Hot water use
Solar water heating is generally more economically viable the more people in the household and the more hot water used. This means the more hot water you use, the better your savings will be.
House design
The design and location of your house are also important - they will determine how easy it is to have solar water heating installed, and how well the solar water heating system performs.
The solar panels need to face north or as close to due north as possible, so you'll need a section of roof that:
- Faces due north or close to due north.
- Has good year round exposure to the sun (ideally with no shading - and remember, with the low angle of the sun, shading is likely to be greater in winter).
- Is large enough to accommodate the collector panels (usually between 2 square metres and 6 square metres).
- Is preferably located near the hot water cylinder, or near where you use the hot water (e.g. bathroom or laundry).
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