Solar Water Heating
We offer complete Solar Water Heating solutions from design through to installation and support. We can source components from a wide range of suppliers giving you optimum performance at the best price possible.
Design
The design of a Solar Water Heating system will depend entirely on your property and requirements. An initial site survey will determine what type of solution will best suit your home. Considerations include the number of rooms to be heated, existing water and heating installations and the orientation & aspect of the property.
System
A Solar Water Heating in general will include the following elements, as detailed in the illustration below:
Essentially there are three primary components:
- Collector
- Pump
- Cylinder
Secondary elements include piping, wiring and fixtures. In many cases, modifications can be made to existing immersion heaters resulting in savings associated with not requiring a new specialist solar cylinder.
Component Sourcing
Bucks Solar solutions specialise in sourcing the most appropriate solution for your needs which means specifying equipment from a range of manufacturers, many of which are detailed individually on this site to the right.
Installation
Typically installation takes a couple of days. We use a cherry picker to gain access to the roof saving time and money over erecting scaffolding. Once the solar collector is fitted either a cylinder is installed at a suitable location or the existing emersion heater is modified. We then connect the plumbing and electrics and carry out testing followed by finishing touches such as replastering, painting and other cosmetic details.
How do solar water heating systems work?
Solar water heating systems use solar panels, called collectors, 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, they are evacuated tubes and flat plate collectors. Flat plates collectors can be fixed on the roof tiles or integrated into the roof.
A boiler or immersion heater can be used as a back up to heat the water further to reach the temperature set by the cylinders thermostat when the solar water heating system does not reach that temperature. (The cylinder thermostat should be set at 60 degrees centigrade.)
Larger solar panels can also provide energy to heat your home as well - though usually only in the summer months when home heating is unnecessary.
The benefits of solar water heating
- Hot water throughout the year: the system works all year round, though you'll need to heat the water further with a boiler or immersion heater during the winter months.
- Cut your bills: sunlight is free, so once you've paid for the initial installation your hot water costs will be reduced.
- Cut your carbon footprint: solar hot water is a green, renewable heating system and doesn't release any harmful carbon dioxide or other pollutants
Is a solar water heating system suitable for my home?
To tell if solar water heating is right for you, there are a few key questions to consider:
- Do you have a sunny place to put solar panels? You'll need around 5 square metres of roof space which faces east to west through south and receives direct sunlight for the main part of the day. Alternatively, if you do not have a south facing roof and if you have space, you could install two panels, one facing east and one facing west - but this will make installation more costly. The panels don't always have to be mounted on a roof, they can be fixed to a frame on flat roofs.
- Do you have space for a larger, or an extra, hot water cylinder? If a dedicated solar cylinder is not already installed then you will need to replace the existing cylinder, or add a dedicated cylinder with a solar heating coil.
- Is your current boiler compatible with solar water heating? Most conventional boiler and hot water cylinder systems are compatible with solar water heating. If your boiler is a combination boiler (combi) and you don't currently have a hot water tank then a solar hot water system may not be compatible.
- Do you need planning permission? In England most solar water heating systems don't need planning permission, but it is always best to consult your local planning office if you live in a Listed Building, or a building in Conservation Area or World Heritage Site. If you live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland you will need to consult your local authority.
Bucks Solar Solutions will be able to assess your home and help you choose the best set-up to meet your needs.
Cost and savings
Costs for a typical solar water heating system range from £3,000 to £5,000.
Savings are moderate - a solar water heating system can provide about a third of your hot water needs, reducing your water heating bill by between £50 and £85 per year. It will also save up to 580kg of CO2 emissions, depending on what fuel you will be replacing.
Maintenance costs are very low. Most solar water heating systems come with a 5-10 year warranty and require little maintenance. You should take a look at your panels every year and have them checked more thoroughly by an accredited installer 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 |
The Next Step
If you are interested in Solar Water Heating then please give us a call on 01494 674 075 for a free no obligation consultation.