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?
No. The solar controller will take control of everything; you should never need to touch it.
What are the payment methods?
GHE Solar except all major credit and debit cards as well as a cheque or bank transfer.
