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Solar water heating

 

Solar water heating - You can heat water for your home using energy from the sun.

 

There is an alternative and excellent way to heat hot water at home and that is using solar water heating systems. They use free heat from the sun to warm domestic hot water. Then a conventional boiler or immersion heater is subsequently used to make the water hotter, or to provide hot water when solar energy is unavailable.

 

Functioning of solar water heating systems

Solar panels or collectors are part of the water heating systems and will be fitted to your roof. These collect heat from the sun and use it to warm water which is stored in a hot water cylinder.

There are two types of solar water heating panels: evacuated tubes and flat plate collectors. The flat plate collectors can be fixed on the roof tiles or also integrated into the roof.

 

As a back up, when the solar water heating system does not reach a desired temperature you can use a boiler or immersion heater to heat the water further to reach the temperature set by the cylinders thermostat. This cylinder thermostat should be set at 60 degrees centigrade.

 

The benefits of solar water heating

 

Hot water throughout the year: the system works all year round, although you'll need to heat the water further with a boiler or immersion heater during the winter months.

 

Cut your bills: once you have paid for the initial installation your hot water costs will be reduced because the sunlight is free

 

Cut your carbon footprint: solar hot water is considered a green, renewable heating system and doesn't release any harmful carbon dioxide or any other pollutants.

 

To tell if solar water heating is suitable for home, there are a few key questions to consider:

 

Sunny place. Around 5 square metres of roof space facing east to west through south and receives direct sunlight for the main part of the day will be needed. Alternatively, if you do not have a south facing roof and if you have space, you could install a couple of panels, one facing east and one facing west - but this will make installation more costly. The panels can also be fixed to a frame on flat roofs.

 

Space for a larger, or an extra, hot water cylinder If you do not have already installed a dedicated solar cylinder then you will need to replace the existing cylinder, or add a dedicated cylinder with a solar heating coil.

 

Compatible boiler with solar water heating Most conventional boilers and hot water cylinder systems are compatible with solar water heating. If you currently have a combination boiler (combi) and you do not have a hot water tank then a solar hot water system may not be compatible.

 

Planning permission In England most solar water heating systems don't need any planning permission. Alliance recommends consulting your local planning office if you live in a Listed Building, a building in a Conservation Area or World Heritage Site.

An accredited Alliance installer will be available to assess your home and help you choose the best set-up to meet your needs.

 

Savings

 

Savings are moderate - solar water heating systems can provide about a third of your hot water needs, therefore it can reduce your water heating bill by between £50 and £85 per year. Also depending on what fuel you will be replacing, it will save up to 580kg of CO2 emissions,

 

Maintenance costs are very low. There is a 5-10 year warranty in most solar water heating systems and they require little maintenance. We would advise to look at your panels every year and have them checked more thoroughly by one of Alliance accredited installers every 3-5 years, or as specified by your installer.

 

Fuel Displaced	£ Saving per year	CO2 saving per year
Gas	£50	260 kg
Electricity	£85	580 kg
Oil	£50	320 kg
Solid	£65	530 kg

 

All savings are approximate and are based on the hot water heating requirements of a 3 bed semi detached home with a 3.5m squared panel.

 

Alliance Plumbing and Heating

Solar Water Heating

 

Local solar water heating specialists

We cover London and the Home Counties extensively. This enables us to arrange a visit for you for either today, tomorrow or any time that is convenient.

 

Free estimates for solar water heating

An experienced engineer will visit at a time that suits you.  He will provide you with all the help and advice you might need, discussing your options, ensuring you make the right decisions.

 

Customer service

All our staff from solar water heating experts to the call centre staff are all regularly appraised based on their performance as determined by you.  This helps us to continuously improve the service we provide.  If you have not been asked for your feedback, but would like to make a comment please e-mail or give us a ring. We would welcome and appreciate your contribution.  

 

Why Alliance?

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Useful Links

• Institute of Plumbers
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