## How to Build Solar Water Heating Panels
Solar water heating panels are a great way to reduce your energy consumption and save money on your utility bills. They’re also a relatively easy project to build, so you can save even more money by building them yourself.
### Materials You’ll Need
4′ x 8′ sheet of 1/2″ plywood
4′ x 8′ sheet of black plastic
1/2″ x 3/4″ furring strips
1/4″ x 1″ copper tubing
Copper fittings
Solar-grade glazing
Silicone caulk
Screws
Nails
Staple gun
### Tools You’ll Need
Circular saw
Jigsaw
Drill
Screwdriver
Staple gun
Hammer
Level
Measuring tape
Pencil
### Instructions
1. Cut the plywood. Cut the plywood into two 4′ x 4′ squares. These will be the front and back of your solar panel.
2. Attach the furring strips. Attach the furring strips to the back of the plywood, spacing them evenly about 12″ apart. These will support the copper tubing.
3. Lay out the copper tubing. Lay out the copper tubing on the furring strips, spacing it evenly about 6″ apart. Use the copper fittings to connect the tubing together.
4. Cover the tubing with black plastic. Cut the black plastic to size and lay it over the copper tubing. Staple the plastic in place.
5. Attach the solar-grade glazing. Cut the solar-grade glazing to size and attach it to the front of the plywood. Use silicone caulk to seal the edges.
6. Mount the solar panel. Mount the solar panel on your roof or in a sunny location. You can use screws or bolts to attach the panel to the roof.
### Tips
If you live in a cold climate, you can add insulation to the back of the solar panel to help prevent heat loss.
You can also add a heat exchanger to the solar panel to help transfer heat from the sun to the water.
If you’re not comfortable working with copper tubing, you can use other materials, such as PEX tubing or CPVC pipe.