Solar Water Heating Check List

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Installing a solar water heating system for your home is a great way to reduce your annual energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint.  With Government schemes now providing incentives to install renewable technology in your home, now is the time to consider domestic solar hot water.

Before considering solar thermal you should check the following:

Suitability - is your property suitable for solar hot water?

A typical solar water heating system requires a panel to be attached to your roof to collect heat from the sun.  In order for this to be most effective you need a 3-4m² area on a South facing roof that receives direct sunlight for the main part of the day.  A South East and South West facing roof is also suitable.

In addition to roof space you will also need to check you have a hot water cylinder.

Compatibility - is your current boiler compatible with solar water heating?

Do you know what sort of boiler you have?  Is it a combination boiler, without a tank, or a system boiler which has a tank?

Solar thermal is best installed with a system boiler as it uses a tank and only a few brands of combination boiler can be adapted to work with solar.

If you are unsure please contact us and we can advise you on compatibility with your current system.

Permission - do you need planning permission for a solar hot water system?

Changes to permitted development rights for renewable technologies have made it easier to install solar panels on homes without the need for planning permission. 

Exceptions do apply for listed buildings, conservation areas, world heritage sites and areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONBs).  As well as for size of the technology and positioning.

No matter where you are, if you are thinking of fitting solar panels it is advisable to check with your local authority to find out if planning permission is required before going ahead with installation.

Installation – do you know an industry approved solar thermal installer?

Installing a solar hot water system should be carried out by a competent and accredited installer such as ourselves.

By choosing an accredited installer you have more protection as a consumer should anything go wrong with the fit and performance of your heating system.  You may also find that you are not eligible for renewable energy grants if you do not use a certified installer.

In the UK the main body for accrediting installers of renewable energy technology is the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).

Freesource are now accredited under the MCS scheme for solar thermal, photovoltaic solar, wind turbines and air source and ground source heat pumps.

Contact us

Call us on 0800 023 2326 or email us for free advice on choosing and installing solar water heating.