Heat water for your home using energy from the sun.

Solar water heating systems use free heat from the sun to warm domestic hot water. A conventional boiler or immersion heater can be used to make the water hotter, or to provide hot water when solar energy is unavailable.

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 can reduce your carbon dioxide emissions.

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 heat up water which is stored in a hot water cylinder. A boiler or immersion heater can be used as a back up to heat the water further to reach the temperature you want.

There are two types of solar water heating panels:

Evacuated solar tubes

An alternative solar heating system which are designed and developed especially for Northern European countries.

These premium solar heating tubes use solar radiation (a true green energy source) to heat water and could also heat swimming pools.

Flat-plate collectors

Consists of an absorber, a transparent cover, a frame, and insulation. Usually an iron-poor solar safety glass is used as a transparent cover, as it transmits a great amount of the short-wave light spectrum.

Larger solar panels can also be arranged to provide some contribution to heating your home as well.

However, the amount of heat provided is generally very small and it is not normally considered worth while.

Is solar water heating right for your home?

Do you have a sunny place to put solar panels?

You'll need around five square metres of roof space which faces east to west through south and receives direct sunlight for the main part of the day.

The panels don't have to be mounted on a roof: they can be fixed to a frame on a flat roof or hanging from a wall.

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 usually 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. But if your boiler is a combination boiler (combi) and you don't currently have a hot water tank, a solar hot water system may not be compatible.

South West Energy Service are fully qualified and registered under the goverments Microgeneration Certification Scheme for installing solar hot water systems.

For a free survey please contact us.