An Overview of Solar Heating
Harpenden, St.Albans, Hemel Hempstead, Welwyn Garden City, Watford and Tring

Domestic Solar Panel Hot Water Heating Systems

With the increasing cost of gas and electricity, the decline in traditional energy resources and the concerns about global warming, domestic energy conservation is now a high priority.

Solar heating for domestic hot water heating systems is the now regarded as a leading green technology and is a viable solution throughout the UK. Solar technology is well-developed with a large choice of equipment to suit many situations. Solar water heating systems work alongside your conventional water heating system.

Solar energy not only benefits the environment, but also reduces your yearly heating costs. By using the sun's energy to heat your hot water your household can save, on average, 50-60% of your annual bill.

One of the misconceptions regarding domestic solar power is that the systems may be difficult to maintain, but this is not actually the case. It is, however, important that you use professional, fully trained installers for any domestic solar power system in order to ensure that everything is fitted correctly. 3 Counties Heating’s engineers and installers are fully trained and accredited to provide you with a modern, efficient domestic hot water heating system using the latest solar panel technology.

How Solar Energy Works

Solar energy works by using solar panels or slates which are usually positioned on the roof of the home. For maximum efficiency, the solar panels should be installed at a 45˚ degree angle on a southeast to southwest facing roof (or other suitable surface) and should not be overshadowed by trees or other obstructions. A typical installation in the UK would only require 2-4m² of roof space, so will certainly not be an eye sore. In any case, a modern solar power heating system uses discreet panels to blend in as much as possible with existing roofing.

There are three main components to a domestic solar power heating system - the solar panels, a heat transfer system and a hot water cylinder. The sun’s energy is collected by the solar panels (energy collectors) and a fluid is pumped around a sealed system to an indirect heating coil in a hot water cylinder. Heat is exchanged between the collector fluid and your domestic hot water, just like a boiler is used to heat your water.

The solar heating works alongside your boiler, reducing the need for the boiler to heat your domestic hot water. The existing cylinder is exchanged for a cylinder with two heat exchanger coils; one from the boiler in the property and a second from the solar panels.

For more information on Domestic Solar Panel Hot Water Heating Systems.

Solar Heating in the UK

Solar panel technology is now very well-developed and the solar panels absorb energy from the sun even on cloudy days, as the technology does not rely on sunlight but on diffused solar radiation so it can work efficiently in our UK climate. The panels will obviously not work at night.

The panels are most effective between the months of May and September. The best position for the panels is facing south (within 30 degrees in either direction) and a roof slope of between 25 and 70 degrees, although panels pointing within 70 degrees of south on a roof slope of between 10 and 90 degrees can still achieve 90% efficiency.

The solar panels may not work on some days during the winter months so another heating system is needed as a backup. This can be a conventional boiler or another form of renewable energy.

Typically, a well-designed hot water solar heating system should provide approximately 50-60% of your domestic hot water heating needs averaged throughout the year. This provides a worthwhile saving in energy costs and is helping the environment.

Solar Heating Grants

Government grants are available to help meet the cost of installing domestic solar hot water heating systems. For more information, please see our page on Solar Heating Grants.