- After the installer’s measured up, given you an estimated output and recommended some systems for you, they’ll arrange date to come to your home to install the solar thermal panels. They’ll also let you know if any scaffolding will be required.
- Next, they will start to fit the panels, or collectors, to your roof. Stainless steel brackets will be provided with the system and they will remove your roof tiles or slates to attach the brackets to the rafters. They’ll then replace the tiles and add waterproof flashing to ensure you don’t get any roof leaks, and add the frame.
- If you’ve chosen evacuated tube solar thermal panels, the installer will bolt the heat transfer unit to the top of the frame but not install the tubes until nearer the end. This is because the tubes start to transfer heat to the exchanger immediately, and when everything is unconnected this could damage the unit.
- If you don’t need a new boiler with your installation, a new dual coil water cylinder, pump and system control system will be fitted. It’s best in a loft or upper floor of your home.
- A new thermal store or hot water tank that will store the heat provided by the solar system is much larger than a standard tank but it may fit in the spot of your old one. The installer will ensure that it’s connected to the mains cold water, your other heating source (such as a gas boiler or biomass boiler), immersion heater, temperature sensors and the solar collectors themselves.
- Next they will install the pumping station, usually near the water tank. The expansion tank will be installed on the solar thermal loop, which is usually nearby. Its job is to prevent pressure changes that could damage the system.
- You’ll get a heat generation meter which must be MCS-certified if you want to take advantage of the RHI, and any control equipment that comes with the system will be installed.
- The installers will then bring the system to pressure by pumping the heat transfer liquid into the system up to a pressure of around 2 bar.
- Finally, your MCS-registered installer will register your solar thermal system so you can apply for RHI payments of up to £525 per year. So that’s the process of installing solar thermal panels. Remember – it's always best to use a professional to install any kind of renewable technology.
Merton
The London Borough of Merton is a borough in south-west London, England. The borough was formed under the London Government Act 1963 in 1965 by the merger of the Municipal Borough of Mitcham, the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon along with the Merton and Morden Urban District, all formerly within Surrey. The borough derives its name from the historic parish of Merton, which was centred around the area now called South Wimbledon. The local authority is Merton London Borough Council.
Merton covers a total area of roughly 14.52 square miles. The borough is also served by many London Tramlink stops from Wimbledon, which goes to Croydon, New Addington, Elmers End and Beckenham. It's the only London Borough which has tube, rail and tram services.
The primary commercial centres in Merton are Mitcham, Morden and Wimbledon, of which Wimbledon is the largest. Other smaller centres consist of Raynes Park, Colliers Wood, South Wimbledon, Wimbledon Park and Pollards Hill. Each year, Wimbledon, one of the four tennis Grand Slam tournaments, takes place at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Church Road Wimbledon. The occasion takes place over a fortnight at the end of June and start of July and it is the largest annual sporting event to take place in the UK, attracting more than 200000 guests during the Wimbledon fortnight.
