Solar heating for beginners.

[falcemob]

Just to start with my hot water tank started leaking so I've fitted a new one but the pipework leading to it is in a sorry state being between 25 and 75 years old and my boiler is over 30 years old. It all works OK but I would think by today's standards it's extremely inefficient. I was thinking of having a new central heating system fitted with a combi boiler but then thought of the addition of solar panels to supplement the heating.

So where do I start, how does it work and what sort of system would I need, plus how much work is involved? I assume it won't work with a combi boiler as I would think I would need an indirect system similar to what I already have.

Any advice or links welcome as the ones I have found seem to be the plumbing equivalent of double glazing websites.

[Ferg]

You really need a twin coil cylinder........

[Old Geezer]

Just get the combi boiler!

Seems the truth is out and we are heading for a colder spell of climate.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

So get more insullation and if you have a chimny, stock up with wood and coal!


But on a serious note, if you feed you combi from a traditional hot water tank that is heated by the solar panels it should work OK.
You could always MAKE this set up youself!

Someone I worked with a few years ago did this with old house radiators painted black!
Took his cold feed to the hot tank up by 25DegC on a sunny day!
I susggested this to a friend who has a swimming pool at his house in France and he says it definately warms the pool enough to feel the difference. That is from only 2 smallish rads!

So why don't you make it yourself, using the old kit your going to replace with the new combi boiler and let us know how you get on!

[Tafia]

I heard of a chap who buried coils of 22 mm black Alkathene water pipe in a compost heap and pumped water through it. Warms it oop apparently.

[Flintstone]

Tafia said:

I heard of a chap who buried coils of 22 mm black Alkathene water pipe in a compost heap and pumped water through it. Warms it oop apparently.

There's also a method whereby you bury pipe 2-3 metres below ground, any ground, and it is warmed. Doesn't have to be in Iceland or any other geothermal hotspot. Bit expensive though.

[falcemob]

Flintstone said:

Tafia said:

I heard of a chap who buried coils of 22 mm black Alkathene water pipe in a compost heap and pumped water through it. Warms it oop apparently.

There's also a method whereby you bury pipe 2-3 metres below ground, any ground, and it is warmed. Doesn't have to be in Iceland or any other geothermal hotspot. Bit expensive though.

I think Steve Carter did this with his new house build, I believe it's called a heat pump.