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Common questions about solar water heating |
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Q. What savings can I expect from a solar hot water system? |
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| A. You can easily expect savings of between 70 - 90% compared to gas or electric hot water system when your solar hot water system is sized and installed correctly. | |||||||||||||||
| Q. How long will a solar hot water system last? | |||||||||||||||
| A. Edwards Stainless Steel Solar Hot Water Systems have proven themselves to generally last in excess of 20 years. Other systems may not last as long. | |||||||||||||||
| Q. What are the benefits of stainless steel? | |||||||||||||||
| A. Stainless steel has a higher tensile strength than mild steel enabling the manufacture of a stronger, lighter storage cylinder. As no sacrificial anode is required, maintenance costs are reduced, and the stored water is of a higher quality. | |||||||||||||||
| Q. When is the best time to go solar? | |||||||||||||||
| A. The sooner you install a solar hot water system, the sooner you will start saving money on your water heating costs. If your existing hot water system is more that 10 years old then it is a good time to seek a quote for going solar. That way, you will save time when your old hot water system fails. Alternatively, you may wish to upgrade to solar now and avoid the inconvenience of emergency action. | |||||||||||||||
| Q. I have a gas hot water system and am concerned about the continuing rising gas prices. | |||||||||||||||
| A. You should be concerned! Many new homes are being built with gas hot water because it is easier and cheaper for builders. Your gas hot water system can be used as a back-up to solar water heating. | |||||||||||||||
| Q. How hot does water from a solar hot water system get? | |||||||||||||||
| A. Water from a solar hot water system can easily be above 70°C. At this temperature it takes less than half a second to cause a severe scald to a child. There are regulations mandating the installation of Hot Water Tempering Valves on new hot water heater installations to ensure safety. See Hot Water Safety. | |||||||||||||||