Yes. No. Maybe.  A solar water heating system uses sunlight to heat water which is then transferred to storage (like a hot water heater).  On bright sunny days more heating happens than on cloudy days. As such a temperature boost may be required on cloudy days.  Solar water heating options work more effectively in summer (when there is lots of sun) and less effectively in winter. They are affected by cloudy days, outside temperature and weather. There is also the issue of how much you are using. A person on their own, may not need to boot their solar water – especially if they shower mid afternoon or early evening, after a days heating. A family of 10 will need to boost their water temperature.

The size of the water heating system is also important. A two banks of thermal solar heaters will heat up water twice as fast as a single bank of water heaters. Installing the right sized system for your needs is important so we would recommend getting a professional in to help you plan for your needs.

A water heating system should take into account:

• Budget : How much can you spend and how much will solar save you?
• Location : Climate, temperature, direction your house faces are all important factors
• Water needs : How many people in the house?
• Weather : How many sunny days do you get per year? How much rain?
• Life style : Do you shower early or late? Do you use hot or cold washes in your machine?
• Physical site : How much space do you have?