Solar Heating

[Celanese]

I'm new to the forum, just bought a shell of a house to finish and am currently designing plans. I want to put solar panels in for Domestic Hot Water and underfloor heating and i'm looking for any help and advice, i've seen the ENEL website and I've got some contact addresses of companies in Italy either up north or in Calabria - does anyone know of companies that do such installations in (or near) Abruzzo. Have got a local friendly architect but before I talk to him I wanted to get as much information as i can

[NickZ]

Which province? My installer does it but he's pretty busy and I don't know how far north he goes. He's fully licensed for new gas installs and if you'll want a gas meter you'll need somebody like that. So check who ever you get can do the full job or you'll risk having to get a second company to file all the paperwork for added cost.

Other then that it'll likely be the same person doing the rest of your heating system.

[Celanese]

The Province is L'Aquila

[NickZ]

I think thats too far north for him. If he ever fits me in I'll ask.

But any fully licensed installer should be able to do what you want.

[lotan4850]

Originally Posted by Celanese

I'm new to the forum, just bought a shell of a house to finish and am currently designing plans. I want to put solar panels in for Domestic Hot Water and underfloor heating and i'm looking for any help and advice, i've seen the ENEL website and I've got some contact addresses of companies in Italy either up north or in Calabria - does anyone know of companies that do such installations in (or near) Abruzzo. Have got a local friendly architect but before I talk to him I wanted to get as much information as i can

You'll need an thermal engineer to calculate your needs and the area you'll require (of solar panels) to optimize the equipment. Making it as economically viable as possible. When you know the quantites involved you can then get quotes for the panels. As the £ is low try www. navitron.org.uk.

Any good reputable plumber can install solar panels. You're asking to pay more taking the companies advertised on Enel's site.

[AllanMason]

Originally Posted by lotan4850

As the £ is low try www. navitron.org.uk.

Just wanted to mention that I placed an order with Navitron recently and the goods were delivered to our rural Abruzzo house three weeks after they got the money. It took about a week for Navitron to receive from the manufacturer the heat storage cylinder I'd ordered and another ten days for the pallet to make the journey from Rutland to Abruzzo. Cost of shipping two complete systems was £250.

There was a snag in that they forgot to pack the controllers, but those were sent as soon as I pointed out the omission.

All the tubes made it in one piece, by the way.

Al

[chrisnotton]

Originally Posted by AllanMason

Just wanted to mention that I placed an order with Navitron recently and the goods were delivered to our rural Abruzzo house three weeks after they got the money. It took about a week for Navitron to receive from the manufacturer the heat storage cylinder I'd ordered and another ten days for the pallet to make the journey from Rutland to Abruzzo. Cost of shipping two complete systems was £250.

There was a snag in that they forgot to pack the controllers, but those were sent as soon as I pointed out the omission.

All the tubes made it in one piece, by the way.

Al

Hi Alan,
I am thinking of buying a solar storage system from Navitron and combinining it with utility log-burner & underfloor heating. I would be very pleased to know how you get on with the install & subsequent running.

Tanto grazie

[lotan4850]

Originally Posted by chrisnotton

Hi Alan,
I am thinking of buying a solar storage system from Navitron and combinining it with utility log-burner & underfloor heating. I would be very pleased to know how you get on with the install & subsequent running.

Tanto grazie

What ever allan is doing he should be as you should consider installing an accumulator tank; this means you can save energy to when you need it and makes living more comfortable. Like photovotaics if you don't use the electricity generated immediately then there is no saving and a waste of an investment. The same applies to a solar/wood system without a storage system. The gas boiler will kick in way too early than it would with an acc. tank. The smaller the storage the more you'll have to fire/fill up the wood boiler and forever be carting in wood to it. Hardly economical or comfortable!

[myabruzzohome]

We have abandoned the plan to get solar panels and instead are relying on wood pellets to heat water and rads.The stufe/boiler alone will cost about £4,000 so another £3,000 outlay on solar panels just wasnt feasable.

Our problems with solar were manly concerning lack of space inside and not wanting a pressurised hot water system with accompanying problems and risks.

Another issue for us is that as a rual house we could easily be at risk of having the panels stolen when we were absent.This happened with our copper pipes so I imagine the panels would 'dissappear' too.You need also to consider the risks with calcium in the water which furs up pipes.

As far as accumulater tanks these seem also to be called thermal stores and heat banks!

I am thinking that we would be best to have one instead of the hot water cylinder.They seem to be better to use with pellet boiler/solar heating.Is that right?

If heating a 5 room house what size thermal store should be fitted?Space is limited.this is very confusing so any simple explanation would be welcome.

[simone-non-martini]

Sorry to answer your question with another! We are thinking of doing the same thing -- only quote has been very very expensive even though radiators are already installed. Could you give me an idea of what you expect to pay for the entire installation of the pellet heating? Thanks