Can solar panelling be added to my existing central heating?
Question:
Answer:
Yes, if you have a hot water tank.
You can buy a complete system on line for £2500 upwards and install it yourself.
However, if you contact the salesman it will probably need a visit to ensure you get exactly what you need - as every house is different.
The likely cost is then (installed) probably going to be upwards of £5,000, probably nearer £9,000.
Some web sites I've visited are honest and state that some of the savings advertised are greatly exagerated. Savings are likely to be in the range of only £70 - £100 per year for an average house.
This means you are never going to recoup your investment as by the time this starts to happen (10 to 15 years or more) -the system will have worn out and need replacing.
Until the government changes the way it deals with renewables and offers substantial subsidies and VAT free deals on these type of systems, it just is not worth investing in.
The problem is that the government will prbably go the other way and penalise us through taxation for not spending our hard earned money on 'green energy'.
A shame, because reward always works much better than the hard hand.
Solar heating actually is meant to be a supplement to the central you already have. so yes it can be added.
yes you can use it with,
Solar panels can only be used to 'preheat' the water in your hot water cylinder.
Bill N is spot on, solar panels are a total and utter waste of money, if you want to save on gas bills and help the environment have a good energy efficient condensing boiler fitted, far more cost effective and you will notice the savings immediately.
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