FAQ
- · Will it work in the winter?A typical household can reduce their annual greenhouse gas emissions by up to 4-6 tons of CO2 annually. This is equivalent to 612 gallons of gasoline or 12.7 barrels of oil. Solar thermal hot water is an easy and affordable entre into renewable energy and the green movement. Reducing carbon footprint.
- · Do I eliminate my existing water heater?No. A solar thermal system supplements your existing hot water heater. You now have twice as much hot water available. Your existing system works as a failsafe backup system. By using the sun’s free energy you will reduce your hot water energy consumption by 60-90%.
- · Are there rebates or other financial incentives available?Yes, absolutely! Federal, State and Utility Company incentives offset 30-60% of the total system cost!
- · How much energy do I use heating water?For most households, hot water heating is the largest energy hog, representing 25-45% of total energy usage. By harnessing the sun’s free energy you can reduce your hot water energy consumption by 60-90%!
- · How much money can I save?Most households will save $25-$100 per month at today’s energy rates (depending on usage and local utility rates.) As energy costs continue to soar, so shall savings!
- · What about the environmental benefits of going solar?Any time you use solar energy to offset the amount of fossil fuels that are burned, you contribute to everyone’s health and welfare. Operating one solar water heater instead of an electric or gas water heater saves the equivalent of nine barrels of oil every year and reduces carbon dioxide emissions (a greenhouse gas) by 1600 pounds and sulfur dioxide (contributes to acid rain) emissions by 12 pounds. Multiply those emissions per household by all the homes in your neighborhood, town, county, or state, and the benefits — and the air and water — become even more clear.
- · What about the appearance of a Solar Collector on our roof?Today solar collectors are typically integrated into the slope of the roof. This method of installation gives the solar collector the appearance of a quality, opaque, glass skylight. In most cases, since the piping is not seen, it actually improves the appearance of the home because it looks like an elegant, expensive skylight.
- · What about adding the Solar Hot Water Heater into the mortgage?This is a great time to install a solar hot water system. The monthly savings are far greater than the small increase in mortgage payments. And, the tax savings from the home mortgage or home improvement loan — typically 25% or more — count as an itemized deduction on your income tax. Typically, the after-tax rate of return on investment will be over 18% per year, even for two people. You also increase the property value of your home and its visual perception as an energy efficient, environmentally responsible home.
- · What is the “payback” on a solar hot water system?Solar water heating systems provide quality hot water at a lower cost than heating with electricity or LP gas with more equity value in your home. While payback period will depend on the complexity of your installation, we typically see a 9 to 11 year payback.
Solar collectors are typically designed to last as long as your home with little or no maintenance. These systems often give a 14% to 20% per year non-taxable rate of return on your money – even for a two person household. It is important to remember that hot water is a constant daily expense; other large household appliances, like air conditioners and heaters, are seasonal expenses.
Hot water is typically 20% to 30% of the annual utility bill. Hot water for showers, dishwashing, and laundry costs about $110 a year per person (when LP gas costs $1.15/gallon or electricity costs 7 cents/kilowatt hour). When electricity is 10 cents/kWh or LP gas is $1.60 a gallon, it will cost about $646 a year to heat water for a four-person household. A properly sized solar water heating system can be expected to save this household $450 to $600. - · Is Solar Hot Water a good investment?The potential savings on water heating bills are affected the most by the type of fuel you are using to heat that water and the number of people in the home. If you are heating hot water for two or more people and you heat water with electricity or with bottled or natural gas, then you owe it to yourself to look at solar water heating, it could be a great investment for you.
- · What maintenance will my Solar Thermal system require?Minimal maintenance is required to keep the solar thermal system in good operation. However, we would recommend getting the pressure checked at least every 1-2 years just to make sure your system is able to perform at its best. The water/anti-freeze liquid that circulates within the system will need adding to or replacing at five year intervals. Our installers will be able to recommend a suitable maintenance schedule.
- · My roof is old and in fairly poor condition - can I still install a Solar Thermal system on it?Although Solar Thermal systems are unlikely to be heavy enough to cause structural problems, if your roof is in poor condition we would recommend that you undertake a structural survey before proceeding with your installation. If your roof is in need of repair or replacement we would recommend combining this work with your Solar Thermal installation as this will help to reduce cost.
- · What is the difference between Flat Plate Panels and Evacuated Tubes?There are two main types of solar thermal collectors: Flat Plate Panels and Evacuated Tubes.Flat bed panels are a thin panel of metal that acts as an absorber positioned just below a sheet of glass. The metal panels absorb the sun's heat and this heat is then transferred to a liquid that is pumped through the system. These are robust, long lasting systems.Evacuated tubes are glass tubes - a vacuum is created within them except for thin strips of twisted metal which act as an absorber. The vacuum means conduction losses are reduced so heat transfer in evacuated tubes is very efficient. By contrast, flat bed panels tend to lose more heat, especially when it's cold.The evacuated tube system consists of a row of these tubes and is better in climates where there is not always direct sunlight i.e. when the radiation is high but not necessarily the temperature. The increased efficiency of evacuated tubes does not necessarily mean that they can produce more hot water just that the area can be reduced.Although evacuated tubes are slightly more efficient they are more fragile and replacing a broken tube can be very expensive. Whereas Flat panel systems are very robust - you can actually stand on them and they wouldn't break.
- · What if my roof faces east/west - will my Solar Thermal panel still work?If you have an east /west facing roof, you can still have solar thermal but we would recommend that you install a panel on each side of the roof to harness enough energy throughout the day. This will increase the cost.
- · Where can I place my Solar Thermal Panels?To maximise the performance from your system it should be placed on a south facing surface (roofs usually) with a 45 degree tilt towards the sun in an unshaded location. A south-east or south-west facing roof will still deliver a good yield of energy.
- · What is the difference between Solar PV and Solar Thermal?Solar PV is a technology that uses the power of the sun to create electricity.Solar Thermal is a technology that uses the power of the sun to heat water. Unlike Solar PV, Solar Thermal systems only require daylight to operate and properly installed system works all year round - even when it's cloudy. In fact, the system will provide you with hot water for approx 70-80% of the year (Reduced amount of daylight hours during the winter reduces production of heat energy).
- · How do Solar Thermal systems work?A solar thermal collector (Flat plate panels or evacuated tube panels) is installed on the roof of your house. Inside the collector a non-toxic freeze proof solar fluid is heated by the sun then pumped through a pipe coiling inside the hot water tank, which heats up the water in the tank. Hot water is then available for you to use in the house and the solar fluid is then pumped back up to the collector, where it is once again heated by the sun.
- · What does Solar Collector Inc. offer ?Solar Collector Inc. has her own manufacturing plant and facility for high quality solar water heater system and solar thermal collectors. We also own warehouses in California with sufficient products stock for instant and immediate pick-up services. Our service team is ready for after sale consultation and services when you need .Besides the products supply, we are also able to offer technical supports, marketing and promotional advices and after sale and warranty services direct in US by our back-up team.
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