Being a certified solar geyser installer in Pretoria and Centurion, we offer installation, repairs, services, and free quotations on solar geyser installations. Our Solar Geyser division will assist you in making an informed decision on the correct size and type of solar geyser you require by taking all variables into account ensuring high efficiency with the least amount of electricity required in order to assure that hot water is readily available throughout the day and night.
Solar Geysers are the most cost-effective and efficient way of heating water for household use. Having a hot climate with an abundance of sunlight is definitely an advantage to clients living in Pretoria and Centurion areas as Solar geysers use the UV rays of the sun to heat up the solar collector plate. Water passes by the solar collector where heat transfer takes place causing the water to heat up which intern gets stored in the solar geyser cylinder.
A device called a Geyserwise is installed to automatically manage the geyser by switching the electrical element on and off according to personalized settings should overcast conditions persist or a high volume of hot water was used during night time causing the temperature to have dropped below a pre-set temperature. Under these conditions, the Geyserwise will automatically switch on and allow the element to heat the water to a preset temperature. It is, therefore, crucial to purchase the correct size of solar geyser in order to minimize electrical usage.
How Does a Solar Water Geyser Work?
The two main components required to heat water making use of solar water heating is a storage tank and a solar panel or collector.
The most effective way for installing a solar geyser is to have the storage tank mounted above the collector as illustrated in diagram “A”. Water is warmed in the collector by radiation from the sun and a natural effect called thermosiphoning occurs. Heated water in the collector rises to the top and enters the storage tank while cold water inside the tank descends downwards to the collector where it is heated and flows back to the top. The thermosiphon cycle automatically repeats itself for as long as the water in the storage tank is colder than the water in the collector.
In the event where the cylinder is installed lower than the collector due to factors like limited space on the roof or esthetics where townhouse complexes don’t want to see the cylinders on top of the roof, a small circulation pump is installed to circulate the water from the collector panel to the storage tank as illustrated in diagram “B”.
Different types of Solar Geysers
Depending on the requirement of the client, different types of solar geysers are available to suite various needs.
Hi-Pressure Close Couple System
Hi-Pressure Close Couple System use of a flat plate as a collector
Hi-Pressure Close Couple System making use of evacuated tubes as a collector
Hi-Pressure close couple solar systems are mostly used in urban areas where high municipal water pressure is available. These units are installed on top of the roof where both the cylinder and the collector is visible from an outside viewpoint.
Hi-Pressure Split System making use of evacuated tubes or a flat plate as a collector
Hi-Pressure split solar systems are mostly used in urban areas where high municipal water pressure is available. The collectors are installed onto the roof while the cylinder is mostly concealed within the roof.
The split system is also used when converting an existing electric hot water geyser to solar. The existing geyser stays inside the roof while a collector is installed on top of the roof and piped to the inside geyser.
Low-Pressure System making use of evacuated tubes as a collector
Low-Pressure solar systems are mostly used on farms, plots and rural areas where the water supply pressure is usually low. The water supply is connected to a small header tank situated on top of the main storage tank and is controlled by a float valve. It is a very reliable system that makes use of the thermosiphon principle.
Why would I want to install or convert to a Solar Geyser?
- To substantially cut on electricity consumption during the water heating process of the home.
- To have hot water when everyone else is burdened by load shedding.
- Thinking green and playing a role in reducing the carbon footprint caused by the energy used to heat up your water.
What are the pitfalls and why is it important to make use of a qualified, experienced installer?
- Don’t just buy any solar geyser because it is on a special, you might end up not saving a cent on your electricity consumption.
- The plumber needs to access the water supply and pressure to determine which system is best suited.
- The plumber needs to determine the point of installation where the shortest route would be between the geyser and the water points inside the house that use hot water.
- The plumber needs to find a position to install the collector that faces North and where shade patched do not occur caused by trees or chimneys for example.
- The plumber needs to strengthen the roof structure that was not originally designed and built to carry an additional load of a few hundred kilograms
- The plumber needs to ask questions in order to find out how many people make use of hot water in the house, how many people bath and shower and what time of day the bathing or showering takes place. This will determine the size of the solar geyser required.
- The pitfall when installing a Solar Geyser is by not adhering to the above-mentioned guidelines and ending up with a product that should have been an investment which would have paid for itself in a couple of years time by the saving incurred due to minimizing electricity consumption. The dividend of the investment made by acquiring a solar water geyser is the saving on the electricity bill. If there is no substantial dividend, why invest?
