Costs And Savings
The cost of a high quality solar water heating system, using state of the art European technology ranges from between £3,000 to £20,000. Turnkey do not install cheaper replica products that may have been sourced from the Far-East or Asia.
The financial savings you are likely to receive are moderate - a solar water heating system is likely to pay for itself in c.10 years. However, your carbon foot-print will be reduced significantly (saving up to 645kg of CO2 emissions) depending upon what fuel you will be replacing.
The good news is that research has shown that solar panels for hot water can add up to £10,000 on the value of your home, and grants are available for solar panels. Please note: the different schemes are subject to change. Go to http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk for the latest information.
Maintenance costs are very low. Most solar water heating systems come with a 5-10 year manufacturers warranty and require little maintenance. You should take a look at your panels every year and have them checked more thoroughly by a professional installer every 3-5 years.