Introduction to Solar Geysers
- Hi, welcome to the Handyman Homes YouTube channel. Today we're talking about solar geysers. So solar geysers. This is just gonna be a very brief intro into what solar geysers are, how they work, the different types of solar geysers, if the solar geysers is right for you and your home
Types of Solar Geyser Systems
There's three different types of solar geysers. Two very similar, and one with a difference.
Thermosyphon Solar Geyser
The most popular one is what is known as a thermosyphon solar geyser. This works with a collector plate a solar panel if you like, out on your roof. And the geyser either mounted above it on the roof or inside the loft depending on the layout of your home and the availability of loft space and a few defining factors. These work through a system, a phenomenon known as thermosyphoning. As water heats, it rises, the cold water is at the bottom the hot water is at the top and this thermosyphoning system creates flow of water. So the water is set in your tank, the geyser, it flows out cold into the panel. The sun heats it, it rises to the top and it comes back into your panel. This is a really efficient, simple way of heating. They're cost effective and they will save you money.
Thermosyphon System with a Pump
The next type of system also relies on thermosyphoning but if your roof layout, if your loft layout doesn't allow then you would need to pump that water. So this system also has a pump added in. Obviously, the pump has its own cost and there's an electrical demand on that pump to keep it running. So not as efficient as a thermosyphon but still a very efficient system. And if your loft layout, your roof layout doesn't allow then this is the ideal system. So that's a thermosyphon with a pump. So if you like what we're doing on this channel, then please like, subscribe, and do leave us a comment down below. Thanks.
The PV (Photovoltaic) Dual Element System
The third type of geyser is a relatively new one to the market. I say new, but it's been around for about 10 years. This uses a traditional PV, photovoltaic panel or two, on your roof, and it has what's known as a dual element. This element can heat using AC power or normal ESKOM, your normal municipality power, or it can heat using DC from your solar panels depending on the intensity of the sun. So if the sun is there, your geyser will be heated via the element from the sun. If the sun isn't there, then the heat will be, the electricity will come from ESKOM. These are a great system if you don't have the roof space for a large panel that's got water and weight and all of those things. So the thermosyphoning panels. If you don't have the roof to do that. Also, if you live in an apartment building where your many store is away from the roof and the only access is via the channelling that runs usually through the centre of a building because these systems just use electrical cable that can be pulled and pushed wherever they're needed, rather than water pipes that take up more space and are much more complicated to instal. So they are great. The downside is they are nowhere near as efficient as the thermosyphoning system. The average numbers are around 70% less efficient than a thermal syphoning system, but that still means that 30% of your heating needs are now being met by the sun which will reduce your overall bill.
Solar Geyser Assessments and Future Energy Efficiency
So if you are interested in solar geysers, if you would like to have an assessment of your present installation and the costs to either convert what you've got or add new solar geysers, then please do get in contact. you can reach me on Okay, thank you. Thank you very much for watching. Please look out for our next video. Next time we're going to be talking about light bulbs, globes. What ones are efficient which ones are inefficient, which ones you should be looking at replacing or even removing. This is all in our effort to try and make people more aware of their energy efficiency. So catch you next time.
Outro and Bloopers
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| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Thermosyphon Solar Geyser | |
| Heating Mechanism | Thermosyphoning (natural convection) |
| Components | Collector plate/solar panel, geyser |
| Geyser Mounting Options | Mounted above panel on roof or inside loft |
| Energy Source | Solar (direct thermal transfer) |
| Efficiency | High (natural flow, no external energy for circulation) |
| Thermosyphon System with a Pump | |
| Heating Mechanism | Thermosyphoning with forced circulation |
| Components | Collector plate/solar panel, geyser, electric pump |
| Circulation | Pumped water flow |
| Energy Source | Solar (thermal transfer) + Electricity (for pump) |
| Efficiency | Efficient, but less than pure thermosyphon (due to pump's electrical demand) |
| PV (Photovoltaic) Dual Element System | |
| Heating Mechanism | Dual element heating (AC/DC) |
| Components | Traditional PV panel(s), dual element geyser |
| Power Sources | DC from solar panels, AC from grid (ESKOM/municipality) |
| Space Requirement | Less roof space needed (no large water-filled panels) |
| Installation | Uses electrical cable, suitable for apartments/multi-story buildings |
| Efficiency | Approx. 70% less efficient than thermosyphoning, meets 30% of heating needs |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the main types of solar geysers available? A: There are three main types: the thermosyphon solar geyser, which uses natural convection; the thermosyphon system with a pump, for layouts that don't allow natural flow; and the PV (photovoltaic) dual element system, which uses solar PV panels and a dual heating element.
Q: How does a thermosyphon solar geyser work? A: A thermosyphon solar geyser works on the principle of thermosyphoning. Cold water flows from the bottom of the geyser into a solar collector panel on the roof. As the sun heats the water in the panel, it becomes less dense and rises back into the top of the geyser, while colder, denser water sinks to be heated, creating a continuous natural flow.
Q: Is a PV dual element solar geyser an efficient option? A: While not as efficient as thermosyphoning systems (around 70% less efficient), a PV dual element solar geyser is still a viable option, especially where roof space for large water panels is limited or in apartment buildings. It can meet approximately 30% of your heating needs from the sun, reducing your overall electricity bill. If you're looking for a solar geyser for sale that offers installation flexibility, this system is worth considering.