the awning is as easy as shelling pears. On one side, at a distance of 1.5 m, fasten light planks. By holding on to them, it will be easier for you, even alone, to straighten the awning.

So, we have discussed how you can quickly heat the water in the pool. Choose for yourself the technology that is available to you. We and our readers will be interested to know how you heat your pool in the country, so leave comments at the end of this article.

How to heat healthy water in an economical way?

If you are talking about heating, then usually it is connected with the heating of a house or apartment in the winter season, radiators, central heating, gas, gas, other heat sources. Rarely do we think of heating in the context of getting a source that can heat our water in an energy efficient way. We usually carry out water heating in the energy balance when calculating heating costs in the autumn-winter-spring season. If you don't know anything about how to use energy efficiently to use healthy water efficiently, this article is for you!

Statistics show that a household uses about 70% of energy for space heating and only about 15% for domestic water heating. If someone has an energy-efficient, smart home, then the percentage of energy used for that drops sharply. Why is this happening? Because in a modern building, sufficiently insulated and hermetic, there are various innovative solutions for economically heating useful water. The first step is to diagnose your needs as they have a real impact on the subsequent operation of the heating device and possible savings. First, user requirements must be taken into account, and the hot water demand must be converted and the heating device must be properly adjusted to avoid problems in the future.

Wide range of possibilities

Manufacturers currently offer a very wide range of appliances for heating municipal water in an energy-saving way.
What offer can you meet?

  • Electric heaters
  • Gas heaters
  • Heat pumps
  • collectors

There are many possibilities, but you must make a choice based on the needs of the family, the existing technical and technological solutions that can be implemented in your home, the ability to use specific energy sources and the wealth of your wallet.

Gas heating

Their advantage is that they are relatively cheap to operate. However, it is necessary to systematically check the equipment, as well as check the chimneys. A gas heater works efficiently and effectively if it has the ability to release flue gases. Manufacturers offer devices with a closed combustion chamber, so the risk of smoke poisoning is almost zero. However, it should be remembered that each room in which a gas heater is located must have sufficient ventilation and the possibility of air supply.

Electric water heaters

The advantage of electric heaters is that they do not need to be connected to ventilation ducts. In devices of this type, the most important role is played by an electric heater, the operation of which can be controlled. Another advantage of this solution is the ability to control the power of the heater with a remote control or even a mobile phone! It is worth knowing that the electronic control of the heater gives an additional 20% savings in water and energy required to heat it! There are such electronic control systems that you can apply a lock on the upper temperature limit, so that, for example, small children unscrewing the faucet are not burned! Electric heaters are connected to a power source and instantly heat the water, resulting in minimal loss of cold water as hot water immediately flows out of the faucet.

Hydraulic water heaters

The hydraulically driven heater makes the water temperature dependent on the size of the outlet stream. If the water flow is higher, the water temperature will be lower. Some types of heaters have the ability to switch power sizes depending on the flow of water being poured. They usually have two water heating modes: “economical” and “convenient”.

These heaters are considered state of the art because they can produce hot water quickly and at the same time they are very convenient, the quality of the devices is excellent (performance and durability). Modern technologies used in the construction of electronically controlled water heaters allow to achieve energy and water consumption savings of up to 30% compared to hydraulic heating devices! Some devices are designed so that you can connect several water points to them, which reduces the investment costs associated with organizing hot water heating. As an advantage of this solution, the output of heated useful water is smoothly adjusted to the current needs of users and maintaining a constant temperature priority to achieve maximum power. The device may indicate a risk of burns. Electronically controlled heaters allow you to fully control the operation of the heater, and the water temperature we want to achieve is achieved with an accuracy of 0.5 degrees Celsius. The power of such heaters ranges from 15 to 30 kW.

Energy-saving DHW heating via tank or instantaneous heater?

When deciding which source your water heater will use to heat domestic hot water as efficiently as possible, it's worth considering whether to choose a tankless or tankless preheater. Often limited space determines our choice - a heater without a tray. However, if a tray heater surface is found, the size of the container must be adjusted to meet family requirements. Sometimes the fact that the water points are far apart, or there are several, and that there is more than one bathroom in the house determines the purchase of a heater with a suitable container. Flowmeters are usually small and do not take up too much space. Disadvantages - if our house has a large water installation - the waiting time for hot water can be long. Top - if the installation in our house is not too branched out - these devices are very economical and work well in small houses or apartments.

Solar collectors for economical hot water heating

For lower utility water heating bills, it is worth taking appropriate steps. Increasingly, investors are looking to solar collectors to minimize water heating costs. The cost of buying and installing solar collectors is decreasing every year. Maybe you should consider collecting them to get the biggest savings associated with tap water in our home? The strict regulations that are due to come into effect in 2020 regarding the energy efficiency of buildings are certainly forcing owners to take the appropriate steps to be interested in sustainable renewable energy sources. In order for collectors to work most effectively and efficiently, they must be properly selected in terms of power .When calculating the power of the collectors, the aperture surface, the optical efficiency "n" and the loss factor of the so-called "A1" and "a2" should be taken into account, which is expressed by the formula W / (m2xK2). Only according to these data, the expert will make calculations of the thermal power, which can be obtained from 1 m 2 of the collector. From these data depends on the number of collectors needed for the most economical work of collectors. Device manufacturers recommend doing initial / exponential calculations using calculators on their websites. Construction and investment forums say that the use of a solar system for heating hot water can be up to 60%. For the system to work effectively, the collectors must be located in a well-lit area.

Thermostatic taps for heating domestic water

Batteries with a temperature limiter have a more common name - thermostatic taps. They help in saving water. In the sink, a contactless battery is installed with a photocell that automatically opens and closes the water flow in response to the approach of a hand.

Heat pump as a source of useful water heating

Heat pumps are considered to be the most energy efficient heating devices used for home and water heating. They are increasingly popular among investors due to their low operating costs. With 1 kW of energy sent to the heat pump, you can get up to 4 kW of additional energy. Their work is pure physics and chemistry: in a specially designed thermodynamic cycle, four processes still occur: evaporation, compression, condensation and decompression. This results in huge savings in energy used for building heating and utility water.

Other cheap heating methods

There are also other ways to get some savings in heating usable water.

For example:

  • heating water to a temperature not higher than 55 degrees Celsius, since the lower the temperature, the lower the heat loss,
  • when using a storage water heater - it is controlled so that it does not start when it is not needed - at night or during the day when the household does not need it.

Although water heating is much cheaper nowadays, it is still worth investing in or upgrading a hot water heating system to further minimize the costs associated with heating it. Of course, more and more stringent regulations for the implementation of energy-saving technologies in our homes will force us, the user, to make appropriate decisions on the warmth of this home, the water utility, where to get used to current household appliances. Energy from renewable sources and used in construction is now a priority for many countries. We must keep this in mind because global energy demand is expected to rise. European leaders have adopted a special document Europe 2020, which is an integrated and sustainable development strategy regarding the fact that 20% of final energy consumption should come from renewable energy sources in 2020!

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