I am planning to make a solar water heater for my parents home. Nothing complex, basically a valve at the intake of out water heater that can be turned, once turned the water pressure would push it up to the roof and then down through tubing and into the water heater.
The idea of this is not just about money, while I am open to suggestions I do not want anything complex unless it needs to be. I'd be happy if the thing simply paid for itself over it's life span for the experience and time spent with my father building it.
I'm assuming copper tubing would be best. How many feet of it should I use? It will be bent like this. but you know, a whole lot.
Will I need a pump? I can use a water hose on the roof so I assume I won't need one.
Would aluminum backing under the tubing help reflect heat? Would I be better off with painting it black?
I have pretty much unlimited access to these rear projector TV screens. Would sitting a large on directly (up to 10 inches, far from the focal point) help heating at all, or would I be better off with glass?
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