The warm summer months never last forever. Soon it’s time to look for a way to bring a little extra warmth into the home and this simple solar heater is a great project to do just that. It’s made of metal cans, steel or aluminum, and can produce a surprisingly strong and consistent airflow upwards of 140F.
Even on a heavy snow day you’re looking at somewhere around 75-85F.
Best of all, this simple project requires just a few common parts and many of them can simply be re-purposed from your regular recycling. Watch the project come together in the fully-detailed video on the NEXT PAGE:
Staci Franco Stark this is what Shultz was talkin about.
Having built a “pop can” solar heater, there are several issues with this design. First, don’t draw in outside air; use an intake and recirculate room air. Second, muffin fans are junk for this as they only work well in low resistance setups. Use an enclosed fan like a “squirrel cage” fan. Third, control the unit with 2 thermostats wired in series; a standard household thermostat in the house (demand) and an attic fan switch in the collector box (supply). Only when both “demand” & “supply” themostats are closed will the fan run. Finally, use polyisocyanuate insulztion sheets. Cardboard will bake in the heat and become a fire hazzard while styrofoam WILL melt.
Cody Maxwell here you go.. make one for your feet
Nice!!!! We need that!
What do you think, Timothy?
OMG love this!
“On a heavy snow day you’re looking at somewhere around 75-85F.” Except on a heavy snow day there is no direct sun to heat the cans… DUH!
Thanks nephew! I have an Eco Friendly Survival After Disaster page that I will add this to!
Saving cans, can’t wait to try it in our pump house.
Back in the 80’s I made a solar heating room on the side of our house. I used milk jugs shat I painted black for heaters and heat storage units. Everybody said I was nuts (which I may be), and it would not work. It would “over heat” the house on a sunny day. The only problem was no thermostat (on any of the solar heaters listed here.) Why not use free heat?