Closely coupled systems are the solar water heating systems where both the tank (geyser) and solar collector are on the building’s roof. The tank is typically mounted horizontally above the solar collector. In some instances, the solar collector and tank are integrated to form one structure.

The water in a closely coupled system is heated by the solar collector and circulated into the tank using a principle called thermo-siphon. In short, thermo-siphon uses the property where hot water rises and cold water sinks.

Split Systems

Split solar water heating systems allow for the tank to be placed inside the roof – improving the aesthetics of the solution. Split solar water heating systems either use thermo-siphon or pumping to circulate the water within the solar water heating system.

There are various types of solar collectors on the market and the two most popular types are:

• Evacuated tube collectors
• Flat plate collectors

Evacuated tube collector

Demo of how hot evacuated tubes can get in just 30 minutes:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsx7BX0l5uQ

How evacuated tubes are manufactured:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z322o2X8upY

Flat plate collector

Demo of how flat late collectors are used in commercial systems.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv1H5Q2yY94

Get solar water heating provides you with a service to connect you with a solar water heating provider in your area FREE of charge to you. This service helps you ensure that the solar water heating solution you install is accredited by Eksom as well as SABS tested. Get solar water heating also tries to ensure that the  solar water heating provider we connect you with delivers quality solar water heating products and services.

There are many different types and combinations of solar water heating systems on the market today. Some solar water heating systems use flat plat collectors, others use evacuated tubes solar collectors, some use solar pumps for circulation where other use a principle called thermo-siphon – where hot water rises and cold water sinks.

Get solar water heating will connect you with an accredited provider close to you, just complete the contact us form and we will get to work!

Electricity prices are soaring and set to soar even further in South Africa given the proposed Eskom increases of 45% per annum for the next three years.

Many people are now relooking their energy efficiency strategy after having just received the first bill with the latest increase on.

The average household with an electricity bill of R1,000 prior to the increase will now be paying R1,300 per month. The scary part comes in when we look at what the effect of the proposed 45% increases per annum over the next three years will be. A home that is now paying R1,300 per month will pay R1,885 next year, R2,733 the year after and R3,963 the year after that. That is almost four times the price they would have paid earlier in 2009 for the same amount of electricity! Scary!

So what can consumers do to help reduce the effect of the electricity price increases in their homes?

Well, there are many options ranging from water flow regulators to solar water heating. Saving on water heating costs in your home will help reduce your electricity bill the most as it is the largest consumer of energy in a typical household.

A solar geyser can help you reduce your electricity bill by as much as 40% and so the estimated savings in three years time – after the crazy price hikes – will be R1,600 per month. That is a payback of around 12 months at the future prices.

What is the payback of a solar geyser?

The payback on a solar water heating system is roughly 27 months when taking into account the proposed price increases. After that is is pure profits. It will be very difficult to find a bank willing to give you 72% interest on your investment, but solar water heating can! It really does help to save power!