A.        A solar collector is the "panel" that converts solar energy into heat.

Q.        How does a solar panel work?

A.        The sun’s rays are absorbed by a special material and this material becomes hot as a result. This heat is then used to heat the water in the solar circuit, which is then pumped to your hot water cylinder, etc. Solar panels will even work on overcast days because a large portion of solar radiation is not blocked by cloud cover.

Q.        How much water will I get from solar energy?

A.        You will get approximately 70% of your hot water over a yearly period from solar.

Q.        What is the difference between flat plate and tube panels?

A.        Evacuated tube panels are approximately 20% more efficient than flat plate panels and are more suited to a Northern European climate.

Q.        Where do I mount my solar panels?

A.        Panels are generally mounted on your roof, either flush with your tiles/slates (integrated) or indeed above the tiles or slates (on-roof). Larger collector arrays can be ground mounted on tailor-made brackets if necessary.

Q.        In what direction should my solar panels be facing?

A.        Your solar panel bank should face south or as close as possible to south and should be angled at approximately 45 degrees. See Solar Orientation.

Q.        How long will my panels last for?

A.        Solar panels have an efficient lifespan of approximately 25 years.

Q.        What happens when we are not at home, there is not hot water being used and the sun is shining for long periods, where does the heat go?

A.        It is important to ensure that the expansion vessel is sized sufficiently large enough to cope with this possibility. It is critical not to oversize your system and allow your system to stagnate, making it very important for a competent engineer to design your system.

A.        Yes, you will need to use a backup heat source with solar. Generally you can use a “twin” or “dual” coil cylinder to produce hot water. The twin coil cylinder has two coils, one for solar and one for the other heat source (oil or gas boiler or heat pump, etc.). In this way, if the solar panels cannot produce enough heat, the primary heat source will make up the shortfall.

Q.        Can I use solar to help heat my house?