Mary Fisher wrote:

I read a post from a bloke however who did install a solar thermal
system, where its only used to heat water. He said he noticed a big
drop in his bills, maybe as much as a third. It did cost a heck of a
lot to install though and that's when he still did a lot of the work
himself and got a grant. Plus he will have to stay put for 20 odd
years for it to repay itself and have been worth it.

Not true. But payback isn't an issue.

Says who? If it never pays back in financial terms, there is a fair
chance it will never pay back in environment ones either.

At my previous house, I estimate my annual hot water costs were about
£100. Say a solar system could save me 70% of those costs over the year
- it would take ten years to recover the costs if the system cost £700.
Many of the commercial systems cost more than double that.

A system put together from scrap radiators etc may work out ok if you
can keep the capital costs low and can afford to donate the time etc.


--
Cheers,

John.

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