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Solar Water Heating Systems

  • 21-11-2012 05:22PM
    #1
    Trhiggy83
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 731 ✭✭✭


    Hi Everyone,
    I am looking at the flat plate collecters and evacuated tube collecters at the moment. Does anyone know how either would work with my existing system.
    I have electric shower and oil for heating the house.
    Would i need a complete overhaul in order to benefit from the hot water that i would generate. Im not too sure how all three would interact.

    How would i use the hot water that i am generating from the solar heating panels without affecting my oil and electric setup....bit confused how the solar heating would compliment these to be honest.


Comments

  • #2
    freddyuk
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,114 ✭✭✭freddyuk


    The solar heating system will heat your hot water cylinder at all times but will work well in sun and less well in dull days.Your oil boiler is heating cold water from maybe 10-15 degrees up to 55 degrees. If the solar heating is in place it will heat the water going into your cylinder so the boiler only has to heat the water from a higher temperature so maybe 40- 50 degrees up to 55 degrees therefore not working very long at all thus using much less oil and saving you money.
    In summer the solar will heat your water tank to 55-60 degrees on it's own with no boiler. In winter it will heat the water and leave the boiler to top it up.
    So once solar is installed it will be boosting your hot water at all times to a varying degree. It will use minimal electricity to run a pump occasionally.
    You will need a new cylinder with two coils - one for oil boiler and one for solar.
    You will need a solar thermal kit.
    Your average energy cost will reduce.
    I would dump the electric shower and get a pumped shower using your free solar hot water from the cylinder.
    Your energy costs will then be reduced oil boiler load and reduced electricity shower cost.
    I do not know how you heat your rooms so this is for water heating only.
    That is a simple overview.


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