Solar hot water systems: what happens next?

This guide outlines the processes involved in the assessment of your property for a Tesco Renewable Energy solar hot water system, and what to expect during and after its installation.

Overview

Solar hot water systems are a clean, sustainable and highly efficient way of using renewable energy from the sun to provide hot water for use in the home.

Utilising radiation from the sun, liquid filled tubes in an insulated box known as solar collectors (i.e. the panels) absorb this solar radiation, which is then converted to heat the water used in the home via pipe work connected to a hot water storage cylinder.

Please Note:

In most cases a new hot water storage cylinder is required with a solar thermal installation to allow the water it contains to be heated by the fluid coming from the solar panels, therefore prices quoted are inclusive of a new hot water cylinder.

The new cylinder (if required) will be connected to your conventional boiler to ensure you have sufficient hot water available during the winter when your solar system will not be as efficient as in the summer months.

The assessment process

Your checklist:

Before your assessment please can you:

Ensure the assessor can park a van within close proximity to your property
Ensure the assesor can gain unobstructed access into your home, loft and airing cupboard.

The assessor will:

Contact you 24 hours prior to your visit to ensure the date is still convenient.
Carry out a technical site visit during the assessment which normally takes 1-2 hours
Verify that your property is suitable to accommodate a solar hot water system
Consider the condition, orientation and size of your roof in the assessment process
Discuss other possible options such as wall or ground mounted solar panels if your roof is not suitable (e.g. if it does not face in the right direction)
Identify how the proposed new solar hot water system will integrate with your current system for providing hot water
Identify where your new hot water storage cylinder should be located
Identify the scaffolding requirements and make such arrangements following assessment if you choose to proceed (please not this will be erected prior to installation)
Discuss the options available to you depending on the available space for the system and your budget and how much hot water could be generated by different sized systems
Advise if there are any items of work that you should undertake prior to the install of your solar thermal system. For example, the assessor may recommend a replacement boiler if your existing boiler is old and inefficient, and check that there is space in your home to accommodate this
Provide you with a guide price for the recommended work
Advise if there will be any extra costs over and above the standard installation prices if the system you require for your property is outside of the standard quoted prices. For example: extra scaffolding if required for buildings over two storeys, extending the cylinder cupboard.

After the assessment

Planning permission

In the UK the installation of solar microgeneration technologies is generally considered to be permitted development and, in most cases, planning permission will not be required. However, there can be restrictions if the proposed solar installation is of an unusual design, or if your home is a listed building or is situated within a conservation area.

To enable us to continue with the installation you must enquire as to whether or not planning permission is required, obtain any required planning permission and sign the customer declaration form to confirm that this is complete.

In all cases it is recommended that you contact your local authority to check whether any permission is required to ensure compliance with regulations.

Check if your property is in a conservation area or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) as there may be restrictions in place. Your local authority will be able to provide further information.

Please note:

If you do require planning permission this must be obtained before proceeding with the installation and therefore signing the purchase order. If you require any assistance with contacting your local authority to check if planning permission is required, please get in touch with us.

If you wish to continue with an order:

If you decide you wish to continue with the installation following the assessment, the installer will inform us and we will then send you the following documents for your consideration;

Formal quotation with a breakdown of costs and installation requirements.
Copy of the customer terms and conditions of our entire service to you.
Customer declaration form.

If you are happy with the details provided in the quote and contract then you need to sign and date the Tesco copy of the quote and the customer declaration form and send to the Tesco Renewable Energy free post address.

Please note that once you have signed the Customer Declaration Form you are confirming that you have read and understood accepted the quotes and terms and conditions and a contract will have been formed between you and Enact Energy Renewables Limited.

Once the signed customer declaration form has been received, one of the Tesco Renewable Energy advisors will call you direct:

To take your 25% deposit and
Book a convenient date for your solar hot water system installation to be carried out.

Please Note:

Full payment must be available on the day of the installation.

The installation process

Your checklist:

Before the installation you will need to:

Obtain planning permission (where required)
Ensure the installer can park a van within close proximity to your property
Ensure the installer can gain unobstructed access into your home and loft
Ensure you (or a nominated adult over the age of 18) will be present during the installation
Ensure your airing cupboard is empty if a tank is being installed.

1. The solar panels:

The full installation will take 1-2 days to complete
The solar panels will take approximately ½ - 1 day to install
The panels will be fixed onto brackets which will in turn be fixed securely to the roof rafters underneath the roof covering (they can also be fitted onto wall mounted brackets or ground mounted brackets if agreed following the assessment process)
Any tiles/slates that need to be removed in order to secure the fixings will be replaced once the brackets are in place
Some of the fittings for the solar system, such as the pump, will normally be fitted into the loft space where it is appropriate to do so, and connected via pipe work to your hot water storage cylinder.

2. Hot water storage cylinder:

The cylinder if applicable will be installed to comply with the latest building regulations

3. Heating controls:

Where required, a new programmer/timer and room thermostat will be fitted at an extra cost to ensure that your heating and hot water system comply with current building regulations

4. Final checks and guarantees:

On the final day of installation all aspects of the system will be checked to ensure that everything is fully operational
The system will be fully explained and all relevant documentation will be left with you, including all relevant guarantees/warranties
On completion of the work the installer will clear surplus debris and make arrangements for the removal of the scaffolding

5. Payment on completion:

Once the installation is complete and you have received all your documentation, the installer will call Tesco Renewable Energy to confirm completion.
One of our Energy Advisors will then contact you to take the final payment.