Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost?
The cost of solar systems vary according to the personal requirements of the customer and the differences from one installation to another. Please call us for a fee no-obligation quote based on your specific needs.
What size Chromagen system will suit me?
The average person uses around 50 litres of hot water per day.
- 1-2 People = 100 litres per day – 150 litre single collector (Gas) - 200 litre single collector (electric)
- 3-4 people = 200 litres per day – 200 litre single collector (Gas) - 300 litre double collector (electric)
- 5 People =250 litres per day – 300 litre double collector (gas) - 300 litre double collector (electric)
How much money will a Chromagen system save me?
Because of the many variances involved with solar energy (time of year, cloud cover, & temperature variances), solar water heater savings are calculated utilising ‘averages’ only. Exact savings are impossible to calculate.
A correctly sized Chromagen solar water heater will reduce the purchased energy consumption (Gas – Electricity) of a standard water heater by around 80%.
In dollar terms – an average family of four people can expect to save between $200 - $240. per year.
Who can install a Chromagen & Solar first solar water heater?
Chromagen's range of solar water heaters can only be installed by licensed tradespeople. Typically, the following people will be required –
A Plumber will be required for the installation of the Solar water heater.
An Electrician will be required to wire up the solar controller and pumping components, as well as hooking up the booster in electrically boosted models and providing an electrical outlet for the booster on gas boosted models.
A Plumber with a Gas license will be required to fit the gas booster.
Home handyman type installations are not eligible for REC’s, Rebates, Warranty. These types of installations are illegal and breach the plumbing & electrical codes.
Can I use a solar water heater all year round? What happens if there’s no Sun?
Solar water heaters operate using two energy sources, operating at the same time – Solar energy from the sun, and some form of purchased energy, either Gas or Electricity. As such, just like a normal water heater, you will have hot water 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
During warmer periods your solar water heater will require less purchased energy than during cooler periods.
Overall, during a 12 month period, a properly sized Chromagen Solar system will provide all the hot water a household requires, with around 75% - 90% of the energy required coming from solar energy and the remainder coming from purchased energy. When compared to a standard water heater, which requires 100% of the energy to be purchased, the dollar savings become obvious.
What direction should a Chromagen Solar HWS face?
In the Southern Hemisphere, solar water heaters will obtain optimum performance when facing North. In situations where North isn’t possible, either East or West is acceptable. In these situations adding another solar collector will help. Solar systems should not be faced in a southerly direction.
Can I utilize my existing water heater?
Existing off peak water heaters (250 – 400 litres) can either have solar collectors retrofitted, or they can have pre heated water supplied to them by a complete solar water heater.
Are Chromagen systems compatible with the new 5 Star legislation?
All Gas boosted Chromagen solar water heaters of 200 litres & over meet the new legislation. All Electric boosted systems of 300 litres with 2 or more solar collectors meet the new legislation.
Do I have to have a tank on my roof?
Chromagen solar water heaters provide customers with two options for locating the hot water storage tank. Generally, a roof mounted system is a good option for consumers when space is limited at ground level. If aesthetics are an important consideration, or roof strength is insufficient, then a ground mounted tank is a better option.
Will my Solar water heater be damaged by frost?
‘Traditional’ solar water heaters that heat the water in the solar collectors can be severely damaged by frost. The damage is caused when water freezes and expands inside the copper waterways, splitting the pipes. Some systems are fitted with anti frost valves, electrical heating elements and ‘re-circulating’ technology to protect against frost damage. However, these devices are prone to failure in instances where power supplies are un-reliable, where components fail and when ‘hard water’ damages them. Chromagen provide a range of ‘closed loop’ heat exchange systems, that utilize a polypropylene fluid passing through the collectors and an inbuilt heat exchanger in the storage tank to protect against frost. This method of heating the water is guaranteed to never be affected by frost. Indeed, a Chromagen water heater could be installed on top of Mount Kosciusko in the middle of winter and suffer no frost damage.
The added benefit of a ‘closed loop’ system, is that it can also be utilized with water that is considered ‘hard’- such as ‘bore water’, or water with high mineral deposits (Calcium) and water with a high chloride content.
How hot does the water get?
During normal day to day use, a Chromagen system will operate at 65 Degrees C. As a general rule of thumb, solar heated water will be heated to around twice the ambient temperature of the day. For example, a 25 Degree C day, will see the water heated to around 50 Degrees C, by solar energy. The automatic ‘booster, will then heat the water to 65 Degrees C. On hotter days the stored water can reach a much higher temperatures than this, unless some form of ‘thermostatic control is in place.
‘Split’, or ‘pumped’ type systems, generally will not attain temperatures higher than 70 Degrees C, as the temperature actuated solar controls will halt the circulation of water (or fluid) through the solar collectors.
‘Traditional’ roof mounted solar water heaters however, have a history of ‘over heating’ during the hotter months, as they rely on natural ‘uncontrolled’ thermo siphon. Apart from the danger involved with ‘scalding’ water temperatures, overheating solar water heaters will literally ‘dump’ hundreds of litres of precious water, as temperature relief valves ‘open up’. To counter this, Chromagen water heaters utilize a ‘solar control valve’ on the collector circuit, to halt the thermo siphon process, once water temperatures reach 70 Degrees C.
As 70 Degrees C is still very hot, Chromagen suggest a tempering valve is fitted with all hot water installations.
What are Renewable Energy Certificates?
In April 2001 the federal government introduced the Renewable Energy (electricity) Act, as part of it’s strategy to combat Australia's green-house gas emissions. A section of this act requires electricity retailers to purchase a minimum of 2% of their electricity requirements from renewable energy sources, or face fines equating to around $54 for every MWh they are found to be under their target.
Measuring the amount of renewable energy produced, or non-renewable energy displaced, is done via the creation of ‘Renewable Energy Certificates’ (REC’s). Electricity retailers must provide a pre determined amount of REC’s to the Office of Renewable Energy Regulator (ORER) each February. They can either attain these ‘REC’s, from eligible electricity generation sources such as Wind Farms, Hydro Schemes, Bio Mass, etc, or they can be obtained from eligible solar water heaters, when it is deemed that the solar water heater has ‘displaced’ electricity. In the case of solar water heaters, one ‘REC’ equates to 1MWh of electricity displaced over a ten year period. REC’s have a market value that rises and falls dependant upon how many REC’s are available at any particular time. At present the REC’s have a variable market dollar value of.
Refer to the Sustainability Victoria website for more information.
In Chromagen's favor, is the fact that the more energy efficient the solar water heater, the more REC’s allocated. Chromagen consistently out perform other solar water heaters on the market and subsequently generate high REC’s.
When are Renewable Energy Certificates (REC’s) generated?
The act as it relates to solar water heaters, was specifically targeted to the displacement of electricity. As such, solar water heaters could only generate REC’s in instances where they displaced electricity. For example –
- Approved Gas or Electrically boosted Solar water heaters that replaced an existing electric water heater, were able to generate REC’s.
- Approved Gas or Electrically boosted Solar water heaters that are installed on new homes, were able to generate REC’s.
- Approved Gas or Electrically boosted Solar water heaters that replaced an existing electrically boosted solar water heater were able to generate REC’s – However, they generated less.
- In instances where Gas or solid fuel water heaters were being replaced, REC’s were not able to be generated, as electricity is not being displaced.
Effective from September 2006 - ALL solar water heater installations generate REC's, regardless of the type of water heater being replaced.
