Solar water heating

karen810

We recently moved into a bungalow which has a multi-fuel stove with a back boiler which provides all of our heating & hot water. We've had issues with the whole system over the winter. Our plumber seems to think that the system is gunked up and could use a flush through which we're planning to do. However, we are currently having bigger issues with the hot water which the plumber thinks would be rectified by fitting a new tank.
We were thinking of fitting an immersion heater to the new tank so that we don't have to light the fire every time we need hot water. The plumber has also asked if we'd like to fit solar panels to help with the hot water generation.
Our dilemma is this. To fit the new tank with electric immersion he has quoted just under £5k. To go the whole hog and get solar panels it would be nearer £8k.
We have an electric shower and a dishwasher so we only use hot water for washing hands, cleaning and the odd bath in the winter so we're wondering if it's worth the outlay. We have been told that we could possibly get government grants (but unsure of this) and that the system could pay for itself within 7 years.
Any advice?

Cardew

To fit a new Hot Water tank costs HOW MUCH?? £5,000??


I don't know what type of tank but take a look at the prices on-line - and a immersion heater costs about £20.

karen810

I need to look into that then. He's quoted us for a Thermflow tank which is 300litres which we do need to query because that seems a bit big for our needs. The cost of the tank itself is £1890. The rest is labour and decommissioning the old tanks etc. He's done quite a lot of work for us already and hasn't seemed particularly expensive but we maybe need to get him to break things down a bit more clearly.

matelodave

300 litres is a big tank, also it sounds like he quoting you for a non-vented tank with solar coils etc. all very expensive and in my view a bit unnecessary. You'd need to save a lot of money and get a lot of RHI payments to recover £8000 in your lifetime. Most people probably don't spend much more than about £250-£300 a year just to heat hot water. so even if you halved it you'd only save about £150 which would take you 53 years to get back. RHI would bring that down somewhat but you get the idea - do your sums very carefully


If you've already got a tank then all he's got to do is replace it, clean the gunge and fit an immersion heater for summer use. Simple is better, cheaper and more reliable.


A replacement hot water tank is about £160 - £200 from Screwfix and an immersion heater is about £20.

karen810

Yes it is a non-vented tank with solar coils and all the bells and whistles! All very impressive but, as you say, probably more than we need. Thanks for the advice.