$2K Solar Space + Water Heating -- One Simple DIY System

These pages describe a very simple solar system that provides both solar space heating and solar water heating in one simple design that you can build.

Using all new, high quality materials, this system can be built for as little as $2000 -- about one 1/8th the price of an equivalent commercial system.

$2k solar space and water heater

Nearly all of the materials will be available at your local hardware or lumber yard. The system can be built with simple tools, and with ordinary DIY skills.

There are more than a 100 pages that cover the design, construction, and economics of this system and also provide many other alternatives along the way. So, think of it as book, and use the Table of Contents below to navigate around.

Got questions or comments or thoughts on the system...?

NEW -- The February/March 2012 issue of Mother Earth News has an article on this project. The article gives a good detailed overview of the project in about five pages. Its available on the Mother Earth website here...

If after reading the article, you want more detail, come back here for the 100 page version

Designing the System
Overall Design and Sizing Overview of the Design Objectives of the Design Design Description Sizing the System for Water and Space Heating More Precise Sizing Method for Space Heating Minimum Size for Combined Space and Water Heating Balance Between Space and Water Heating A Word on Cost and Payback Make or Buy and Rebates Questions, Comments, Suggestions? Disclaimer System Diagrams
Collector Design Collector Design Collector Size and Orientation Make or Buy and Rebates
Pump and Plumbing Design Overview Rules for Plumbing a Drain Back System Sizing the Pump Installing the Pump Alternatives to Drain Back PV Driven Pumps
Heat Storage Tank Design Overview Pros and Cons Alternatives
Radiant Floor Heat distribution Design Guidelines for Solar Heat Distribution Sizing Guide Alternatives to Radiant Floor Heat Distribution
Building the System
Building the Collector Overview Building the Absorber Plate Building the Collector Frame Installing the Absorber Plate Installing the Glazing
Building the Tank Overview Laying Out the Tank Locating the Tank Building the Tank Installing the EPDM Lining Building the Lid
Heat Exchanger for Domestic Water Heating Installing the Heat Exchanger
Staple Up Radiant Floor Heating Installing the Staple Up Floor Loops Insulating the radiant floor
Backup Heating System Installing the backup heater
Plumbing Plumbing the Collector Loop Plumbing the Domestic water pre-heat Plumbing the Radiant Floor Loop
Controls Overview Installing the Collector loop controls Installing the Radiant Floor Loop Controsl
Performance and Cost
Performance
Cost, Rebates, Economics Cost of the System Payback Rebates

Gary February 12, 2011, July 5, 2011

$2K Solar Space + Water Heating -- One Simple DIY System

Table of Contents

Designing the System

Building the System

Performance and Cost