Solar Thermal Systems

 Solar thermal systems are a great way to save energy and money on utility bills. Southern Solar designs and installs solar thermal systems using new equipment, as well as retrofitting an existing electric or gas water heater. We are a dealer of Alternate Energy Technologies (AET) solar thermal equipment. AET is located in Jacksonville, FL and is a leader in the design and production of solar hot water collectors. Systems may range from small household hot water systems to large industrial applications such as laundromats and linen services. Contact us  for more information on how we can help you with your hot water needs.

 Solar water heaters—also called solar domestic hot water systems—can be a cost-effective way to generate hot water for your home. They can be used in any climate, and the fuel they use—sunshine—is free. 

 Solar water heating systems include storage tanks and solar collectors. There are two types of solar water heating systems: active, which have circulating pumps and controls, and passive, which don't.

 Most solar water heaters require a well-insulated storage tank. Solar storage tanks have an additional outlet and inlet connected to and from the collector. In two-tank systems, the solar water heater preheats water before it enters the conventional water heater. In one-tank systems, the back-up heater is combined with the solar storage in one tank.

 Our AET solar systems use flat plate collectors. Glazed flat-plate collectors are insulated, weatherproofed boxes that contain a dark absorber plate under one or more glass or plastic (polymer) covers. Unglazed flat-plate collectors—typically used for solar pool heating—have a dark absorber plate, made of metal or polymer, without a cover or enclosure.