Solar Hot water Heater, anyone got one?

tigerstyle · 9 Apr 2012 at 15:28

Wondering if anyone here has a solar hot water heating system? I know a few people here have PV panels, but for bang for your buck and energy saving, doesn't going for the hot water route provide a better deal?

Traditionally (and cheaply) they can look rather large when installed, so probably have a hard time sticking them just anywhere on a house (planning permission) but you can locate the tank anywhere you want (in loft/basement and pump the water around)

Wondering what people think of them? Would be great to incorporate the system combining underfloor heating too.

Glaucus · 9 Apr 2012 at 15:30

They don't need to be big, the tank at the top can go inside the loft.
Is that the evacuated tube ones? I can't see the other types working to well in the uk.

ash_scotland88 · 9 Apr 2012 at 15:32

Surely for heating purposes, you'd need it in the winter when the sun isn't at it's warmest for heating them?

chaparral · 9 Apr 2012 at 15:32

My uncle use to have a really big one that was used to help heat his swimming pool

Glaucus · 9 Apr 2012 at 15:36

ash_scotland88 said:
Surely for heating purposes, you'd need it in the winter when the sun isn't at it's warmest for heating them?

It's not purly for heating. It's a heater ie. It heats the water. You can then use it directly or further heated by conventional emerision heaters/boilers. Evacuated tube ones means they are not affected by outside temp due to the vacuum and can still produce warm water in winter, meaning less heating by the boiler.

tigerstyle · 9 Apr 2012 at 15:37

Glaucus said:
They don't need to be big, the tank at the top can go inside the loft.

Did mention that in the post

Glaucus said:
Is that the evacuated tube ones? I can't see the other types working to well in the uk.

I know there are various styles, either tubes or panels, and then again differences between those types also. I don't know much about the tech, other than it sticks to the KISS concept, is cheap(ish compared to PV) and will provide a much longer useful lifespan than PV also. The effect will be less in winter of course, but every kW/litre of gas/oil saved from the main heating unit is a bonus, even in cold cold winter it'll still give a boost to the system.

/edit, aha, get the vacuum part now, didn't think much about it before but yes, greater efficiency regardless of outside temp.

Glaucus · 9 Apr 2012 at 15:40

Missed that bit. What's the FIT on heat units these days? I know it use to be about £500 a year.

tigerstyle · 9 Apr 2012 at 15:43

Glaucus said:
Missed that bit. What's the FIT on heat units these days? I know it use to be about £500 a year.

Also, with the 'goal' being hot water+floor heating, you could go all out and have 2-3 tanks in a circuit for ultimate hot water backup!

Glaucus · 9 Apr 2012 at 15:57

If your going floor heating. An air heat exchange unit would be better. Idea for low temp loops which is what you want for UFH, co Stanton low temp, rather than high temp short bursts which is what radiators mainly do.

Derek W · 9 Apr 2012 at 17:02

You don't need planning permission for panels unless youre in a listed area.

ash_scotland88 · 9 Apr 2012 at 17:13

Glaucus said:
It's not purly for heating. It's a heater ie. It heats the water. You can then use it directly or further heated by conventional emerision heaters/boilers. Evacuated tube ones means they are not affected by outside temp due to the vacuum and can still produce warm water in winter, meaning less heating by the boiler.

Ah okays. I only knew the basic of solar panels

One type heats water the other type produces leccy!

ron3003 · 9 Apr 2012 at 17:14

Derek W said:
You don't need planning permission for panels unless youre in a listed area.

All parts must be less than 200mm above the tiles then it's permitted development ie no planning permission reqd.
You aren't going to get any meaningful heat for the underfloor when you most need it however they can be useful for helping with the hot water in summer, might go for it myself strictly DIY though.
I already have PV panels, whoever suggested they dont last as long as the evacuated tube/panel hot water system is mis-informed. PV is guaranteed to perform at 80% of new capacity after 20 years

Glaucus · 9 Apr 2012 at 17:21

DIY you can't get FIT can you? Or can you get it inspected?

ron3003 · 9 Apr 2012 at 19:35

You mean RHI (renewable heat incentive)
It's been delayed more times than british rail LOL. You'd need it installed by MCS installer if and when it does come in, would make any fuel savings pointless due to the price of the certified install I suspect. Also they'd insist on meeting catD isulation standards same as FIT's for PV does now.

Glaucus · 9 Apr 2012 at 19:37

That's odd I could have sworn it was allready in.

Gepetto · 9 Apr 2012 at 21:24

Ron3003, what did your PV panels cost you and how effective are they?

We've just moved house, and now have a south facing aspect that would be ideal for panels, but I've been considering the water heating system in the OP, primarily down to cost

tigerstyle · 10 Apr 2012 at 02:52

ron3003 said:
You aren't going to get any meaningful heat for the underfloor when you most need it however they can be useful for helping with the hot water in summer.

Got any links to studys in that? I'm trying to find some reviews/websites with detail but aren't finding anything decent to ruminate.

From what I understood it'd help (and go a long way towards helping in winter too not just a little) and in summer you'd have hot water coming out of your ears! Obviously family/panel size dependant though but within reason for a small family, south facing panel.

Andy · 10 Apr 2012 at 10:45

I have a water heating panel, it heats a tank of water before it is used by the boiler for a variety of purposes. I have no idea if it is any good :confused:

TheFew · 13 Sep 2020 at 07:29

I had solar water heating... it has lost all its glycol and I have not replaced it yet as I cannot work out where it went..

When it was working it was awesome. I have two tanks in the airing cupboard. In summer I always had hot water with no need to use the gas boiler.

In winter it gets the water a good portion of the way there with the boiler doing the last part.

If I could find a competent solar guy I would get it fixed. But the last guy I had come over was just going to refill the glycol with no real explanation as to where it went (it is an internally venting system and the pot was empty).

UTT · 13 Sep 2020 at 12:21

TheFew said:
I had solar water heating... it has lost all its glycol and I have not replaced it yet as I cannot work out where it went..

When it was working it was awesome. I have two tanks in the airing cupboard. In summer I always had hot water with no need to use the gas boiler.

In winter it gets the water a good portion of the way there with the boiler doing the last part.

If I could find a competent solar guy I would get it fixed. But the last guy I had come over was just going to refill the glycol with no real explanation as to where it went (it is an internally venting system and the pot was empty).

Surely it must be a sealed system so it just needs filling with a coloured liquid and then look for the leak?