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New build solar panel/heating advice needed

  • 01-05-2012 7:20pm
    #1
    makingSense
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20 ✭


    Hi, some help needed here. Building a two storey, 3000sq foot house. 90mm kingspan in walls. Also intend to use insulated slab 42mm. We ordered the best DG windows we could afford with a combined u value of 1.2. We can't afford/are not sold on a heat recovery ventilation system. Yes yes all the heat will go out the vents. We intend to plum it for solar panels And fit some time in future...although we are looking into building into the roof, the flat ones. Although someone else advised that the tubes are more efficient at heating the water. We might just install the panels now if we can figure out if they are worthwhile in our case.

    We will have three showers, none electric and one bath. Three plumbing zones, upstairs, downstairs and water zone. Although now it seems four would have been better, giving two zones downstairs...not possible now, plumbing too far advanced. We will probably put in a bog standard condenser oil boiler. We will have a solid fuel stove, plumbed to heat the downstairs radiators, too many radiators in the house for stove to heat them all. The house has a hip roof with one hip facing due south. One of the chimnes is at the bottom of this hip. Also the sun room roof is due south. What type of solar panel should we install if at all. The tubes are more efficient but may be more susceptible to damage if they have to be fitted to sunroom roof rather than the main roof.

    Can anyone offer some advice on a solar panel company/brand. When I asked the plumber the brand he uses he just said dual...not sure what he means. Is this a brand or a generic name. He didn't seem too informed. Also any advice/criticisms of what we have done or intend to do are welcome. We Are trying to do the best we can but our money won't stretch to HRV or geothermal heating.cheers in advance


Comments

  • #2
    sky6
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,445 ✭✭✭sky6


    Firstly let me say that Solar is not cost effective unless you have a family of 2+2 or more. If there is only going to be two of you in the House you could have the pipe work installed through the attic and do the rest at a later stage.
    Having said that it's my opinion that Solar is the best thing since we had tv aerials on the Roof. There is a lot of scare mongering going on about Solar but in truth there is very little to go wrong with it. On the Continent there are many systems working trouble free year after year. The pump would be the most likely thing to go, but how many times have you heard of people changing there CH Pump. Even then if it happened cost is 100 to 150 E.
    Panels achieve a maximum heat of 200 degrees whereas Tubes can rise to 360 Degrees, nearly twice as hot. There also cheaper to replace as a tube costs about 50 Euro. Admittedly panels might look nicer, but you make your own choice.
    Also before doing anything have your Water tested for Hardness as you may require a Copper Cyl instead of the more standard SS Cylinder.
    If you want the name of a good installer PM me. I've got no connection to them, I just know that they do good work, and have installed many systems.
    Including Ground source and heat recovery as well as Solar.


  • #3
    as1435
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7 ✭as1435


    Hi,

    I am putting in solar panels myself and I would like to get that information as well. I am also looking at getting my cavity wall filled and attic insulation, any advice would be great.


  • #4
    shane0007
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,677 ✭✭✭shane0007


    makingSense wrote: »
    Can anyone offer some advice on a solar panel company/brand. When I asked the plumber the brand he uses he just said dual...not sure what he means. Is this a brand or a generic name.

    The company is called Joule. They are Dublin based. www.joulesolutions.ie
    Their tubes are the standard Sydney type tube manufacturered in China. A heat dump will definitely be required when installing these.

    Be careful of the amount of shading that is on that roof. You may have to oversize to counter any losses from the shading. The quality of the installation is paramount to its performance. If he does not seem that bothered then get another installer who is bothered to install the solar system. Ask for references and look at other installs they have done. Ask what warranties are there, including the labour warranty. Put a written contract in place. It keeps it cleaner.


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