SOLAR THERMAL PANELS

Solar hot water heating is in essence very similar to how the water in your garden hose gets warm after being exposed to the sun for awhile. Solar thermal panels work on the same basic principle while maximising both the amount of thermal heat captured and transferred into your hot water or under floor heating system.

Today’s solar thermal panels bring together the means of capturing the sun’s energy with modern plumbing systems to provide low-cost hot water. They decrease the need for electricity or gas to heat water and are known for being environmentally friendly.

There are a number of different solar thermal panel designs that are suitable for specific applications. Here are three types of designs and their uses:

• Closed loop glycol-based solar thermal panels – These are often the only practical choice on areas where the temperature drops below freezing.


• Thermo siphon solar thermal panels – They are recommended for warmer climates. There is no need for electric pumps in order for them to operate. The sun heats the water until it goes up to the top of the panels, where it runs into a heat exchanger or tank and returns from its peak.


• Solar thermal drain-back panels – These can also be used in freezing climates but can be less reliable than other types of solar thermal panels. Therefore we would only recommend these only in special circumstances.

These three design types work using the same solar thermal panel principle.

They can be used in order to generate hot water, as well as for space heating in conjunction with an under floor heating system. Solar thermal panels are the most efficient way to capture the sun’s energy and put it to work in your home.