Abstract A simple, straight forward, transient analysis of a Shallow Solar Pond (SSP) water heater by incorporating the effect of a baffle plate has been presented. An explicit expression for the water temperature of the proposed system has been obtained. In order to appreciate the results, numerical calculations have been made for a typical cold day (viz. 18 December 1984) at New Delhi. It is observed that the results obtained by the proposed model are nearly the same as reported earlier by rigorous analysis.