With modern High Recovery Cylinders we can boost the water temperature very quickly using manual override on our programmer if ever we need hot water in a hurry. Under these circumstances, where possible, it is best only to heat your water late afternoon before you come home when the solar panels have had their best chance to give you maximum solar gain. When the system works in this way, during the summer days of bright sunshine, the chances are your boiler will not even have to be to heat your water at all.

During the winter, when solar gain is not as prominent, the boiler will boost the water temperature, from where the solar gain left off, to take it to the desired level Winter gain is still very important, as even a 10 or 15 degree raise on cold water will mean less work and your boiler will use less energy - therefore saving money.

Of course if you are not a work all day Solar Thermal can still give you significant savings but it is essential that you learn to manage your hot water requirements much more responsibly by trying only to heat water when required and leave as much of the work as possible to solar gain, WHICH IS FREE.