I'm toying with the idea of getting solar heating installed and I have some very basic questions that I can't find answers for on AAM or elsewhere on the 'net.
1) I got a new copper cylinder last year. It is connected to my oil central heating as well as to a back boiler. I never light a fire so I don't use the latter option. Would I need to get a new cylinder if I went ahead with solar heating, or could I use my current one though the backboiler connections?
2) Does the solar heating also heat up the house through the central heating system? Or is only water for showers etc that gets heated up?
3) My house faces due south. I would put the panels on the south-facing roof obviously, but is there any real benefit to having panels on the east facing slope as well?
4) I've read lots of debate on flat plates versus tubes. To me the tubes look terrible and Mrs. Squonk would kill me if I put them on the roof. Is the efficiency improvement of the tubes worth it though?
Thanks
1) I got a new copper cylinder last year. It is connected to my oil central heating as well as to a back boiler. I never light a fire so I don't use the latter option. Would I need to get a new cylinder if I went ahead with solar heating, or could I use my current one though the backboiler connections?
2) Does the solar heating also heat up the house through the central heating system? Or is only water for showers etc that gets heated up?
3) My house faces due south. I would put the panels on the south-facing roof obviously, but is there any real benefit to having panels on the east facing slope as well?
4) I've read lots of debate on flat plates versus tubes. To me the tubes look terrible and Mrs. Squonk would kill me if I put them on the roof. Is the efficiency improvement of the tubes worth it though?
Thanks