Can I get my existing electric showers plumbed to use hot water?

[eamonn123456]

Can I get my existing electric showers plumbed to use hot water?

I might be getting a solar hot water system.

Not much point having electric showers if I have plenty of 'free' hot water.

Can they be re-plumbed to feed off the hot supply? OR is that too dangerous / against regs ?

 

[DavyJones]

Re: Can I get my existing electric showers plumber to use hot water?

No. Unless you want your skin to melt.

 

[eamonn123456]

Re: Can I get my existing electric showers plumber to use hot water?

Hmmm, let me think ......... eh, no!



So in the cause of environmentalism I should replace it with a pumped shower and scrap the old one.

likewise for washing machine, and possibly also dishwasher.....

 

[DavyJones]

Re: Can I get my existing electric showers plumber to use hot water?

likewise for washing machine, and possibly also dishwasher.....

They both use very little hot water so unless you were planning to change them due to age etc I would not bother.

 

[eamonn123456]

Re: Can I get my existing electric showers plumber to use hot water?

Good info thanks!

 

[dubgem]

Re: Can I get my existing electric showers plumber to use hot water?

TBH I've never really seen a huge advantage to having solar panels heating your water - obviously they heat the most water in summer when you don't need hot showers, and they heat the least water in winter when you need a lot of hot showers, baths etc.

There is another kind of solar panel, one that produces electricity rather than hot water - obviously this would be much more useful (for example, in a hot summer you could use the electricity to run your fridge and a cooling fan - much more useful on a hot day than on-tap scalding water!).

In other countries you can sell surplus electricity produced by these solar panels back to the national grid, so technically you could make a profit from them. That facility isn't available here at the moment (I'm not quite sure why) but with national carbon footprint targets etc it should be possible soon, as the technology already exists.

If you're still only thinking of getting solar panels then maybe you should widen your research to include this other kind, and see when the selling back to the grid will become possible here, as it would be a much much better investment.

 

[DavyJones]

Re: Can I get my existing electric showers plumber to use hot water?

I take the exact same amount of hot showers in the summer as in the winter. Do you have cold showers in the summer?. In this country we don't get very hot summers, we may be lucky to get a two week "heat wave" every couple of years.

 

[eamonn123456]

Dubgem, I know what you mean, I had the same thoughts.

However PV panels are MUCH more expensive than the ones for hot water.

Also, in a household with small children, hot water is a significant expense. I am told that with teenagers it is even worse - 30 minute showers etc......!

I guess one takes a cooler shower / bath in the summer, but % wise I don't think it is very significant.

 

[eamonn123456]

Also, I believe that selling back to the grid is going to happen soon, and maybe the panels will be cheaper / more grants available.

I was told that if my house was in the UK (big roof, southern aspect), it would be a 'no brainer' to install PV, as you can sell to the grid, systems are cheaper and I think there are grants. In Ireland I don't think PV is economic in a domestic setting.

 

[dubgem]

Davyjones - it's true, the whole hot summer thing seems largely hypothetical these days LOL But I definitely take cooler showers in summer than I do in winter, and in summer I don't need hot water to heat my radiators, which I most definitely do in winter.

Eamon123456 - if all you're after is cheaper showers then maybe you should get an instant electric shower. It would be definitely a cheaper option right now. But hot water won't supply the power for all those small childrens' Barney DVDs or all those teenagers' videogames and loud music...

I think it would definitely be worth trying to find out how soon selling back to the grid will be possible here, and if any grants are going to be available (I would expect grants should be available when it does happen here). Unfortunately I don't know how you would find that out, but it can't be far off. I think you'd regret it if you shelled out for solar panels that only heat water and then a year or even two later it becomes possible and worthwhile installing the PV type.

Esp as then the water-heating panels won't add much value to your property because they'll be effectively obsolete

 

[eamonn123456]

But I definitely take cooler showers in summer than I do in winter

10 degrees either way is not going to make much difference for a shower.

and in summer I don't need hot water to heat my radiators, which I most definitely do in winter.

Not talking about heating rads, this system heats hot water tank only.

Eamon123456 - if all you're after is cheaper showers then maybe you should get an instant electric shower.

Please read the title of the post.

But hot water won't supply the power for all those small childrens' Barney DVDs or all those teenagers' videogames and loud music...

I know.

I think it would definitely be worth trying to find out how soon selling back to the grid will be possible here, and if any grants are going to be available (I would expect grants should be available when it does happen here).

If anyone can help with some info on that it would be great.

I think you'd regret it if you shelled out for solar panels that only heat water and then a year or even two later it becomes possible and worthwhile installing the PV type.

True but could be waiting a long time.

Esp as then the water-heating panels won't add much value to your property because they'll be effectively obsolete

Can't see hot water going out of style so I don't see how they would be obselete. I am not doing this primarily to add value to my property, I would be doing it to lower the running costs of my home. If I did decide to sell, I am sure that would be seen as a plus for most buyers.

 

[alister]

Hi,

Here is my suggestion for you.

You can ask for the help of the solar panel installation companies in your area. They can give you tips and additional information regarding the different types of how you can mount the solar panels in your place. Commonly, there are a lot of people who opt for the roof-ground mounting system that is fastened on the top of the house and props up the panels that are found at the bottom.