Solar Heating

Why should you install Solar Water Heating?

Following is a list of benefits that you will harness from a Solar Heating System:

• Cost Saving - from the savings on electricity you will be able to pay for the Solar heating system in a few years. After this your hot water is free!
• An Investment - Installing a solar heating system adds to the value of your property and constantly saves you on running costs.
• Environmentally Friendly - Solar energy is clean energy - no pollution and no exploitation of limited natural resources.
• Consistency of Supply - With a solar water heating system you will have hot water even during blackouts and erratic power supply.
• Aesthetically Pleasing - The split system allows for a discreet installation.
• Reduce your demand for electricity - Reducing your demand for electricity by almost half can eliminate expensive upgrade of your supply infrastructure.
• Free hot water - An average winter's day in Africa generates sufficient solar energy to provide all your hot water without using electricity.

Economic Benefits of Solar Heating

In the average home almost half of the electricity consumption is attributed to heating water. Solar Heating system is capable of saving you more than 80% of the water heating costs, reducing your electricity bill by nearly half.

You Will Recoup Your Investment!

The savings you will achieve on your electricity bills by harnessing free solar energy from the sun means that you will recover the cost of your initial investment in a few short years. It is possible to do simple calculations that will compare energy savings with the capital cost and arrive at what is known as a "payback period". You will be able to pay for the solar geyser from your savings on electricity in less than 4 years for a new building. After this you save the electricity every month!

Payback Period: 4 Years

Features:

Home Comfort Solar water heating has the following Features:

• Vacuum Tube – Vacuum tubes are the most effective method of converting solar radiation to hot water
• Hybrid System – a Hybrid Solar and Electrical Back-Up system for consistent supply of hot water even on the odd winters day when you need additional hot water
• Split System – The storage tank and collectors may be split to allow for a discreet installation
• 3 Year Payback – Payback period of 3 years for new buildings and 4 years to replace an electrical system
• 5 Year Warranty – 5 Year warranty on the collectors and storage tank!
• 20 Year Life Time – Expected Life of more than 20 Years!
• Easy & Hassle Free installation – New or existing installations with minimal disruption
• ISO – ISO 9001 Approved manufacturing Facility
• SABS –SABS mark of Approval on our Storage tanks

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Will the Solar Panels Spoil the Aesthetics of my house?

The Home Comfort solar heating system was designed in conjunction with a team of architects to ensure the aesthetic value of the house is not compromised. The geyser may be installed inside the roof to reduce the effect of the system on the aesthetics of the house.

2. What is the size of the System that I require?

The Home Comfort solar heating storage tank comes in a range of sizes from 100L to 400L. A rule of thumb suggests that you would require 50L of hot water per day for every person living in the house. For 4 people living in a house you will require a 200 L system.

Note: More than one system can be combined to cater for bigger applications.

3. How does a solar heating system work? The Home Comfort solar heating system comprises of a hot water storage tank and solar heat collector panels. Through a thermo-siphon effect (in which hot water rises) hot water circulates between the collectors and the tank while the sun is out and is stored at the end of the day in an insulated storage tank. All Home Comfort systems are equipped with an electrical heating element as a back up, controlled by a thermostat for those odd days when the sun's energy is insufficient for water heating.

4. Will I have hot water at night? Home Comfort solar heating systems are designed to supply hot water 24 hours a day. The hot water collected during the day is retained in the storage tank. The insulated storage tank is perfectly capable of retaining hot water overnight. All Home Comfort systems are equipped with an electrical heating element as a back up, controlled by a thermostat for those odd days when the sun's energy is insufficient for water heating.

5. What happens in winter?

You will continue to have hot water in winter because the solar energy that is absorbed by the collectors comes from the sun's radiation and not from direct heat. However, should rainy weather occur, Home Comfort's standard electrical back up will be activated to ensure a constant supply of hot water.

6. Will a hailstorm damage the panels?

Home Comfort's collector panels are hail resistant.

7. What happens in freezing weather?

Home Comfort solar heating system circulates an anti-freeze fluid contained in a closed-circuit system between the solar collectors and a heat exchanger in the storage tank. The heat exchanger then transfers the heat to the water in the storage tank.

8. Will I still be able to use my existing Geyser?

Typically, the Home Comfort solar heating comes complete with a storage tank and panels. However, if your storage tank is fairly new and still in a very good condition you could choose the Home Comfort Conversion option where solar panels are combined with your existing storage tank. Our team would gladly advise you.

9. Can Solar heating heat up the water sufficiently?

The Home Comfort solar Heating systems are designed to heat water to 65ºC, as is the case with any standard electrical storage tank. This is possible because the solar energy that is absorbed by the collectors comes from the sun's radiation and not from direct heat.

10. What savings will I get on my electricity bill with a Home Comfort system?

In the average home almost half of the electricity consumption is attributed to heating
water. A Home Comfort solar heating system is capable of saving you 80% of the water heating
costs, reducing your electricity bill by nearly half.

11. What are the basic requirements needed to install a solar system?

To achieve the best results from a Home Comfort solar heating system, the following requirements apply:

• A solid roof (pitched or flat), this is exposed to direct sunlight throughout the day
• The solar collectors should be placed facing North

12. Are there any maintenance requirements?

The maintenance of a Home Comfort solar heating system is minimal. With no moving parts, the system is designed to work uninterrupted for years.

13. What is the Home Comfort system guarantee period?

The Home Comfort solar heating system carries a 5-year warranty on the collectors and Storage tank, but is expected to last for more than 20 years.

Evaluation Criteria: Solar Heating System

Please feel free to use the following list to evaluate Solar Solar Heating Quotations:

Feature	Description	Home Comfort Solar Heating	Comp-A	Comp-B	Comp-C
SABS mark of Approval on our Storage tanks		Yes SABS mark of approval
Production Quality Standards		ISO 9001
System Guarantee		5 Year
Maintenance: Does my system require regular maintenance?		No!
Aesthetically Pleasing. Does the system spoil the house?		No! A split system configuration is optional
Efficiency of the collectors (How big is the collectors on my roof?)		Yes, Developed by Daimler-Benz Aerospace and Sunda Solartechnik GmbH
R & D Does this product represent the newest available technology?		Yes, Developed by Daimler-Benz Aerospace and Sunda Solartechnik GmbH
Price		The best value proposition!