all of this anti-feline peppering has got me thinking... I can design and build my own black ABS/PVC piped solar heater, mount it to the wall (with weight upon the ground, using the wall just to steady lateral loads). I heard a guy on NPR yesterday state how in Northern Michigan he has made his own solar pre-heater out of plywood and PVC that takes water from ground temp to over 100F, and then running the actual water heater costs him $5 a month in the summer, and he recouped the cost in a year. I could make such a device on a more grand scale to harness the abundant sunshine in my back yard, extending my swimming season by a month or two at both Spring and Fall!
I need to price 12ft lengths of pipe now... Ah, a new engineering project for this week!
If anyone thinks this is a stupid idea, please let me know. Comments are always welcome. Photos will be posted once the heat exchanger is installed.
10 years ago
Heater is installed. Of course, it is cloudy today. A 5F degree delta comes out at a trickle. Only one leak on a 1-1/2 PVC elbow that I will try and re-glue once the system drains tonight. Photos coming soon.
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