Solar Geyser - Why not?

[Snyper564]

Question is will my heat pump budget of R20-25k get me close to a decent solar system?

At the moment I'm more concerned about cutting my electricity bill rather than surviving loadshedding

Thats why I said figure out what you want.

If solar is part of the plan a heat pump works nicely. But to be honest. Have you done the calculations to see how much you actually save?

The actual ROI for instance.

Paying R20-25k to save 5k a year for 5 years and then mega maintenance doesnt make much sense for example

 

[aomar296]

Currently our geyser is using 20 units a day which is the reason why we get pushed to the next tariff block on a monthly basis and end up paying R10 a unit in Ekhuruleni which is ridiculous.

We've had it checked out and geyser is fine.

I'm looking to cut this bill down to half atleast by installing a solar geyser or heat pump. Don't have the budget for full solar at this time so looking for a short term solution.

Ideally yes, if the short term solution can help the long term one then that will be great and make more sense.

 

[Snyper564]

Currently our geyser is using 20 units a day which is the reason why we get pushed to the next tariff block on a monthly basis and end up paying R10 a unit in Ekhuruleni which is ridiculous.

We've had it checked out and geyser is fine.

I'm looking to cut this bill down to half atleast by installing a solar geyser or heat pump. Don't have the budget for full solar at this time so looking for a short term solution.

Ideally yes, if the short term solution can help the long term one then that will be great and make more sense.

I would first check is your geyser super old and not insulated 20 units is a bit crazy.

Whats the sizE?

You running it super hot? 90 deg?

Turn it down to 60, there are other ways to reduce price usage. You can also turn it on once a day for 2 hours if you can concentrate use around that time. For example if all shower at 6pm turn on at 4-6pm on 2 hours maybe 4-6 units a day simple as that.

Please use the reply button otherwise I might miss your responses.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Currently our geyser is using 20 units a day which is the reason why we get pushed to the next tariff block on a monthly basis and end up paying R10 a unit in Ekhuruleni which is ridiculous.

We've had it checked out and geyser is fine.

I'm looking to cut this bill down to half atleast by installing a solar geyser or heat pump. Don't have the budget for full solar at this time so looking for a short term solution.

Ideally yes, if the short term solution can help the long term one then that will be great and make more sense.

How have you measured that?

How many people in the house? What size geyser?

 

[aomar296]

I would first check is your geyser super old and not insulated 20 units is a bit crazy.

Whats the sizE?

You running it super hot? 90 deg?

Turn it down to 60, there are other ways to reduce price usage. You can also turn it on once a day for 2 hours if you can concentrate use around that time. For example if all shower at 6pm turn on at 4-6pm on 2 hours maybe 4-6 units a day simple as that.

Please use the reply button otherwise I might miss your responses.

Standard 150 litre, 3 to 4 people at home using water at different times.

Geyser has been checked and is running at 60 degrees

 

[Snyper564]

Standard 150 litre, 3 to 4 people at home using water at different times.

Geyser has been checked and is running at 60 degrees

If possible try get everyone closer to the same time. Then just use a timer and save thousands. Simple as that

Also use a water saving showerhead and not bath.

If the above doesnt work - heat pump is likely the better option but others can chip in.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

I would first check is your geyser super old and not insulated 20 units is a bit crazy.

Whats the sizE?

You running it super hot? 90 deg?

Turn it down to 60, there are other ways to reduce price usage. You can also turn it on once a day for 2 hours if you can concentrate use around that time. For example if all shower at 6pm turn on at 4-6pm on 2 hours maybe 4-6 units a day simple as that.

Please use the reply button otherwise I might miss your responses.

Load shedding throws that off for those who don't have solar. If you get a 4-6 slot then it's cold showers for everyone. We've forgotten what it's like to have these problems.

Heat pump should reduce power draw by 60-70% without having to do anything. But that comes with annual maintenance and extra plumbing...

 

[Snyper564]

Load shedding throws that off for those who don't have solar. If you get a 4-6 slot then it's cold showers for everyone. We've forgotten what it's like to have these problems.

Heat pump should reduce power draw by 60-70% without having to do anything. But that comes with annual maintenance and extra plumbing...

Ah yes you are right - something I have totally forgotten about. Maybe a gas geyser?

 

[Katelknaap]

Currently our geyser is using 20 units a day which is the reason why we get pushed to the next tariff block on a monthly basis and end up paying R10 a unit in Ekhuruleni which is ridiculous.

We've had it checked out and geyser is fine.

I'm looking to cut this bill down to half atleast by installing a solar geyser or heat pump. Don't have the budget for full solar at this time so looking for a short term solution.

Ideally yes, if the short term solution can help the long term one then that will be great and make more sense.

20 units / day just for a 150l geyser is crazy and something must be off. I have 2 x 150l geysers in my house (no timers) and use about 20 units per day in total.

 

[Magnum]

Been tinkering with a normal geyser on the Inverter. Geyser only need 9 minutes on time every day to stay on temprature. I don't use that much hot water and leaning towards getting a Solar geyser feels like a waste at this time. Ill just get an even smaller geyser to reduce power draw even more.

 

[Speedster]

Been tinkering with a normal geyser on the Inverter. Geyser only need 9 minutes on time every day to stay on temprature. I don't use that much hot water and leaning towards getting a Solar geyser feels like a waste at this time. Ill just get an even smaller geyser to reduce power draw even more.

You can just get a smaller element? You'll use the same amount of electricity (kWh), just less at a time (kW).

 

[Magnum]

You can just get a smaller element? You'll use the same amount of electricity (kWh), just less at a time (kW).

it has ceramic elements in. highly doubt they will still be custom made.

 

[aomar296]

What do you think could be the issue because we have had someone look at it before and element was fine?

 

[richjdavies]

What do you think could be the issue because we have had someone look at it before and element was fine?

Overheating (and therefore pushing water down the overflow), leaks, really bad insulation or is it outside. Or just using lots of hot water?

20 units a day for 150L modern class B geyser
2 from standing losses
18 units for heating from 20 to 60 (you said it was 60, and water is 20 in summer) would mean using 360L of hot water per day.*
Are the 4 of you each taking hour long showers -- at different times (else it would be cold!)

Looking the other way around how much hot water do you think you use and go the other way -- e.g. if you use around 100L/ day -- that's 5 units for the hot water. Is it reasonable to be losing 15 units... Answer no . Btw plumbers are awful at this. Heard so many tell me it's okay for a geyser to pour out a bucket of hot water into the overflow every day... It isn't!

Alternatively are you sure it's your geyser? How are you monitoring these 20 units?

*40 Deg x 4.2 Kj/Ldeg /3600Kj/kWh = 0.05kWh/liter ... I.e. about 1 kWh heats 20 L

 

[Magnum]

 

[spit]

What about a Heat Pump, the pros and cons?

 

[Magnum]

Well got a Solar geyser for Black friday. Finally arrived yesterday. took the frame out and within 10 minutes I could not touch it. I am 100% certain Said geyser will at least be producing some hot water.... If not Plasma.