Solar Thermal Hot Water For Homes
Sometimes called Solar Heating, most Solar Thermal systems are designed to assist domestic homes with supply of solar hot water.
Although the system is often called Solar heating, very few solar thermal systems do more than just hot water.
This page deals mainly with domestic uses, however if you are interested in Solar Pool heating follow the links on the right hand column of this page.
How It Works
Flat Solar Panels or Solar Evacuated Tubes collect sunlight which in turn heats up fluid carried in pipes underneath a glass surface.
These tubes or panels carry the heated liquid into your hot water cylinder through an element which then heats up your hot water.
All solar systems require a Solar heating cylinder which is a twin coil cylinderor thermal store. This will replace your old cylinder and work alongside your normal boiler. The solar panels heat up the bottom of the solar cylinder, the boiler heats up the top.
Your solar heating system is rarely independent, and can connect to your other heating systems and boilers.
Benefits
Solar heating (Solar thermal) is one of the most cost effective Renewable energy systems.
Can provide up to 70% of of your hot water needs.
Wide range of solar hot water products offering great value for money.
Typical Costs and Payback
For Solar heating systems it is difficult to give an exact figure as all houses vary. Often with heating and hotwater systems the efficiency of the house can be a factor itself. Generally you can expect a payback of between 12 and 15 years from a solar heating system which should last 25 years.
Typical costs are for a high quality system are around £3,500 including installation and a new solar heating cylinder.
We are able to supply kits for self installation as well.
Most customers have lots of questions regarding suitability and reliability. Our fact sheet should answer most of them and we are happy to discuss your questions over the phone. One comforting fact is that Solar Thermal technology has been used for over 30 years and is one of the most reliable and proven of them all.
Flat Plate OR Evacuated Tubes - Is there a difference?
We would recommend either flat plate solar panels or evacuated tubes and carry several brands of each type to suit your budget.
It is true that solar evacuated tubes are more efficient in converting heat from the sun to hot water, but it is untrue to say flat plate panels are unsuitable.
Flat plate solar panels are often cheaper and are perfectly adequate for domestic hot water use and are our most common installation for homes.
Evacuated tubes are great as well, but care has to be taken so as not to oversize them to gain in the winter when you could overheat in the summer...
Solar Thermal Critical Checklist
Before you can consider Solar Thermal you should check the following:
- Do you know what sort of boiler you have i.e. is it a combination boiler (no tank) or a system boiler (has a tank). Solar Thermal is best installed with a system boiler because it uses a tank and only a few brands of combi boiler can be adapted to work with solar.
- Do you have a south, south east or south west facing roof?
When you contact us we will need to know these facts along with other details in order to give you a guide to feasibility and cost and get your solar thermal project started. |
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Also Solar Pool Heating ...
Summer is here, swimming pools are switched on and using energy rapidly. You can genuinely slash your bills with Solar thermal pool heating dramatically.
Typical payback for solar thermal pool systems are around 5 years - one of the fastest paybacks of all renewable energy solutions (comparable to insulation measures) and a big saver for swimming pool owners.
Click for Solar thermal pool heating here.
You do not require planning permission unless you live in a Listed building, a conservation area or an AONB! See link for details
Can Solar Thermal Help With Heating?
It is technically posible to heat small areas of underfloor heating with solar thermal panels, using a thermal store. The number of panels depends on the surface area you need to heat and your insulation properties of the room concerned.
We would not advise heating radiators with solar thermal as they are not capable of producing enough heat to keep up with the rapid pace radiators lose heat.
For heating we would generally advise combining solar thermal with a heat pump system, or a wood boiler system which can be found by clicking on the links.
Support
Solar thermal (systems are covered by a 2 year installers guarantee and warranties on most products from 5 - 20 years.
We recommend an annual check up to service your solar thermal system regularly.
All of our installers are Clearskies accredited and comply with industry guidelines.
What To Do Next
Read our fact sheet which contains lots more information and answers many of your questions
Call 0800 619 1262 and give us some details or fill in the form on our "Contact Us" page
Subject to your needs we will arrange a no obligation solar survey and quotation
Grants are available or solar thermal heating, check out our grants page for more details.
What Is Involved in a Site Survey?
It is not a selling exercise, it is a technical site visit designed to give you an accurate quote. See our renewable energy site survey pages for more information.
- We measure your pipework, roof space, hot water cylinder and loft space.
- Check the orientation of your roof and suitability for solar panel installation.
- Explain how the system could work in your home and a guideline cost
- It can take as little as 30minutes depending on how many questions you have.
After the solar thermal survey we will send you a quote for supply and installation by letter.
Fact Sheet
 Click here for our solar thermal factsheet
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