two-day course solar hot water

venue: Hulme Community Garden Centre, Manchester

This course is taught by Lee Rose of Norfolk Solar, the top solar hot water tutor in the UK, and covers the theory of solar hot water systems, and practical demonstrations of how to install your own system.

The course will include:

• what is solar thermal?
• different kinds of solar thermal systems
• evacuated tubes v flat plate
• system efficiencies
• how to fit panels to a roof
• how to install a hot water cylinder
• how to install pump, controller, expansion vessel and air release set
• explanation of heat exchangers and storage vessels
• explanation of the different hot water systems that people have, and how to incorporate solar hot water
• commissioning and maintaining your system
• troubleshooting

You will get to play with the LILI solar hot water kit, and you will be trained in how to install and maintain it. If you’re handy, it really isn’t rocket science.

Then, at the end of the course, participants will receive £100 discount on the LILI kit. So if you are thinking of purchasing a solar hot water kit, it really is worth doing the course first – you will increase your knowledge, and save a lot of money by installing yourself. You could even get together with other people on the course to help each other install.

This represents by far the best value way to get solar hot water in this country. You won’t get the £400 government grant (Low-carbon Buildings Programme) because you’re not using an accredited installer – but it works out a lot cheaper, even without the grant. (Our kit is extremely good quality, and is itself accredited for the grant, via the Clear Skies / Microgeneration listings).

more on solar hot water