Frequently Asked Questions - Solar Hot Water FAQs

EnviroShop systems are covered warrantees and designed to stand the test of time.

The evacuated solar tubes are designed to absorb extreme forces, tubes can be replaced individually for a mere $30 each which is another big advantage compared flat plate systems where the entire system would have to be replaced for around $600.AAE Evacuated tubes are tested with 25mm ice balls as several different angles at a velocity of 90kph.

If your panels or unit is damaged in a storm or by accident then your household insurance should cover any damage received (you'll need to confirm with your insurance company).

EnviroShop installers are fully authorised and accredited for installing solar hot water systems and will typically fully install your system in the one day. You can install the unit yourself, but the services of an authorised installer must be used if you wish to claim government rebates and if you wish to gain the maximum efficiency from the system.

Options are still available so you can enjoy the benefits of solar hot water, supporting frames or additional solar collector area can be installed.

For best efficiency and to qualify for rebates the solar collector panel needs to face as close to due north as possible, up to 70 degrees west and 50 degrees east of due north is suitable.

The solar collector panel needs to be inclined by between 10-50 degrees of horizontal.

EnviroShop units are designed with the storage tank separate from the solar collector panel so your collector panel and storage tank can be in two different locations.

Discreet and practical and you won’t need to strengthen the roof.

To help reduce greenhouse gas emissions generous Federal and State Government rebates are available making the purchase of solar hot water systems very affordable.

Different rebates are applicable depending on the situation of the install.

For example, new homes are eligible for a rebate through: Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) scheme. An existing home for example replacing an electric water heater with a gas/ electric boosted solar system may eligible for multiple rebates through: Commonwealth
Government AND Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) scheme AND Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates (VEEC).

No matter what your situation we will advise you on the most efficient system, which takes best advantage of the available rebates.

For more information regarding rebates please see www.resourcesmart.vic.gov.au

Solar hot water systems in Australia generally fall into two categories:

Flat panel
Evacuated tubes

At EnviroShop we recommend evacuated tube systems as they represent the highest efficiency systems on the market.
Evacuated glass tubes provide superior daily heat output due to the cylindrical absorber shape always being perpendicular to the Sun.(Positive Sun Tracking)

Insulation properties of the vacuum in the solar evacuated tube allow up to 97% of the heat from the sun to be retained.

The copper heat pipe with a large surface area at the transfer point and increased water turbulence rapidly transfer heat to the circulating water from the storage tank passing through a well insulated manifold ensuring maximum solar heat gain.

Fibreglass insulated collector manifold, sealed evacuated tubes, tri-chlor absorber coating and freeze protected heat pipes allow reliable solar gain even the coldest areas and on cloudy or overcast days.

Evacuated glass tubes are naturally self-cleaning when it rains due to their cylindrical shape and thus don’t lose performance from collector being coated in dirt and pollutants.

Replacing individual tubes at approx $30 per tube is a low cost maintenance as opposed to replacing a full solar flat panel.

Light weight means can be installed on more types of roofs and can be cheaper to install compared to flat panel systems.

No. We install solar hot water systems with a gas booster or electric booster as a back up so you will always have hot water on tap. The electricity or gas will only heat the water when the Solar Collectors cannot heat the water to the desired temperature.

Our Solar Hot Water systems are designed to provide up to 80% of your hot water needs, so you might only be using electricity or gas for 6 weeks of the year!

A survey conducted by Australia’s biggest property website realestate.com.au found:

“An overwhelming 73.37% of respondents believed that having one or more environmentally friendly features around the home would make it more saleable, with half (52.88%) predicting the value of the property can attract a premium of 5-10 per cent if on the market”.

Help save our environment and save money too. Heating water is the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions from the average Australian home (excluding vehicles) accounting for 28% of home energy usage.

A solar hot water system will:

Provide up to 80% of your household’s hot water requirements without emitting greenhouse gases

Save you up to $700 per year off your power bill
  
Reduce your households carbon footprint by up to four tonnes of CO2 per year
  
(Source: Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts)

Example answer format for solar hot water questions.