Solar Hot Water System
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Solar Hot Water Systems in Perth
Solar hot water uses energy from the sun to heat water and store it in a tank ready for you to use. The solar collectors are normally installed on the roof, where they absorb heat from the sun and transfer that heat into the hot water system.
Solar hot water uses collectors on the roof to heat your water directly, rather than solar panels that generate electricity.
Solar hot water can be very efficient and have low running costs when the conditions are right, but it is also one of the more expensive hot water systems to install. That is why we look at the whole property and what you are trying to achieve rather than assuming solar is automatically the best option.
How does solar hot water work?
The collectors on the roof absorb heat from the sun and use that heat to warm the water. That hot water is then stored in a tank for you to use later.
There are a few different ways the system can be set up. Some have the storage tank up on the roof with the collectors. Others are split systems, where the collectors stay on the roof and the storage tank sits down at ground level.
Either way, you still have stored hot water, so tank size and the amount of hot water your household uses matter.
What happens when there is not enough sun?
Solar does most of the work when there is enough sun, but you still need a backup for cloudy weather, winter conditions or periods of higher hot water use. That backup is normally called the booster.
An electric-boosted solar system uses an electric element to add heat when the solar contribution is not enough. A gas-boosted system uses gas to provide the additional heating.
How often the booster needs to run depends on the weather, the system, the amount of hot water you use and when you use it. So while solar can have very low running costs, it is better to think of the booster as part of the system rather than assuming the sun will do everything all year round.
Roof-mounted or split system?
With a roof-mounted system, the tank and collectors are installed together on the roof. This keeps the hot water system off the ground and can free up space around the house, but the roof needs to be suitable for the weight and installation.
With a split system, the collectors are on the roof and the storage tank is normally at ground level. This can reduce the amount of equipment sitting on the roof and gives us a different set of options for the tank location, but there are more components involved in moving heat between the collectors and the tank.
There is not one layout that is automatically better. It comes down to the house, roof, available space and the system being installed.
Pros of solar hot water
- Very low energy use when the sun is doing most of the heating. The booster only needs to make up the difference when the solar contribution is not enough.
- Low running costs can be one of the biggest attractions, particularly in a sunny climate and with a system that suits the household.
- It reduces the amount of electricity or gas needed specifically to heat your water.
- You still have a tank of hot water stored and ready to use.
- There are different system layouts and boosting options, including roof-mounted and split systems with electric or gas boosting.
- A roof-mounted tank can keep the hot water system off the ground and free up usable space around the home.
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Cons of solar hot water
- The upfront cost is generally higher than many other types of hot water systems. There is more equipment involved and part of the installation is on the roof.
- The roof matters. Collector position, available roof space, shading and the suitability of the roof all need to be considered.
- You still rely on a booster when there is not enough solar heat available, so the running cost is not necessarily zero.
- There is more to maintain than just a basic storage tank. Depending on the system, there can be collectors, valves, pumps or circulation components as well as the normal storage-system components.
- Because it is a storage system, you can still use the stored hot water faster than the system can replace it.
- Repairs or replacement can be more involved because part of the system is on the roof and specialist solar hot water components may be required.
Does your home suit solar hot water?
With solar hot water, the property itself plays a big part in whether the system makes sense. We look at the roof orientation, available unshaded roof space, where the collectors can go, where the storage tank can be located and what type of boosting suits the property.
Tank capacity still matters, but it is only one part of the setup. We also look at how much solar contribution the system is likely to get and how often the booster may need to step in.
Solar hot water can be an excellent option when the house and the system suit each other. If the roof is heavily shaded or the layout makes the installation difficult, another type of hot water system may make more sense.
Higher upfront cost, lower running costs
Solar hot water generally costs more to install upfront than many other hot water options. The benefit is that once it is installed, the sun is doing a large part of the work heating your water, so ongoing running costs can be very low.
Whether the higher initial cost makes sense over the long term depends on the home, the system you choose, how much hot water you use, how much boosting is required and how well the property is suited to solar. A home with good access to sunlight may get much more value from that investment than a property where the collectors spend a lot of the day shaded.
The higher upfront cost may balance out over time through lower running costs, but there are too many variables to assume that will be the case for every home.
Replacing an existing solar hot water system
If your existing solar hot water system has suited the home and you have been happy with how it performs, replacing it with another solar system can make sense. The roof and property have already been set up around solar hot water, and you already know whether this style of system works for your household.
That does not mean the replacement has to be exactly the same. When the old system reaches the end of its life, it is worth looking at the condition of the whole setup, the type of booster you have, what has changed at the property and what other hot water options are now available.
When might another option make more sense?
Solar hot water is not automatically the best choice just because you already have it. The replacement cost may be high, the roof or collectors may need significant work, your household may have changed, or your priorities around energy use and running costs may be different now.
You might also want a simpler replacement, want to move away from gas boosting, or decide that a heat pump, electric storage, continuous flow or another setup better matches what you want from the home now.
That is why we compare the sensible options rather than assuming the old system has to be replaced with the same type.
What about maintenance?
Solar hot water still has the normal maintenance considerations that come with storing hot water, including the tank, relief valves, tempering valve and sacrificial anode where fitted.
On top of that, the solar side of the system also needs to remain in good condition. Depending on the type of system, that can include the collectors, circulation components and other solar-specific parts. The exact maintenance requirements vary between makes and models.
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Not sure whether solar hot water is right for you?
If you are looking at replacing your hot water system and solar is one of the options you are considering, give Houseworks a call.
We can come out, look at what you currently have, the roof and available space, and talk you through whether solar hot water or another option makes the most sense for your home.