Hot water is essential in every home or office building. There are currently many ways to heat it. You don't need a central heating furnace for this. Photovoltaic panels and solar collectors can also heat water. Which of the solutions works better? Are these installations cost-effective and provide enough power to heat water in winter? We explain.
Check out solar water heating kits at the Onninen wholesaler
Is it better to heat water with photovoltaics or solar collectors?
Both the connection of photovoltaic panels and the installation of collectors allow for heating utility water, and thus obtaining heat throughout the house. Wanting to choose an installation that will work effectively and at the same time allow for the greatest possible energy savings, many people wonder which of these solutions will be better. The choice increasingly falls on photovoltaics. Why?
First of all, it is about their high efficiency, which allows heating the boiler also in the autumn and winter. Photovoltaics do not need ideal weather to generate electricity. Thus, they provide water heating and heat all year round. In the case of solar collectors, it is different. This type of installation requires almost completely cloudless weather to operate effectively. This means that heating utility water in the autumn and winter period in our climate zone can be a problem with them.
The purchase and connection of a photovoltaic set may also be encouraged by its failure-free operation. In this respect, they have a huge advantage over collectors. The panels themselves are distinguished by a very simple construction, if only because they do not have moving parts and too many electronics. Collectors, on the other hand, are prone to failures. These structures are more complex and often require a separate power supply from the network. Therefore, they do not guarantee efficient operation for many years. For this reason, photovoltaic sets are much better for powering heating devices, such as heating mats, as well as devices used to heat water, such as electric boilers. They are able to supply electricity regardless of the weather, and they also ensure failure-free operation for many years.
How many solar panels should there be to heat the boiler?
If you want to be able to count on hot water regardless of the season and the weather outside, it is worth investing in a complete photovoltaic set. It consists of all the necessary products for heating it, as well as a thermostat that allows you to maintain a suitable temperature. The main element is, of course, the panels.
Their number must be matched to the boiler's power supply. Otherwise, the heaters will not be able to work effectively and the water will not be warm enough. The system should consist of 2 to 8 panels. Standardly, to be able to use hot water in the shower or for cooking, sets consisting of four panels are installed. Their power is usually 2-4 kWp. In the case of summer houses or a 2-person family, the demand for hot utility water can be provided by even 2 panels.
For a larger home, where a larger boiler is needed, you should consider a larger number of panels. Interestingly, there are sets available on the market whose converter allows you to operate two devices. This is an ideal solution for buildings such as terraced houses. Instead of connecting two boilers, you can also use one socket for other purposes, e.g. underfloor heating, which is a much more interesting solution than standard radiators.
Is it profitable to install solar panels for hot water?
When thinking about panels, many customers wonder whether this is a solution that pays off. However, they should have no doubts about this. It is true that purchasing an installation is quite a large expense. Depending on the number of modules and their power, it costs from a few to a dozen or so thousand złoty. However, using solar energy to heat water allows for significant savings on electricity or gas bills, which have started to grow even faster than before in recent years. A solar water heating set is therefore a maximum benefit, and a long-term one at that. The efficiency of typical micro-installations is about 25 years.
Solar water heating kits at the Onninen wholesaler
The Onninen wholesaler offers comprehensive solutions that will allow you to provide hot water to your building at any time of day, regardless of weather conditions. These include:
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Galmet PREMIUM LARGE AL solar water heating kit (2XKSG 27 GT, 300L skay exchanger) by Galmet - is a 300L solar water heating kit , sufficient to meet the needs of a 3-5 person family. It includes, among others, two flat collectors, as well as a control module, exchanger and electronic 2-way GT pump group. Among the available solutions of this manufacturer in the Onninen wholesaler there is also a 200L solar water heating kit and kits with 250 and 400 liter exchangers or combined tanks with a capacity of 500/160 liters. - De Dietrich Inisol Uno SLIM 3K-7.5/BSL400N solar water heating kit from De Dietrich – the tank capacity in this kit is as much as 400 liters. An ideal solution for a large household. To minimize heat loss, the tank has effective thermal insulation.
- Immergas IMMERSOLE SUPER 2 x 2.0 + 200 solar water heating set by Immergas – it is distinguished by a 200-litre enamelled steel tank. It is able to meet the demand for hot water for a 2- or 3-person family. This set is also available in versions with more panels and higher-power collectors. For a 3-5-person family, a better choice will be a set with two 2.6 V2 flat collectors and a larger IMMERSOLE SUPER 2 x 2.6 + 300 tank.
Check out solar water heating kits at the Onninen wholesaler