Thomas Edison 1931
Solar Thermal FAQs
Do solar panels actually work in the UK?
How quickly will I get my money back?
Will Solar panels actually help the environment?
How much will I actually save on my fuel bills?
How much maintenance do solar collectors require?
Will I need planning permission to install a solar hot water system in my home?
How long will it take to install a solar hot water system in my home?
Will my exiting system be touched?
Why do I need a professional solar hot water installer?
Once my solar hot water system is installed will I need to touch it?
What are the payment methods?
Do solar panels actually work in the UK?
Yes in fact the solar radiation achieved in the UK is 60% of that at the equator.
How quickly will I get my money back?
Payback is around 6 years at present. However fuel prices have risen by over 90% in the last 3 years.
Will Solar panels actually help the environment?
Yes if everyone was to have a solar hot water system in the UK are carbon footprint would reduce by 5%.
How much will I actually save on my fuel bills?
An average 2 – 4 Person household will save £200 a year assuming fuel prices do not rise.
How much maintenance do solar collectors require?
Very little in truth, except for a clean every now and again there is very little to go wrong. General plumbing parts, for example pumps, only have a certain life, so they may need changing.
Will I need planning permission to install a solar hot water system in my home?
Only in conservation areas and on listed buildings. Solar collectors are now considered permitted development.
How long will it take to install a solar hot water system in my home?
It will generally take between 2 and 3 days to complete.
Will my exiting system be touched?
Generally your existing system will not be touched. It will only need to be touched if a new twin coil tank is required. In this case the existing primary’s will need to be moved to the top coil in the new tank.
Why do I need a professional solar hot water installer?
Solar is considered an uncontrollable source i.e. you cannot just flick a switch to turn it off, much like a log fire. This means safety devices must be put in place to stop the water from boiling.
Once my solar hot water system is installed will I need to touch it?
There is some maintenance necessary, an annual inspection would be more than adequate though.
What are the payment methods?
GHE Solar except all major credit and debit cards as well as a cheque or bank transfer.
