Evacuated solar tube installations and industry-leading MCS installers

Evacuated solar tubes are an alternative water heating system, developed especially for northern European countries. Vacuum heating tubes use the sun's radiation, to heat your tank or swimming pool and contrary to popular belief, actually work throughout all four seasons.

Evacuated solar tubes.

This well-established solar tube technology is widely used to provide hot water for large swimming pools, hospitals and homes.

In a nutshell.

Evacuated tubes, commonly known as solar tubes, are amongst the most efficient of all solar heating panels.

An evacuated solar tube installation is like converting a car into a hybrid running on LPG. After the initial investment, your car or in this case, your home will run cheaply for the 30 years while extending the life of your existing boiler by up to 60%.

What sets a quality system apart is modernising and bringing the heating system up to modern 'building regulation' standards. Installing solar technology is only a small part of that.

From March to October you may not need to use your boiler, and in winter, it will dramatically reduce the need for your gas/electricity use.

The science bit.

Solar panels heat up due to the sun's short-wave radiation output converting to long-wave radiation.

Specifications.

Heat-pipe tubes or direct-flow tubes.
Size: 2040 mm x 1000 mm x 80 mm.
Weight: 50 kg.
Temperature: 40-80° Celcius (104-176° Fahrenheit).
Standard pressure: 3 bar.

Questions about evacuated tubes

Most homes are suitable, if you have an S/SE/SW or east/west facing roof space, then probably. Your internal plumbing will need to be checked for compatibility, but this can be done at the quotation stage.

The UK receives 60% of the sun's radiation compared with the equator. Each square metre of the UK receives between 900 to 1,300 kWh annually of each year. Developed for northern European climates, creating the highest performing technology, even contributing on some cloudy days.

Evacuated tubes were developed for the UK climate; they use a thermos flask principle, which allows the inside of the vacuum tube to get very hot regardless of the external air temperature.

The cost of a system depends on several factors based on water tank sizes and the number of tubes required. A property assessment and consultation appointment can be arranged.

Combi boilers are possible, but please bear in mind that we will need to re-install a hot water tank. Most homes with Combi's will not have the space to install a domestic sized hot water tank. If you can re-install a hot water tank, then yes an installation may be possible.

In most cases no, however, if one has Part P electrical and plumbing skills, then it may be possible to install in a DIY capacity. DIY evacuated tubes and flat-plate kits are available.

All evacuated tube installations must be carried out and certified by an accredited MCS installer to qualify.

To undertake an evacuated tube installation requires competent, but basic knowledge of plumbing principles. If you are changing the hot water cylinder, then a Part P qualified plumber will be recommended.

The solar tubes come pre-built at the factory, so hoisting the pipes up to the roof using correct safety equipment is relatively straightforward. A scaffolding tower up to roof line level is required for a safe working platform.

The electric setup is essential, but if you are taking an electrical spur from the bathroom area, then a Part P electrical qualification will be required.

Old copper hot water tanks run exceptionally inefficiently, especially after many years of use. Limescale will reduce performance even further. When installing this technology, it is essential to establish a modern more efficient tank to get the most out of your generated heat gain.

"Adding this technology to an old tank would be like converting your car to LPG gas and running it on semi-flat tyres."

This answer on the type installed. We would need to inspect your home to see if the heating management system is suitable. In most cases, this technology can contribute to your central heating using underfloor heating technology, but not all companies, offer this technology.

The evacuated tubes collectors gather accumulated heat, which it uses to heat up a fluid within the panel. This fluid circulates through the solar panel and then through pipes into a heat exchanger. The heat can then be used for hot water or space heating with under-floor heating.

1. Can you face the array roughly towards the sun? South, Southwest or Southeast roofs are ideal. Even East or West roofs offer 85% performance.

2. Is your hot water cylinder is twin-coiled? It does not matter if not, as we can locate a compatible and more efficient tank as part of your fitting process.

3. Listed buildings, conservation area homes, national parks may require permission. Please consult with your local planning officer.

This depends on which technology is installed and the density of the cloud; flat-plate solar panels do not contribute as much as this technology in these conditions. In average cloud density, the sun's energy can still be used. With very heavy dark, dense cloud cover, probably not. Use your solar powered calculator out on a cloudy day, and it will always work.

It is worth noting that higher quality solar collectors are better at retaining heat at lower solar energy levels than a more inferior collector.

No, if your tank is compatible or has a twin-coil unused. In most cases, we update your hot water tank when installing this technology to allow the system to work at its full capacity.

Around half a tonne each year, but this is dependent on how much hot water is used and how you heat your water at present.

A good proportion of the year, temperatures of above 60° Celcius are reasonable, but on a sunny day as high as 80° Celcius.