How Many Solar Hot Water Panels Do I Need?

Before installing a solar hot water system on your home, there are a couple of things you need to consider:

Is there sufficient roof space for collecting sunlight?

If your roof faces south and receives direct sunlight for the main part of the day, depending on the size of your home you will need approximately 5 square metres of roof space. Alternatively, if you don't have a south-facing roof, you could install two panels, one facing east and one facing west.

Do you have sufficient space within your home for a large hot water cylinder?

If the cylinder you currently have installed is not able to be used for a solar hot water system or you don't yet have a cylinder then you will need to purchase one for the install. The size of the cylinder is directly related to the amount of hot water you need to generate. Typically, an average family of 4 would require a cylinder sized at approx 200l capacity which would measure approximately 1.4m in height and 0.6m in diameter.

Using your existing boiler with a solar hot water system.

Most conventional boilers are suitable for use with solar hot water systems. If you have a combi boiler and you don't currently have a hot water tank then a solar hot water system may not be compatible, please contact us for advice.

Planning permission.

In England most solar water heating systems don't need planning permission, but it is always best to consult your local planning office if you live in a listed building or a conservation area, world heritage site etc. If you live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland you will need to consult your local authority.