Solar heating is one of the best ways of meeting your domestic hot water needs. It is energy-efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly. If you are planning to buy solar hot water heater because of any one or all of these reasons, here is a brief introduction to solar heating to help you make the right choice.

There are two main types of solar water heating systems – direct and indirect. Direct solar heating system is one that absorbs the sun’s heat to directly heat the water. It consists of water filled pipes that are made to connect to an insulated storage tank usually located inside a home. As the sun’s energy heats the water stored inside the pipes, the water flows into the storage tank.

Indirect solar water heating system, on the other hand, absorbs the sun’s rays into heat pipes which in turn heat the water. Basically, these solar water heaters have multiple heating pipes that have a thin copper laminate located on their back. As the temperature inside the pipes rises, it transfers its heat to the water thus making it warm.

It’s important to take into consideration your individual hot water needs, location, and climatic conditions when choosing any of the solar water heating systems. Also remember that although direct solar water heating systems are more efficient compared to the indirect solar water heating systems, they require more maintenance compared to indirect solar water heating systems.

As solar heating systems are expensive it is advisable to seek professional help and advice. Unless you have read up well on the products available you might get confused with various solar water heaters on the market. Further more you might not have adequate knowledge on how to maximise their efficiency regarding the placement of solar panels, their direction to maximise the heating effect, and so on.

On the other hand, professionals have relevant experience and knowledge to determine the type of solar hot water system that would best suit you. For instance, a solar heating professional would know which solar panel you should buy, which is the right size of solar water tank for your domestic solar water heater, and so on.

For the best professional advice and assistance on solar heating, or for buying solar water heaters at competitive rates, and more, you could log on to ecovisionsystems.co.uk. This website has a team of experts who can help you select the best solar water heater as per your needs.

Here you can also buy ground source heat pumps, air source heat pumps, water source heat pumps, and much more if you are looking for renewable energy products.

If you have been considering having a solar heating system installed to help save money on energy bills, chances are you have put the thought to the back of your mind now that winter is here, thinking that solar heating only works during the months when the sun is shining. 

But you would be wrong because solar heating is not just for summer! The belief that solar panels only work in sunny conditions is not a myth, it is just an outdated fact.

These days the panels used are powerful vacuum tube models that are unaffected by a lack of sun or cooler air temperatures. The vacuumed structure of the panels allows them to pull in whatever solar energy is available even on cold or dull days. They can absorb enough energy to provide hot water for eight months of the year and then assist with the running of an existing traditional system during the winter. 

A solar heating system can save money on heating bills as well as helping to maintain the environment by using a natural source of power to assist traditional heating methods. The systems are considered very reliable by the majority of users says a survey conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry. 

If you have put the idea of having a solar heating system on the back burner until the summer then reconsider! The system will bring advantages even in the winter, and the sooner it is installed, the sooner you could start seeing the cost benefits. 

Contact your local solar heating installation company and book a no-obligation survey. Choose one that is experienced and has been established for a number of years and if possible one that has been recommended to you. 

Solar heating is not just for summer; it provides year-round benefits for your wallet and for the environment. 

According to the Department of Trade and Industry, over 42,000 Active Solar Heating systems are estimated to be currently in use in UK homes and are said to be able to meet around half a users’ annual domestic hot water needs.

With the growing emphasis on energy conservation more and more people are considering solar hot water heating to boost traditional methods of providing hot water for their home.

A solar heating system can provide a reasonable share of domestic hot water energy. It can be used alongside any existing traditional water heating system to provide hot water energy, giving you peace of mind that you are doing your bit for the environment by reducing carbon dioxide emissions. If you have a swimming pool, a solar heating system is the ideal way of providing heated water.

Solar heating is not just for sun drenched countries!

When you think of solar heating, you tend think of it being used in warmer countries where the sun shines for hours every day. Nowadays however, it doesn’t matter if the sun isn’t shining all the time, because the new vacuum tube solar panels are unaffected by things like wind chill or cooler air temperatures. Due to their vacuumed structure they can absorb whatever solar energy is available even on cold or dull days, meaning the system can provide hot water for eight months of the year and will assist your existing traditional system during the winter.

Solar heating: some commonly asked questions answered

Q: Is my property suitable for a solar heating system?
A: Providing there is a shade-free area on the roof to install the solar panels, or alternatively a wall or area at ground level, preferably south-facing.

Q. How long does it take to install a solar heating system?
A. Around three to four days for a typical 2-4 bedroom house.

Q. Will the system take up much room in my house?
A. Additional space is needed to accommodate the extra water storage capacity. There are several options available and your engineer will run through all of them in advance of the installation.

Q. Is the solar system easy to maintain?
A. It may occasionally need some maintenance, although an annual check by the home owner and a professional check every three to five years should be enough.

Q. Is planning permission needed for the installation of a domestic solar heating system?
A. Unless your home is a Listed Building or in a Conservation Area then you will not normally need planning permission.

Solar heating offers several benefits to home owners and of course to the environment. Anyone considering updating their existing water heating system or renovating or building a property should seriously considering installing one of these environmentally friendly systems.

Product Description
This book provides step-by-step instructions for the average do-it-yourself home owner or hobbyist for building a fully functional solar heating system capable of pre-heating water for a water heater and heating a house in winter. The project described in the book, was built with easily available tools and resources so that it can be duplicated by anyone who is handy with basic tools and construction techniques…. More >>

Build Your Own Solar Heating System