Solar Water Heating Quote, reasonable ?

Mier

Mier

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So, my electric geyser burst.
This presents the opportunity to change to solar seeing as the insurance will cover the old geyser.
However, I haven't done much research yet, as this was a bit unexpected, so I kindly want to check with you folks whether the quote I got from the insurance appointed plumber is reasonable. I can't really wait for comparative quotes as we have no working geyser at the moment:

Installation of a 200L solar system split thermosiphon system with panel on roof next to pool heating system including:
• Geyser – 200L Kwiksol direct solar geyser
• Solar Collector – 1 x 2.5 SqM flat plate panel.
• Spares – Solar system spares all SABS marked.
• Pipe insulation (R1 rated) on hot and cold exterior mounted piping from solar geyser to retard heat loss and protect your piping by acting as a vibration damper and giving protection against corrosion by the atmospheric environment. In addition, your exposed lagging will be covered in an extra layer of UV protection paint.
• Isolating valves at your solar panel for effective servicing.
• Tempering valve for you and your family’ safety. This valve mixes hot water from your solar system with cold water to deliver tempered water at a constant temperature throughout outlets supplied by your chosen solar system.
• Labour – Solar panel installation and commission labour by a solar qualified and registered plumber with the Plumbing industry registration board of South Africa.
• Electrician – Qualified electrician with the ECB to connect solar system and install a Geysrwise timer. An electrical Certificate of compliance for this electrical connection will be supplied on completion.
A plumbing Certificate of compliance will be issued for the solar water heating system on completion. Control pad to be installed by electrical board in garage.

R31 102-90


Thanks a lot
 
Mier said:
So, my electric geyser burst.
This presents the opportunity to change to solar seeing as the insurance will cover the old geyser.
However, I haven't done much research yet, as this was a bit unexpected, so I kindly want to check with you folks whether the quote I got from the insurance appointed plumber is reasonable. I can't really wait for comparative quotes as we have no working geyser at the moment:

Installation of a 200L solar system split thermosiphon system with panel on roof next to pool heating system including:
• Geyser – 200L Kwiksol direct solar geyser
• Solar Collector – 1 x 2.5 SqM flat plate panel.
• Spares – Solar system spares all SABS marked.
• Pipe insulation (R1 rated) on hot and cold exterior mounted piping from solar geyser to retard heat loss and protect your piping by acting as a vibration damper and giving protection against corrosion by the atmospheric environment. In addition, your exposed lagging will be covered in an extra layer of UV protection paint.
• Isolating valves at your solar panel for effective servicing.
• Tempering valve for you and your family’ safety. This valve mixes hot water from your solar system with cold water to deliver tempered water at a constant temperature throughout outlets supplied by your chosen solar system.
• Labour – Solar panel installation and commission labour by a solar qualified and registered plumber with the Plumbing industry registration board of South Africa.
• Electrician – Qualified electrician with the ECB to connect solar system and install a Geysrwise timer. An electrical Certificate of compliance for this electrical connection will be supplied on completion.
A plumbing Certificate of compliance will be issued for the solar water heating system on completion. Control pad to be installed by electrical board in garage.

R31 102-90


Thanks a lot
Click to expand...

If you were to do everything yourself it would be around R15 000. So R16 000,00 for someone to install it for you.
 
krieg said:
If you were to do everything yourself it would be around R15 000. So R16 000,00 for someone to install it for you.
Click to expand...
Sure, the quite is excessive but it's hardly an hour's work to install.. R 1 000 labour is a slap in the face, really..
 
Mier said:
So, my electric geyser burst.
This presents the opportunity to change to solar seeing as the insurance will cover the old geyser.
However, I haven't done much research yet, as this was a bit unexpected, so I kindly want to check with you folks whether the quote I got from the insurance appointed plumber is reasonable. I can't really wait for comparative quotes as we have no working geyser at the moment:

Installation of a 200L solar system split thermosiphon system with panel on roof next to pool heating system including:
• Geyser – 200L Kwiksol direct solar geyser
• Solar Collector – 1 x 2.5 SqM flat plate panel.
• Spares – Solar system spares all SABS marked.
• Pipe insulation (R1 rated) on hot and cold exterior mounted piping from solar geyser to retard heat loss and protect your piping by acting as a vibration damper and giving protection against corrosion by the atmospheric environment. In addition, your exposed lagging will be covered in an extra layer of UV protection paint.
• Isolating valves at your solar panel for effective servicing.
• Tempering valve for you and your family’ safety. This valve mixes hot water from your solar system with cold water to deliver tempered water at a constant temperature throughout outlets supplied by your chosen solar system.
• Labour – Solar panel installation and commission labour by a solar qualified and registered plumber with the Plumbing industry registration board of South Africa.
• Electrician – Qualified electrician with the ECB to connect solar system and install a Geysrwise timer. An electrical Certificate of compliance for this electrical connection will be supplied on completion.
A plumbing Certificate of compliance will be issued for the solar water heating system on completion. Control pad to be installed by electrical board in garage.

R31 102-90


Thanks a lot
Click to expand...
You shouldn't be paying more than 20K
 
Solar geyser prices just make me lol. No ways that these guys will survive in the future at this price point. They will be eaten up by cheap PV energy.
 
Yeah I would class that as excessive.

I would also say by around R5k to be honest, given that the Kwiksol system seems to be around R18k retail.
 
Thanks, guys. It confirms my suspicions.
I will probably just get them to replace the geyser only. As I understand I can retrofit the solar portion later.

Or, seeing as I already have an Inverter and 5Kwh battery without panels, rather invest towards PV.
 
Mier said:
Thanks, guys. It confirms my suspicions.
I will probably just get them to replace the geyser only. As I understand I can retrofit the solar portion later.

