How do Solar Thermal Kits Work
Solar Water Heating Systems which are often referred to as simply solar thermal kits and they are a great way of saving money on your energy bills by not using a traditional boiler throughout large proportions of the year. How they work is by collecting natural heat produced by the sun which is stored up and then used to heat up water which has been collection within your home. By doing this, when there is sunlight you’ll have a supply of hot water, but the best thing is when there isn’t sun you can use a traditional boiler or immersion heater as a backup energy supplier to heat up your water, so there will be no cold showers for you and your family.
A solar thermal kit using both a solar collector panel and a backup boiler will ensure that regardless of the sunshine or weather you’ll have hot water. Even when it might not be really warm outside there is generally always sun and while it might not always be enough to fully heat your water it is lowering the amount of energy you may need to use so your energy bills will greatly reduce. The cost of the initial installation may seem like a lot of money but you’ll soon be making that back through lower bills.
Regularly we’re being told how much of a carbon footprint we’re leaving on the earth and the more energy we use the larger this footprint becomes. The great thing about solar thermal kits is that solar energy is both a green and renewable heating system harnessing its energy from a natural source. By having a solar thermal kit in your home you will greatly reduce your carbon dioxide emissions produced by your household and you’ll be greatly limiting your energy usage.
Solar Thermal Kits: How they work
Much like traditional solar energy the systems work by attaching panels – sometimes called collectors – to your roof where they can collect heat from the sun. This heat is then used in turn to heat up the water in your hot water cylinder for later use. An immersion heater or boiler can then be used as a backup should the heated water in the cylinder be used up or the desired temperature is not reached.
There are two types of solar water heating panels: Evacuated tubes and flat plate collectors and although you don’t need to know the difference between them you’ll be advised which is best for your property when you make an enquiry.
Is my home a good choice for a solar thermal kit?
There are considerations which need to be made before you decide whether to get solar panels, and this is generally down to the amount of sunny space that your property has for the panels themselves. Panels are usually attached to the roof needing five square metres of room to accommodate them but they can also be fixed to a flat roof, a frame or even a wall if roof space is minimal.
It isn’t just the panels which you need space for; it’s the hot water cylinder as well. A lot of people are limited on space within their homes so you’ll need to carefully consider where the cylinder can go. If you already have a boiler you will need to check the specifications to see whether it is compatible with solar water heating, otherwise you may need a new boiler to act as your backup. A lot of modern boilers are compatible with the hot water cylinder systems but a lot of combination boilers are not so you will need to check.
What savings can I expect to make?
The first cost of installing a solar thermal kit ranges between $3,000 and $5,000 which may seem costly to begin with but the systems are very long-lasting and can save you a considerable amount of money on your water heating throughout your lifetime.
During the summertime the system can provide almost all of your hot water so your bills will be pretty much nothing, and in the colder, darker weather it can help contribute to the costs keeping them lower than normal.
Much like other natural energy sources solar thermal kits are long-term investments which can see you saving money for years and years.
Globus Homes Solar Thermal Kits
