To cut down your annual energy bills & carbon footprint installing a solar water heating system for your home is the best thing you can do. And now Government offering incentives to people that are installing renewable technology in their home, there couldn’t be a better time to getting one fitted in your home as well.
However, there are quite a few things you need to ask yourself before installing a solar water heating system for your home. Let’s find out what are they:
Is your home suitable for installing a solar water heating system?
A typical heating system needs a panel to be fixed to your roof to gather heat from the sun. To maximize the effect you require a 3-4m² area on a South-facing roof that gets direct sunlight for the most part of the day. A South-West and South-East facing roof can also be considered but won’t work as effectively.
Flat plate or evacuated tube systems?
Well, solar evacuated tubes are known to be more competent in covering sun rays into heat compared to flat plate panels. However, issues may arise during set up if they’ve not been correctly sized.
Nevertheless, flat plate solar panels are an affordable substitute to evacuated tubes & are more suited for residential hot water use.
Or you can use flat plate panels and solar evacuated tubes collectively. The flat plate warms the water first, then the evacuated tube further amplify the temperature prior to sending it to the storage container.
Do you require planning approval for installing a solar water heating unit?
In the United Kingdom, changes to authorized development consent for renewable technologies have made it really simpler to set up solar panels on residential properties without the need for planning approval.
However, the special case does apply for conservation areas, listing buildings and areas of exceptional natural splendor.
Regardless of where you’re, if you’re thinking about installing solar heating it’s recommended to check with your local authority if planning approval is needed before the installation process.
Is your existing boiler compatible with solar water heating?
The good thing is that most traditional boiler systems & hot water cylinder systems are compatible with solar heating. However, if you have a combination boiler that runs without a tank then it’s expected that it won’t be compatible. If you’re not sure it’s wise to consult a competent installer who can guide on compatibility with your existing system.
Buy high-quality solar water heating systems from Northern Lights Solar Solutions whether you want to use it for residential or commercial purposes. Feel free to check out our complete solar package now!
