Trusted local plumbing & heating — 25+ years of experience conroy.phr@gmail.com|24/7 Emergency Callouts HomeAboutServices Our WorkAreas We CoverReviewsBlogContact07863 789484Get a Free Quote - HomeServicesSolar Thermal System Installation # Solar Thermal InstallationHot Water from the SunBolton & Manchester Solar thermal panels provide 50–70% of your annual hot water from the sun — even in our climate. Integrates with existing cylinders or paired with new heat pump cylinders. Reduces energy bills year-round. Get a Free Quote07863 789484 50-70% annual hot water • All-year savings • MCS-quality install 50-70% Annual Hot Water Flat Plate & Tube Panel Types Free Survey Gas Safe + MCS Registration 25+ Years Lifespan ## Solar Thermal — Practical Hot Water from the Sun Solar thermal systems use roof-mounted panels (flat plate or evacuated tube) to heat fluid which is pumped through a heat exchanger in your hot water cylinder. Over the course of a year, even in the North West, they deliver 50-70% of your hot water for free. Unlike solar PV (which generates electricity), solar thermal directly heats water — making it much more efficient at the specific job of supplying hot showers and taps. Best paired with a twin-coil cylinder (or a new heat pump cylinder if you're going renewable end-to-end). Real-world payback in our area is typically 8-12 years with current energy prices. Long lifespan (25+ years) means significant lifetime saving and meaningful carbon reduction. ## Real Work Examples ## Why Solar Thermal Often Beats Solar PV for Hot Water Solar PV is brilliant for general electricity use. But if your goal is reducing hot water bills specifically, solar thermal is typically 2-3x more efficient at converting roof area into hot water. It's also a simpler, longer-lasting technology. Solar thermal collectors convert 60-80% of sunlight to hot water; solar PV only converts 15-22% to electricity - No grid connection or inverter — solar thermal is independent of electrical supply - Hot water demand is fairly constant year-round, matching solar thermal output reasonably well - Compatible with gas boilers, heat pumps and electric immersion as back-up - No export tariff or batteries needed — simpler, cheaper system overall ## Our Process 1 ### Survey Free home survey: roof orientation, pitch, shading assessment, existing cylinder compatibility, suitable mounting locations. 2 ### Quote Detailed quote including panels, cylinder (if needed), pump station, controls, mounting and electrical work. 3 ### Roof Installation Panels mounted on weatherproofed brackets through tiles or slates. Flashing fitted properly to prevent leaks. 4 ### Indoor Installation Pump station fitted near cylinder, heat exchanger coil connected, pipework run from roof through loft. 5 ### Commission System pressure-tested, glycol-water mix charged, controls configured. Full demonstration before sign-off. ## Why Choose Conroy ### 50-70% Free Hot Water Annual contribution to hot water demand — significant year-round savings on gas or electricity. ### Long Lifespan 25+ year design life on collectors — pays back many times over in energy savings. ### MCS-Quality Install Properly designed and commissioned systems perform consistently — not all installs are equal. ### Flat Plate or Evacuated Tube Both panel types stocked — we recommend based on your roof and budget. ### Twin-Coil or Heat Pump Cylinder System designed to integrate with new or existing cylinder, including heat pump systems. ### No Grid Dependency Fully passive system — works during power cuts and needs no inverter or feed-in arrangement. ## Technical Detail ### Flat Plate vs Evacuated Tube Flat plate panels are cheaper and visually neater; evacuated tubes are more efficient in cold and cloudy weather. Both work well in the North West — we recommend based on roof space and budget. ### Cylinder Requirements Solar thermal needs a twin-coil cylinder — one coil for the boiler/heat pump, one for the solar circuit. If your existing cylinder is single-coil, we'll quote a replacement. ### Glycol Circuit The roof circuit is filled with a propylene glycol-water mix to prevent freezing in winter and provide adequate heat transfer. Glycol degrades over 8-10 years and needs replacing — included in maintenance. ### Pump Station An indoor pump station controls flow between collectors and cylinder, monitors temperatures, and runs the pump only when collector temperature exceeds cylinder temperature. ### Pairing with Heat Pumps Solar thermal pairs excellently with heat pumps — solar handles summer hot water demand efficiently, heat pump handles winter, dramatically reducing total annual energy consumption. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### svg]:rotate-180 text-left font-semibold text-foreground hover:text-accent hover:no-underline py-4" data-radix-collection-item="">Does it work in the UK climate? ### svg]:rotate-180 text-left font-semibold text-foreground hover:text-accent hover:no-underline py-4" data-radix-collection-item="">How much roof space do I need? ### svg]:rotate-180 text-left font-semibold text-foreground hover:text-accent hover:no-underline py-4" data-radix-collection-item="">What's the payback period? ### svg]:rotate-180 text-left font-semibold text-foreground hover:text-accent hover:no-underline py-4" data-radix-collection-item="">Do I need planning permission? ### svg]:rotate-180 text-left font-semibold text-foreground hover:text-accent hover:no-underline py-4" data-radix-collection-item="">Will it work with my existing cylinder? Looking for something else? Phil also covers 24/7 emergency plumbing, full boiler installation and boiler repairs, annual boiler servicing, central heating installation, power flushing, leak detection and landlord gas safety certificates (CP12). Browse the full list on our services page or see recent jobs and customer reviews. Based in Bolton, we work across Bolton, Manchester, Bury, Blackburn, Chorley, Wigan, Preston and Salford. See all areas we cover, learn more about Phil Conroy, or get in touch for a free quote. ### Related Services - Renewables - Air Source Heat Pump - Unvented Cylinders - Hybrid Heating System ### Areas We Cover - Bolton - Manchester - Bury - Blackburn - Darwen - Chorley - Wigan - Preston - Salford - Oldham - Rochdale - Stockport - Warrington - Chester - Leigh ## Ready to Get ThisSorted Properly? Speak directly to Phil. No call centres, no scripts — just honest advice, fair pricing, and work you can rely on. Get a Free Quote Call 07863 789484 A trusted, family-run plumbing and heating business with over 25 years of experience serving Bolton, Manchester, and the wider Lancashire area. ### Our Services - Emergency Plumbing - Boiler Installation - Boiler Repairs - Boiler Servicing - Central Heating - Gas Safety Certificates - Leak Detection - Power Flushing - Plumber - Gas Engineer - Renewables ### Company - About Us - Our Work - Reviews - Specials - Blog - Contact - Privacy Policy - Cookie Policy - Terms & Conditions - Complaints Policy ### Areas We Cover - Bolton - Manchester - Blackburn - Bury - Chorley - Preston - Wigan - Salford ### Get in Touch - 07863 789484 - conroy.phr@gmail.com - 14 Prestbury Rd, Bolton BL1 8SAAvailable 24/7 for emergency callouts *Conroy PHR LTD is an Introducer Appointed Representative of TradeHelp for the purpose of credit broking introductions only. Our firm reference number is 1059442. 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