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I know that many do not clean their pads at home, but we do. Our electric rates in PA will be deregulated next year and the utility companies are already preparing us for the inevitable hike…HUGE hike by allowing us to escrow money aside, earning interest in some cases, to be able to adjust to the hike.
We know that our electric billl is higher than normal due to the pad washing in hot water, so I thought that uf we could switch to a solar system, over time it might be the right thing to do.
Does anyone in colder climates have any experience in this area. I have been diggging into it for over a year now, but about ready to get serious.
Any positive suggestions would be appreciated.
Dave,
I’ve wondered about that as well. I’ve also wondered about tankless water heaters as a way to help. No reason to keep a bunch of water warm when not in use during the day and middle of night. If you’re using a front loader, you don’t need to heat a ton of water anyway like you do a toploader. Add to it that some of the newer washing machines do heat the water internally in some aspect and it makes me that much more intrigued.
Thanks Dave, I guess I did not clarify the issue….
I do not wish to use electricity , or the least amount possible, so I am looking into a solar water heater, not solar power.
With using the basic system, with some modifications, I should be able to reduce the electric costs dramatically. While augmenting the hot water system we have now with solar heated water, I should be able to drastically reduce electric dependency…
I am also looking into a solar heater system for winter as well.
We are looking at something like a 45 +% increase in our electric fees in te future and I want to ensure that we are not going to be creamed…
Others in th country will be hit one of these days for sure…I am attempting to be ahead of the curve.
Thanks for your suggestion and article…
Dave,
Didn’t know they made solar powered water heaters. Just searched it. Interesting. Denver, CO has over 300 days a year of sun (yes it’s true) and I have just started looking into solar systems. Nothing serious yet, but with that much sun, I really would like to get one if the costs go down a little. Have seen some do it yourself set ups on-line but who knows how well they work. Let me/us know what you find out.
They work excellent, I built many in my shop in NH during the 1978 oil embargo, I even got a $5,000.00 tax credit for a solarium I built for an entrance to my home.( No cold air enters home when you open door). I have built a few hot water panels here in FL. (work excellent). I have 1,000 ft of black 1/2″Dia. “Toro funny pipe” woven in between my chain link fence and use it for pool heater!!!!!!! Warms water up about 10 degrees in a matter of days. Remember one thing, if you have any chance of freezing temps. day or night, you need to make sure it self drains.
hey Dave
Don’t know if this interest you but I have a camp out in the back country and we use a Honda 2000 Portable Generator for all our electric needs. It is extremely quiet and and a single gallon of gas last between 5 and 8 hours depending on what we use. I have never tried a washing machine on it, but I can tell you it will power the lights, the microwave, toaster and TV at the same time. It has two 110 outlets on it. I have wired the camp out to the shed and keep the generator out there. (I have a breaker box in the camp)
Check them out at Honda .com you may be surprised
Thanks for the suggestion…we already have a 6500 watt generator..and OH YEAH…it has the power ok for a washer or dryer. I am seriously going to start looking into DIY water heater with solar for my roof. I am already going to build 2 each solar hot air heaters to augment my heat pump for this winter..incredible device. In PA we are going to be hit with a 30-40% add on to our electric bill this January and it is going to get some national attention…The utilities were frozen on prices and this is being lifted this January. Few understand it and couple this with the Cap & Trade fiasco in Washington…it is going to be ugly.
My plan at this time is to install the solar air heaters for this fall and winter and beyond for day time heating, continue to use my wood burner for evening heat and the heat pump for auxiliary heating….and if all else fails…baseboard strips..used the first year in the house 1984, never since.
Nest year I plan on building a solar greenhouse in the back yard, using a wall of water pails for daytime heat storage as well as earth tubes, both for the greenhouse and the home. (Tubes buried 6-9 feet in the ground and gently moving air through and heating or cooling to the ambient temp of the earth at that depth).
In addition, next year put solar hot water heater on roof and use water in a preheated mode prior to the water heater so it will not have to heat from 53-54 degrees to 120 or so, but rather from 80-90, saving the 30-40 degree hit…could cut costs a little bit due to the fact that I use a lot of hot water with the pads.
I like doing this type of thing…makes me feel like I am actually beating the system.
Any and all ideas are welcome.
Thanks,
Dave
I’m sure you have thought of this but I may as well input.
Gas water heaters are more efficient and have a faster recovery, thus smaller or zero tank needed.
Hey Dave
I think you would like a site called mother earth news just google it, they have different projects every month and this months happens to be solar hot water! iT IS A VERY GREEN site. Take want you want from it!
Dave,
You ever get any further on this subject? If you did, did you buy a system or DIY/build one yourself? Just curious as this is something I would love to do at some point. Hopefully I don’t need the stars to align before I do it. I was just looking at Rheem.com at their solar and tankless systems and it got me thinking of your post. Per their site, it was around $6500 for a solar system, but that didn’t include the roughly $3K in rebates/tax breaks. Still pricey, but their chart showed it paying for itself in 10 yrs. As energy prices rise, that could be much sooner. Let us know what you found out.
Dave,
Thanks for remembering…I have had a monster health issue since that post and have the materials to make the heaters for the home, not the hot water materials….I want to cut my teeth on the one, prove it works, for heating the house with auxiliary solar. I am going to have this begun shortly.
When I get the heater up and going I will pass it along.
Dave
yeah, I knew you had some health issues from your previous post about your van 4 sale. Hope you are much better, or getting much better. Let us know how everything goes on both fronts (health and water heater).
Thanks Dave… Unfortunately, with Parkinson’s one does not get better…the best hope and prayer for my condition is that it progresses.very, very s..l…o…w…l…y. The meds work fine, except for that blasted right foot..it likes to stick to the ground or floor and I have tripped over it many times…kind of funny to watch I am sure. Must look as if I am drunk and staggering. Just did it about an hour ago at the store…
I will keep you posted on the heater….I plan to photograph and videotape the different stages.
Dave
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