FAQ’s

How does the tanks gas or electric booster work?

Natural and LP gas tank boosters are activated only when heating is required. Standard electric tanks are equipped with a 3.6 kw electric element which rely on its own thermostat – meaning you can set the backup temperature to the level you want. The gas booster is only activated when water drawn out of the tank has not reached the required minimum temperature – automatically diverting the water through the instantaneous Bosch heater. Backup might be required when you have many guests or during extended cloudy periods.

What is the timing and cost of the average installation?

All systems require installation be completed by a licensed plumber and sometimes an electrician. This is important for both your household insurance and your rebate eligibility requirements. Self Sufficient Homes Pty Ltd can either recommend Hills trained and accredited installers otherwise we are happy to take care of the complete installation in-house. The average installation takes the best part of 1 day to complete. Please speak to our sales team for STD installation costs.

What are the available government rebates?

There are three (3) solar hot water rebates available to people in NSW. All solar hot water rebates require a licensed plumber or electrician to install the hot water system.

• REC’s (Renewable Energy Credits – 12 months to claim) – note: Now Called STC’s (Small-Scale Technology Certificates) these are available with any full system purchase regardless of circumstances
• Federal Government Rebate (6 months to claim)
  Must be replacing existing electric storage system in existing residence New system must be allocated a minimum of 20 RECS credits. Not available if a residence applied for and took advantage of the home insulation scheme.

$1000 Federal Government Rebate available for systems installed on, or after February 2009
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$300 NSW State Government solar hot water rebate
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Renewable Energy Credits (REC’s) Rebate
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What RECs do the Solar Edwards systems attract?

Every system size is different, as a general guide you can expect to receive between 18 and 50 REC’s.

• RECS – compared to flat panel systems - Some flat plate systems may offer more REC’s however this has been calculated on ‘area’ covered per square meter by extremely large flat panels. As our systems are more efficient they cover less area.

How is the Solar Edwards system installed and who is responsible for this?

A licensed plumber or electrician should install all solar Edwards systems. This is important for your household insurance as well as your rebate eligibility. Self Sufficient Homes Pty Ltd are careful to recommend trained or Solar Edwards Accredited plumbers, it is important to us that you are more than satisfied with your new solar hot water system. We understand you may have a favourite local plumber you trust and love – we are equally happy to allow you to select your own plumber but for obvious reasons – we cannot guarantee their installation work and if there is a problem with the system then you will need to use your plumber to diagnose the problem in the first instance.

How many people can a Solar Edwards hot water system support?

Self Sufficient Homes Pty Ltd will recommend the right size system for your home. We will base our recommendation on a thorough list of requirements and are happy to visit your home free of charge for an assessment if need be. It is important to us that you have the right system to suit your home and your habits. Contact us for an obligation free quote and assessment.

Does the Solar Edwards system benefit the value of my property?

The Solar Edwards hot water system supplies major ongoing benefits towards all properties – for example; the massive reduction of the most prominent household energy user (the heating of water) – this can only be described as a major advantage to any investment property. The Solar Edwards system has the longest projected life span, the best support and the most limited ongoing maintenance – there could be no better choice.

You can also add the Solar Edwards system to your depreciation schedule as a tax deduction.

Should I connect my Solar Edwards system to ‘Off Peak’ electricity or other different tariffs?

The aim of your solar hot water system is to reduce your household energy usage. It is possible to connect your Solar Edwards system to your off peak electricity tariff however we recommend rather than running your system on solar all day and off peak tariff all night (in essence eliminating the effectiveness of the solar component) that you invest in a low cost timer (approximately $60) to check the water temperature approximately 1 hour before the sun comes up in the morning – your backup can heat to a very low temperature setting only if required for a short time before the sun comes up.

With careful consideration and monitoring the performance of your Solar Edwards system is likely to perform outside the average best.

Can I run my system without a gas or electric backup?

The Solar Edwards hot water system is not a complete alternative to gas or electric hot water systems. Solar will replace your water heating requirements on average 90% (or better) of the time. You do need backup one way or another but a correctly sized system will cover your major requirements.

In some cases you can oversize a system to compensate for 100% of your hot water energy requirements.

What is the average recovery time on my investment?

Every home is different depending on aspect, climate and sun angle in your specific location combined with your average hot water usage. In most cases the average investment can be recouped from as little as 3 – 6 years. With the high quality components and backing of the Solar Edwards system this means that once you have covered the up front cost of your system you can enjoy maintenance and trouble free hot water for years to come.

What happens on a cloudy day?

Of course the collector efficiency of the evacuated tubes is reduced on an overcast days however in most cases it will still be able to produce the required heat. If the cloud or rain is persistent and ongoing over a period of days then your (electric or gas) booster will support your requirements until the weather improves. The main point being, you will never have to run out of hot water just because you are on solar.

What if my roof is flat / very steep / made from different materials?

Your Solar Edwards solar collector can be mounted on all different roof surfaces and pitches.

If your roof pitch is less than the required 20 degrees it is recommended you use either a low or high pitch Hills stainless steel frame to increase the pitch of your solar collector to within the optimum range.

Standard roof pitch is 22.5 degrees

Minimum pitch required 20 degrees (greater is acceptable)

Optimum pitch for general NSW latitude is 33.5 degrees

Is the system a danger in fire prone areas?

The Solar Edwards HW system has a high temperature rating and is non-flammable. There is no risk of the system catching alight or sparking. All materials are stainless steel, wool or aluminium and glass.

Is there any ongoing maintenance required?

In normal conditions there is no maintenance required of the Solar Edwards HW system. There are simple checks recommended in the owner’s manual.

How do I compare apples with apples when it comes to solar hot water heaters?

It can be confusing and difficult to decipher the pros and cons of all available products on the market. We encourage thorough research. it is often the case that that no matter what product you are researching be it hot water or sunglasses – you will always find a cheaper option.

We encourage our clients to consider the longevity of the Solar Edwards HW system – the longest and most thorough warranty in its class – along with the backing of a trusted Australian company and the highest efficiency ratings of any other equally sized system.

There is no comparison.