Solar hot water systems for your home

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

• How do solar water heating systems work?
• The benefits of solar water heating
• Is a solar water heating system suitable for my home?
• Costs, savings and maintenance

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 (like in the picture above) and flat plate collectors. Flat plates collectors can be fixed on the roof tiles or integrated into the roof. However, Solarbase only install evacuated tubes.

An evacuated solar heating panel is more efficient than a conventional flat plate style of panel. It will also out-perform consistently better in cold, cloudy and windy conditions which are unfortunately all too common in the UK.  

An additional benefit of evacuated tube efficiency is the smaller roof panel footprint – something most people find very appealing. Furthermore, having less solar panel area on the roof reduces the fluid content of the heating system enabling a faster response to solar radiation.

Vacuum is by far the best insulation for a solar heating panel. It safeguards the collector from moisture, condensation and pollutants – resulting in increased durability and year-round performance.    

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