sohw:solar_hot_water

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sohw:solar_hot_water [2025/12/17 04:30] – created - external edit 127.0.0.1sohw:solar_hot_water [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Solar hot water+This topic is part of [[gt:power|Power & heating]]. 
 +====== Solar hot water ======
  
  
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-## What is solar hot water?+===== What is solar hot water? =====
  
 Also known as solar thermal, a domestic solar hot water system is one that absorbs the sun’s energy and transfers it to the water in a well-insulated storage cylinder, so that you have hot water when you need it. Solar thermal is different from solar [photovoltaics](/soel/solar_electricity), as solar hot water panels (usually called ‘collectors’) don’t produce electricity - they have water flowing through them, which they heat directly. Also known as solar thermal, a domestic solar hot water system is one that absorbs the sun’s energy and transfers it to the water in a well-insulated storage cylinder, so that you have hot water when you need it. Solar thermal is different from solar [photovoltaics](/soel/solar_electricity), as solar hot water panels (usually called ‘collectors’) don’t produce electricity - they have water flowing through them, which they heat directly.
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-## What are the benefits of solar hot water?+===== What are the benefits of solar hot water? =====
  
 Solar thermal, and other renewable energy sources, doesn’t involve the burning of fossil fuels, which releases nitric oxides, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere. This causes acid rain which damages forests, wildlife and human health, and acidifies the oceans; it also releases carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides, lead, particulates and hydrocarbons, which pollute the atmosphere, and cause damage to plants, ecosystems, and human respiratory health. Solar thermal, and other renewable energy sources, doesn’t involve the burning of fossil fuels, which releases nitric oxides, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere. This causes acid rain which damages forests, wildlife and human health, and acidifies the oceans; it also releases carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides, lead, particulates and hydrocarbons, which pollute the atmosphere, and cause damage to plants, ecosystems, and human respiratory health.
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
-Make sure your home is well-[insulated](/insu/insulation), in good [repair](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/infoarticle/repairs-maintenance/) and [dry](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/infoarticle/understanding-damp/) before thinking about renewable energy systems. First, learn as much as you can. Here's a free pdf of our book, _[Solar Hot Water: Choosing, Fitting and Using a System](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/solar-hot-water-text.pdf)._ This was published in 2012, and so some parts will be out of date - but it still contains a lot of useful info.+Make sure your home is well-[insulated](/insu/insulation), in good [repair](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/infoarticle/repairs-maintenance/) and [dry](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/infoarticle/understanding-damp/) before thinking about renewable energy systems. First, learn as much as you can. 
  
 A solar hot water system is for delivering hot water to your taps, shower and washing machine / dishwasher. It could be used for supporting space heating, but those types of systems are significantly more expensive and make specific requirements of your house – for example, it needs to be super-insulated and you need more panels. A solar hot water system is for delivering hot water to your taps, shower and washing machine / dishwasher. It could be used for supporting space heating, but those types of systems are significantly more expensive and make specific requirements of your house – for example, it needs to be super-insulated and you need more panels.
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-Solar hot water works well in combination with a [wood stove](/wstov/wood_stoves) with a back boiler. This way the solar panels will provide all your hot water in the summer, and the wood stove all your hot water in the winter. Then you’ll have year-round hot water from renewables. This will involve installing a triple-coil cylinder (or having another coil installed in your twin-coil cylinder) if you intend to keep your existing boiler, or a twin-coil cylinder if you don’t. More information about this can be found in our _[Heating with Wood](/wstov/wood_stoves)_ book.+Solar hot water works well in combination with a [wood stove](/wdst/wood_stoves) with a back boiler. This way the solar panels will provide all your hot water in the summer, and the wood stove all your hot water in the winter. Then you’ll have year-round hot water from renewables. This will involve installing a triple-coil cylinder (or having another coil installed in your twin-coil cylinder) if you intend to keep your existing boiler, or a twin-coil cylinder if you don’t. 
  
 Modern systems are automated. You don’t have to decide when to switch them on and off – it does it for you. You don’t have to re-set any clocks after power cuts; and you don’t have to change how and when you use hot water (although if you do, you may get more benefits from your system – for example, if you change from having a shower in the morning to the evening). Modern systems are automated. You don’t have to decide when to switch them on and off – it does it for you. You don’t have to re-set any clocks after power cuts; and you don’t have to change how and when you use hot water (although if you do, you may get more benefits from your system – for example, if you change from having a shower in the morning to the evening).
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 Your installer will leave you with a little checklist to go through every couple of months, just to make sure everything is working properly (if you install yourself, you’ll know what these are). It might be a good idea to have a full maintenance check every 5 years or so. Your installer will leave you with a little checklist to go through every couple of months, just to make sure everything is working properly (if you install yourself, you’ll know what these are). It might be a good idea to have a full maintenance check every 5 years or so.
  
-See [here](https://www.lowimpact.org/categories/solar-hot-water/further-info) for more detailed info on getting and using a solar hot water system.+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:power|Power & heating]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/power). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources ===== 
 + 
 +- [Solar Hot Water: Choosing, Fitting and Using a System](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/solar-hot-water-text.pdf) - free book, published in 2012, and so some parts will be out of date - but it still contains a lot of useful info. 
 +- [Science Direct](https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/evacuated-tube-collector) - articles on solar thermal, including evacuated tubes 
 +- [Solar Energy UK](https://solarenergyuk.org/) - trade association 
 +- [Energy Saving Trust](https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/solar-water-heating/) - advice on solar water heating 
 +- [Centre for Alternative Technology](https://cat.org.uk/info-resources/free-information-service/energy/solar-water-heating/) - solar water heating advice 
 + 
 +===== Related topics ===== 
 + 
 +- [[roof:Roofing]] 
 +- [[solr:Solar cookers]] 
 +- [[soel:Solar electricity]] 
 +- [[plum:Plumbing]] 
 +- [[msry:masonry_stoves|Masonry stoves / kachelofens]] 
 +- [[wdst:Wood stoves]] 
 + 
 + 
 +===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
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