Q. What space and orientation do I need for a system?

Solar hot water installation is best situated on a pitched roof with an angle of between 30 and 45 degrees, with orientation between South East and South West, for a typical system a roof space of between 3 – 5 m². You will also need space to install the hot water tank and controller system.

Q. What is the payback period of a SHCMV Solar Hot Water System?

F3 Solar Water Heaters are much more affordable than most other solar hot water heaters, due to the increased efficiency. For a household of 4 , the price of a full system may not be too much more than an electric or gas system. Depending on your current hot water usage the annual electricity or gas saving will differ. However in a normal household that spends 25% of its electricity bill on hot water heating, the full cost of the purchase may be recouped as quickly as 5 years in reduced bills. An F3 solar collector should provide reliable operation for at least 20 years. You will definitely make considerable savings during the life of the solar hot water heater.

Q. Can Solar Water Heaters be used in cold conditions?

Yes. The SHCMV tubes solar water heater and solar collectors can be used in temperatures as low as -40deg Celsius, although performance is reduced in such extreme conditions. Good heat output is still achieved in mild sub-zero conditions.

Q. Will water be heated on a cloudy day?

Yes. Although the efficiency of the solar collector is reduced on overcast days it will still be able to heat water for normal use. If it is a heavily clouded day or raining, then gas or electric backup may be required to maintain water at the required temperature. This system will be automated so you don't have to worry about running out of hot water on a rainy day.

Q. Can I use a solar collector with my existing hot water system?

Normally yes. If your tank cannot accept the solar input directly an additional tank can be purchased to hold the solar hot water. An internal coil heat exchanger in the solar tank allows the water to be pre-heated before entering the existing water heater. A Thermal Store tank is an excellent choice if you are installing to provide both space heating and hot water.

Q. Can the Vacuum Tube Solar Heater be mounted on a flat surface?

Yes. Vacuum tube solar water heaters and solar collectors can be mounted on a flat roof, or on the ground by using a stainless steel A frame.

Q. How do I protect my solar system during subzero temperatures?

If you have a system that is operating in areas with subzero temperatures then freeze protection must be considered. The easiest means of preventing freezing is to use a controller with a low temperatures setting, therefore when the manifold temperature drops below a certain defined temperature (5oC), the pump will circulate, thereby warming the collector up with warm water from the storage tank. The pump will not have to run continually, just periodically, the frequency of which will depend on the outside temperature.

Q. Are vacuum tube solar water heaters and solar collectors flammable?

No. The majority of the solar water heater and solar collector's components are stainless steel, aluminium, glass or rock wool. The flammability of the storage tank will depend on which type you use. A stainless steel tank will not be flammable. Vacuum tube solar collectors are therefore ideal for areas of high fire risk.

Q. Can the solar water heater heat water to a high enough temperature?

Yes, the system can be designed to give you an average output temperature as high as 60-85deg C (140 - 185deg F). If you consider that when having a shower the water temperature is usually around 32-43deg C (90-110deg F), and scalding can occur at 54deg C (130deg F), this temperature output is more than sufficient.

Q. What maintenance of the solar water heater and solar collector is required?

Under normal circumstances no maintenance of the system is required. Due to the shape of the tubes regular rainfall and wind should keep the tubes clean. Should a tube become broken it should be replaced. This, however, is an inexpensive and easy job. Any "handy" person can install a new tube. normal heat tube and SHCMV tube solar water heaters and solar collectors can operate with several broken tubes.

Q. Can F3 Soar Water Heaters and Solar Collectors be used for a large scale hot water production?

Definitely. Solar water heaters and solar collectors can be connected in series to provide a large scale solar hot water installation for a commercial settings such as a school, hotel, office building etc. There is really no limit to the size of the system.