Solar Hot Water Systems in Alexandra Hills

Bayside sunshine, used properly

A solar water heater uses collector panels on the roof to warm the water, which is then stored in a tank — either up on the roof with the collectors or down at ground level. For most of the year the sun over Redland City does the bulk of the heating. Performance comes down to the roof itself: north-facing is ideal, east or west can work with an extra collector, and shade from a neighbour’s tree or a new two-storey next door can quietly cut output. We check orientation, pitch and shading before recommending anything.

The booster: backup for grey days

Every solar system has a booster — an electric element or gas burner that tops the water up when the sun can’t keep pace, like a wet week in February or a run of short winter days. A booster that’s set wrong, or left on all the time, can quietly wipe out most of your savings. A failed one leaves you with cold showers the first time the weather turns. Booster settings, timers and thermostats get checked on every solar service we do.

Looking after ageing roof-mounted systems

Lots of solar units around Alexandra Hills, Birkdale and Wellington Point went up on the roof years ago and haven’t been looked at since. Typical finds: leaking collector joints, cracked or cloudy glass, failed circulation pumps and controllers on split systems, tired relief valves dumping water across the tiles, and stuck overheat valves. Close to the bay, salt air speeds up corrosion on brackets, frames and fittings, so homes in Cleveland and Ormiston are worth a check every few years. We repair all brands, from $315, and tell you honestly whether the system is worth keeping.

Replacing or installing solar hot water

When a roof tank or collector is beyond saving, we can replace it with a new solar system — or talk you through a heat pump if your roof isn’t a good fit. For a new installation we size the collectors and tank to your household, fix everything down securely for coastal winds, and set the booster correctly. New solar water heaters may be eligible for small-scale technology certificates (STCs), which can lower the upfront cost. Our core brands are Thermann, Vulcan and Rheem, and we service every make of solar system.