Professional Solar Hot Water Maintenance (Solar Thermal)
What is Solar Thermal?
Ecolution’s specialist engineers provide comprehensive maintenance packages for solar hot water systems. We offer both planned preventative service regimes and year-round reactive call out services to ensure system optimisation and maximum savings.
Solar thermal systems must be serviced annually to avoid downtime and system failures. The glycol fluid should be topped up every tear to maintain the freezing point of the heat transfer fluid (typically minus 15 to minus 25 degrees). The pump station must also be checked regularly to protect its warranty.
Whether you're aiming to reduce your energy bills or build an eco-friendlier home, a regularly serviced solar thermal heating system is a great solution for you.
How a Solar Water Heating System Works
Before we begin listing the benefits of solar collectors and solar-heated water, here is a quick overview of how a solar water heating system works.
The Collector
The system starts with the collector. Solar collectors for this type of system take one of two forms: either flat plate collectors or evacuated tube collectors.
Flat plate collectors are solar panels installed on a roof at various angles to capture an optimal amount of sunlight. The physical size of the panel will depend on how much sunlight is typically available and the size of the home.
Evacuated tubes are the more sophisticated of the two types of collectors. Each tube in an evacuated tube array is comprised of an inner and an outer tube. The inner tube is filled with a volatile fluid and a copper conductor.
The fluid absorbs solar energy and heats up. The heat rises to the top of the tube where it’s collected by what’s called the “manifold”. The manifold then transfers the heat it collects to the hot water tank.
When it comes to renewable energy systems, evacuated tubes are more energy-efficient than flat plate solar panels. As a result, they also tend to be more expensive.
The Hot Water Tank
Heat from the solar thermal panel or the evacuated tube is transferred to the hot water tank where it heats the water. If your home lacks a hot water heater you will need to have one installed in order to take advantage of this type of system. Solar thermal contractors can help you with that.
The Heat Exchanger
Water or another fluid is heated by the panels or the evacuated tube system and conveyed to the hot water tank via heat pipes. Inside the tank, the pipes take the form of a copper coil. Heat from the hot water or other fluid inside the coil escapes through the copper into the water. Now bereft of its heat the water inside the coil is returned to the roof where it is reheated.
The Pump
It is necessary to pump water from roof to tank and back to roof. Some solar water heating systems come with a solar PV pump that helps ensure the energy efficiency of the entire system.
Finally, renewable energy systems such as this typically come with some type of control panel so you can stop the circulation of cold water in the event no hot water is being produced by the roof panels or tubes.
Benefits of using a solar thermal heating system
No fuel costs
Unlike other sources of renewable energy, thermal energy requires zero fuel. As costs of fossil fuels increase at an alarming rate per year, using thermal energy for your hot water can save you thousands.
Solar thermal also lowers a building’s dependency on fossil fuels. This helps non-renewable energy sources last longer for future generations to use.
Reliable, 24/7 power
Solar thermal energy can produce power 24 hours a day, making hot water supply much more stable and uniform.
Reduced environmental impact
Solar thermal technologies allow you to heat water without the need to consume any natural resources. This not only lowers pollution, but also limits the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. Overall, you get to reduce carbon emissions, boost air quality, and minimise the effect of climate change.
Space saver
Residential solar hot water systems don’t take up much space and are often installed on rooftops. This removes the need to set up bulky solar thermal collectors in other areas of your property.
Reliability
Scheduling preventive maintenance before heating season will keep your system fully functional when you need it the most. With a well-serviced solar thermal system, you can guarantee efficient heating services without any mid-season breakdowns.
Lower cost of repairs
Regular maintenance will help you catch issues earlier.
When left untreated, corrosion and tiny pinhole leaks can quickly lead to costly leaks which can last for months and soak insulation. Moisture or water sitting in the attic can be a breeding site for mould and bacteria which, in turn, trigger allergies and other health problems.
Extended system lifespan
Maintenance helps a system last longer and operate more efficiently. By keeping your thermal heating system clean, lubricated, and in top shape, the less stress is placed on the equipment. This prevents problems and ensures years of exceptional performance.
Award-winning renewable energy contractors
By performing maintenance on a solar hot water heating system, you can rest assured that the technology is performing the way it was designed. Regular maintenance will not only increase your system’s lifetime, but will also boost energy generation and keep your property safe all year long.
Unrivalled experience - We currently manage over 35,000 renewable assets nationwide. We work closely with Registered Social Landlords, private homeowners, builders, and professionals in the public, commercial, and construction sectors.
Industry-certified experts - Our maintenance services are performed by our licensed specialist engineers fully trained in our BPEC accredited training facility
Rapid turnaround - With our 24/7 emergency call out service, customers can expect quick response for any callout repairs and installation. We aim to arrive at your property within 4 hours of your call.
For more information about our thermal heater installation and maintenance services, contact our team on 0330 324 7777.