Solar hot water

donn Wolfsburg Elder

3,515 posts · joined Nov 2005 · 29 Apr 2011, 7:50 am

#838388

Any one here had solar hot water or heat pump conected lattely? I'm looking at getting it done and after any opinions on type to get or efficient it is. I'm in Newcastle

I dream of a day when a chicken can cross a road without being asked for it's motive!

beetleboyjeff Custom Title Time!

1,790 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 29 Apr 2011, 9:47 am

#838399

Look at evacuated tube solar - it works at a lot more angles to the sun and is much lighter than flat panel solar, as there is even less water on the roof. We put one in about 18 months ago, and I don't think the booster heater has been turned on yet, although a lot of the time there is only Cathy at home, at the moment.

Heat pumps are OK, but can be noisy (although they are a lot better than they used to be), they are not quite as efficient, and have a lot more maintenance - mainly with the pump and compressor etc.

Lem me know if you want more info on brands etc, I have it at home and can get Cathy to bring it down to Newcastle on Saturday - she is coming to the Pit Stop Cruise with me.

From your ole' mate Jeff

rob53 Officially Full-On Dubber

385 posts · joined Jan 2007 · 29 Apr 2011, 10:09 am

#838401

I didn't get solar hot water, but solar panels, however I asked the installer about it and he was very confident that evacuated tubes are very efficient and work better than the traditional style solar hot water systems. He also said heat pumps work well also, but not as good as the evacuated tubes.

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bushed Wolfsburg Elder

3,541 posts · joined Dec 2006 · 29 Apr 2011, 10:43 am

#838405

having had about 4 homes over the yrs with solar hws,i fnd it's the unit's position in relation to the taps ie the length (and insulation) of pipes the water must travel through!
esp around sthrn states as comprd to Qld etc. (nr of panels used also can change the outcome). trees can also obstruct sunlight!

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vwsteve karmann crazy

2,087 posts · joined Jul 2006 · 29 Apr 2011, 1:10 pm

#838423

check out reviews on the internet, heaps there, i think heat pumps had a bad wrap when i was looking, edwards was 1 of the best but they are all owned by 1 company now anyway

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glider69 Fahrvergnugen

954 posts · joined Sep 2004 · 29 Apr 2011, 4:17 pm

#838452

Gas cheap clean efficient,continuous 👍

donn Wolfsburg Elder

3,515 posts · joined Nov 2005 · 29 Apr 2011, 6:00 pm

#838476

glider69 wrote:Gas cheap clean efficient,continuous 👍

Agreed but I would have to have bottles and I have nowhere convenient to put them that complies with the regulations. 😠

I dream of a day when a chicken can cross a road without being asked for it's motive!

donn Wolfsburg Elder

3,515 posts · joined Nov 2005 · 29 Apr 2011, 6:02 pm

#838477

vwsteve wrote:check out reviews on the internet, heaps there, i think heat pumps had a bad wrap when i was looking, edwards was 1 of the best but they are all owned by 1 company now anyway

Yep, already been there, just thought that maybe someone in my area had personal experience including contractor performance.

I dream of a day when a chicken can cross a road without being asked for it's motive!

ratbug aka toddy101

439 posts · joined Jan 2003 · 29 Apr 2011, 10:27 pm

#838554

Hey Donn, my parents are getting an evacuated tube one installed at the moment. Dad has done the research and like Jeff says, they are supposed to be the most efficient. My parents place has a lot of trees and 3/4 of the north facing roof is filled with solar panels already, so it will see a bit of shade. Their neighbours also suggested to get them to install a booster isolation switch, so you can eaily turn off the booster when you are going away or don't need much hot-hot water for a while, but still get it relatively free from the sun (jsut the cost of the pump). They contractor was a bit relectant to do it (extra work), so not sure if it's getting done, if not its a job for me 🙂

Heat pumps use about 1/3 that of a resistive element heater, but I havn't seen one yet that works on off peak tariffs, so although you are saving electricity and carbon emissions, you don't really save and $$ as you always pay the full price for the electricity it uses.

I would go solar anyday.

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68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 29 Apr 2011, 11:47 pm

#838567

donn wrote:Any one here had solar hot water or heat pump conected lattely? I'm looking at getting it done and after any opinions on type to get or efficient it is. I'm in Newcastle

I may be wrong Donn,

but I believe the Heat pumps are no longer in the rebate scheme for hot water heaters...

They were at the start, until the government found out they didn't actually save any power... like a solar hot water system..

I don't know anything about evacuated tubed hot water...
actually never heard of it....
but You see all sorts of different hot water solar systems on rooves these days..

Only thing I know Donn, is that Solar are Expensive...

but the old offpeak heaters are supposed to be off the market in a year or so... [government legislation]

so eventually all water heaters will be Solar....

cheers

LEE

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

beetleboyjeff Custom Title Time!

1,790 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 30 Apr 2011, 12:01 am

#838571

68AutoBug wrote:Only thing I know Donn, is that Solar are Expensive...

cheers

LEE

They are to buy, but even less efficient ones will save you a shitload on power costs - and the costs look like going up more and more. They soon pay for themselves.

From your ole' mate Jeff

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 30 Apr 2011, 12:17 am

#838574

Yes I do agree on that Jeff....

My late father in law used to switch the off peak OFF when he went to bed and back ON in the morning... ??

I read recently where someone was switching their off peak Hot water Off for a couple of days...
so saved money on their electricty bill ... lol

Problem I would find... forget to turn it back on...

and a wife with no hot water ... YIKES....

Not worth the trouble..

LEE

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

beetleboyjeff Custom Title Time!

1,790 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 30 Apr 2011, 8:08 am

#838602

We have never turned our elctric booster on yet, unless my wife has done it recently. Even last winter, the water was always warm enough for a shower in the morning, and of course, it just got hotter after that during the day. This means the only power our hot water is costing is the small amount for the circulation pump - no heating costs, which is the big user.

From your ole' mate Jeff

amazeer Bishop of Volkswagenism

3,029 posts · joined Nov 2005 · 30 Apr 2011, 8:09 pm

#838736

i've got regular panel solar water. Rheem. Had no problems. Turn on the tap, hot water comes out.