Or, seeing as I already have an Inverter and 5Kwh battery without panels, rather invest towards PV.
Click to expand...

The bigger question would be how much of this would your insurance company fund?

You're going to be in for R10k easily to retrofit at a later date anyway.
 
ToxicBunny said:
The bigger question would be how much of this would your insurance company fund?

You're going to be in for R10k easily to retrofit at a later date anyway.
Click to expand...
If I stick with a geyser, then I pay R500 excess and they replace the current geyser.

If I go solar, they pay me out ~R7k for the geyser and I must then pay the plumber. This still leaves me with R24k shortfall. Hence, it may be better to retrofit later - I'll have a working geyser and can get proper quotes.
 
Mier said:
If I stick with a geyser, then I pay R500 excess and they replace the current geyser.

If I go solar, they pay me out ~R7k for the geyser and I must then pay the plumber. This still leaves me with R24k shortfall. Hence, it may be better to retrofit later - I'll have a working geyser and can get proper quotes.
Click to expand...
OK at that price point I'd do the same... It will be cheaper for you in the long run to retrofit.
 
Mier said:
So, my electric geyser burst.
This presents the opportunity to change to solar seeing as the insurance will cover the old geyser.
However, I haven't done much research yet, as this was a bit unexpected, so I kindly want to check with you folks whether the quote I got from the insurance appointed plumber is reasonable. I can't really wait for comparative quotes as we have no working geyser at the moment:

Installation of a 200L solar system split thermosiphon system with panel on roof next to pool heating system including:
• Geyser – 200L Kwiksol direct solar geyser
• Solar Collector – 1 x 2.5 SqM flat plate panel.
• Spares – Solar system spares all SABS marked.
• Pipe insulation (R1 rated) on hot and cold exterior mounted piping from solar geyser to retard heat loss and protect your piping by acting as a vibration damper and giving protection against corrosion by the atmospheric environment. In addition, your exposed lagging will be covered in an extra layer of UV protection paint.
• Isolating valves at your solar panel for effective servicing.
• Tempering valve for you and your family’ safety. This valve mixes hot water from your solar system with cold water to deliver tempered water at a constant temperature throughout outlets supplied by your chosen solar system.
• Labour – Solar panel installation and commission labour by a solar qualified and registered plumber with the Plumbing industry registration board of South Africa.
• Electrician – Qualified electrician with the ECB to connect solar system and install a Geysrwise timer. An electrical Certificate of compliance for this electrical connection will be supplied on completion.
A plumbing Certificate of compliance will be issued for the solar water heating system on completion. Control pad to be installed by electrical board in garage.

R31 102-90


Thanks a lot
Click to expand...
I have two. a 200l on mom's flat and a 300l on my house. BAck when i did them the 200 cost 16k less insurance on the burst one and a rebate that eksdom was offering at the time. The 300l was about 27 minus the rebate. Recently the 300 popped and the insurance paid out 18k which was enough to rplace the geyser part.
I can't really comment on the price as mine are not new now BUT i can give you this advice :

You need a larger solar geyser than the electric one you are replacing. When contractors tell you this they are not just inflating.

Go about 50% bigger than the electric being replaced or you will experience many lukewarm showers.
 
Mier said:
If I stick with a geyser, then I pay R500 excess and they replace the current geyser.

If I go solar, they pay me out ~R7k for the geyser and I must then pay the plumber. This still leaves me with R24k shortfall. Hence, it may be better to retrofit later - I'll have a working geyser and can get proper quotes.
Click to expand...
pay R500 excess and take the standard geyser , then for conversion you looking at about about R16K

your quote of 31k tough is a bit excessive , should be more in the region of 21-25k
 
Bonywasawarrioraway said:
You need a larger solar geyser than the electric one you are replacing. When contractors tell you this they are not just inflating.

Go about 50% bigger than the electric being replaced or you will experience many lukewarm showers.
Click to expand...

do you not use the back up electric element, with an intelligent controller?
bigger geyser will need a larger panels or more EV tubes to heat up the larger volume of water
 
Will the insurance pay out 7k no matter what you do? I'll suggest the low pressure vacuum tube units with booster pump, your wallet will thank you now and for a very long time after, my system has lasted 13 years without any issues. Tank is stainless steel, no pressure in them to ever burst, glass tubes are also surprisingly resilient to hail.
 
isie said:
do you not use the back up electric element, with an intelligent controller?
bigger geyser will need a larger panels or more EV tubes to heat up the larger volume of water
Click to expand...
The bigger the geyser the more panels it has. my 200 has one panel and the 300 has two. I try not to use the electric as far as possible especially since i work shifts and so i do not shower at the same time of day always. On day shift i shower after work ie in the evening. On night shift i shower after work ie in the morning. I alternate day and night shift weekly. I have not found a controller smart enough to follow my shift pattern well enough to switch on just before i am due for a shower and i am to lazy to build and program one although i am pretty sure that i could. What i can say is this. my two geysers came from different competing companies. Both told me that you needed a bigger one. I took their advice in both cases and there is no doubt (after 13 years) that hot water availability is about the same as the original smaller electric ones.
 
WAslayer said:
Sure, the quite is excessive but it's hardly an hour's work to install.. R 1 000 labour is a slap in the face, really..
Click to expand...
I don't think that is what he was saying.

R31102.90 (quoted price) - 15000 to install it himself (materials) = R16000+ profit for installer.
 
R31k is way overboard.

Have you tried Suntank?
They did my 200ltr for R15500 a few years back.
 
So solar is around 15-20k and gas is 10-20k had friends and neighbors do both ways and yea works well enough. If the area you live has lots of clouds in winter/summer then I'd go gas
 
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