My dad says (about solar heaters)... When it's hot and sunny, you have very hot water. When it's clouded and chilly, you have cold water.

I have to admit, he's got a point!

solar is a good solution for environment friendly...

and nowadays the solar price is acceptable , but dont forget have to add on the price for copper piping.....

the price for copper piping might more expensive than the solar itself = ="

about the price i not sure , u can ask ur contractor give u a quotation ...but if you want to do copper piping , new house is the better cos conceal is needed.....if u are 2nd hand house and dint do any renovation .....conceal for the piping wil cost u a bomb = =!~
just for sharing......
standard 2 storey terrace house roughly 6k for copper piping (new house under renovation)

When it's hot and sunny, you have very hot water that is true.....When it's clouded and chilly , solar itself have backup heater...

Environment friendly = Zero Electric Consumption

Where got so cheap, especially you need to pull all the way down ground floor bath room. I was quote 4k for entire house, exclude sink tap. End up, i got 2 storage tank, and he charge me 1.5k for only two toilet, with storage near the toilet.

But later my contractor just put everything in center because the electrician put all in center . Oh, electrician also under him

If i know, i want to buy bigger storage tank

PJusa, I have not experience the copper sound you mention. Well, maybe when i move in will know.

U hear water hammering after u close ur tap not ON. Ur neighbour have this problem bcoz of the water pump and not bcoz of the solar. If they change their pump to Grundfos UNI E, they wont have this problem.

My house has an old solar water heater, but the water is not hot in rainy season.

It is possible to add a storage heater on the same piping next to the solar water heater as backup ? (when the water is not heated by solar).

Thanks.

Ya .. very old already .. like 10 years ..

Thanks for your info

That is the problem with solar in Malaysia weather. Hence they put a sub system to warm it. This still take up electric.

easier to just use a central gas heater then. cheaper also (upfront and gas is less than electric).

There is still reason rinnai selling gas water heated tank. Is actually very efficient, I have few Singapore friend using it. And many Singapore using it too.

FYI, is one of the best seller in the State.

I don't see Singapore hdb go Kaboom.

Gas water heaters might explode due to improper installation, gas leak and etc, there is a possibility that it might explode but ofcoz the probability is very low. Similarly, there are ppl who got electrocuted by instant heaters, may b less than 10 cases per year.

Many Singaporean opt to get storage or gas heater as most of them are staying in condos whereby they cant install solar heaters.

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Added on November 18, 2011, 10:29 pmHere is an example of minor explosion due to improper installation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgr-5A2s8mo

I am looking at Solarwave tube system. Anybody has any experience using or heard of anything regarding this brand of solar energy?

There is quite an attractive package for 1 unit of Solarwave, 1 unit of Hydo1 membrane filter and 1 unit of Pressure Booster Pump with installation for all.

ya.. i am interested in Microsolar too...they seem very high tech... anybody tried it before? what is the price compared to other brands?

Heard of this solar too. Wonder what is the difference between normal solar panel.

Micro solar is similar to SOLAR POWER Heat Pipe Model. Just like other normal heat pipes solar in the market, Micro Solar's tubes are connected directly to the storage tank. Solar Power on the other hand are connected to a manifold, making it leak proof.

Is actually a difference system, from outer box look similar but the way it transfer energy is difference. I read a fair bit of the conventional and this micro solar last year before renovating my house. Ah well, still on the high side if you ask me. My ROI will need about 10 years with my current usage.

BTW, my neighbor is now renovating her house, and removed the solar panel for service while changing the roof. She use it > 10 years and the internal component is still very good. She just need to change the valve which only cost her about few hundreds inclusive of servicing.  She is using the "Summer brand"

For thos wanted to use solar panel maybe can consider this brand too.

http://www.solartech.com.my/summer/faq.php

For washing, i don't use much hot water, only few time a month. Furthermore I don't have copper pipe in ground floor so is another cost of installation.

I don't see the need of using hot water in kitchen unless we have dishwasher machine. Not that our room temperature is below 20c right?

Actually I made some calculation,  Rinnai Gas heater have faster ROI  for family with 3 to 5 members (excluding copper installation which similar price for storage, solar or Gas)

Err, not many washing machine with hot and cold water inlet wor...
If use 1 inlet does that mean you have to use mixer as water outlet??
If yes how to control temperature?

Planing for your house? price include of pump too?

My hot water usage is quite low. I am thinking of installing for safety reason only.
If I installed it for both my upper floor bathroom, how much would it likely to cost me?
Do you come onsite to propose a solution?

Best use water kettle to boil for safest. Solar also have risk of lighting strike.