Solar Hot Water Heating
Solar hot water heating systems provide a cost effective solution for heating the water used for washing and bathing.
Solar Hot Water Heating Systems
- Provide around 70% hot water per year for 30+ years
- Fully automated and require no user intervention once installed
- Solar Collectors can be mounted on the roof, in the garden or on walls
- Indirect system, no scale or frost damage
- Pressurized or Drain Back Systems & Zero Carbon systems
- System designed with solar software showing system outputs & savings
- Professional guaranteed grant assisted installation
A solar water heating system works like this...
 An electronic solar heating controller constantly compares the temperature of the solar collectors (usually located on the roof of the building) against the temperature of the water in the bottom of the solar hot water cylinder. Whenever the solar collectors are hotter than the temperature in the bottom of the solar cylinder, the solar controller switches on the solar systems circulating pump. A solar grade anti-freeze is then circulated through the solar collectors, moving the heat to the solar cylinder's heat exchanger, heating the water inside the solar cylinder in a similar way to a central heating boiler.
Up to 95% Solar Hot Water coverage from May to October
Our clients have informed us that the solar heating systems we have installed will usually heat all of their daily water consumption from May to October. Outside of these months they still get a satisfying amount of heat from the solar system on clear and cloudy days. You should expect, on average 90% to 100% in the summer, 50% to 60% during the spring and autumn and 25% to 35% in the winter.
Correct sizing is essential for solar
Size of solar collector area and solar cylinder depends on how many people you will need to supply. In a domestic situation if you want 70% of your hot water supplied by solar expect the following sizes for flat plate systems.
- 4m2 collector and a 200 litre cylinder for 1-2 people
- 5m2 collector and a 300 litre cylinder for 2-4 people
- 7.5m2 collector and a 400 litre cylinder for 3-5 people
- 7.5m2 collector and a 500 litre cylinder for 4-5 people
- 10m2 collector and a 500 litre cylinder for 5-7 people
- 12.5m2 collector and a 750 litre cylinder for 8-12 people
- 15m2 collector and a 1000 litre cylinder for 12-20 people
Vacuum Tube solar collector area will be slightly smaller, cylinder capacity would remain the same. It is always best to install the largest system possible because the solar will supply you with more energy. If your going to invest in solar hot water you should do it right in the first place and get the correct sized system installed.
However, this rule is perfect for new builds but in reality with retrofit installations usually a 300L or 400L cylinder is the largest that will fit in the standard UK airing cupboard. If you require a smaller solar system installed it will still work well and provide you with nice amounts of solar hot water. But it will not supply you with 70% it will supply you with less % per annum.
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