Are you searching for detailed solar hot water quotes in Canberra? You should expect quotes that cover all of the inclusions & exclusions.
There is nothing worse than accepting a quote, having the job done, being presented with a bill and then finding out you have more to do before the system is operating and more to pay before you have received what you expected. Unfortunately, this is happens too often.
When you are searching for any quote you want to know what the real costs are. You want to know what is included and what is not included. You want enough information to make an informed decision. In the end, you want what you have paid for to be exactly what you expected to get.
A good quote should give you that and more.
The information provided to you in solar hot water quotes should be provided by experts. It should allow you to compare the different brands and models of solar hot water systems. It should give you the information you need to understand what makes one system better than the other.
When you are provided with a quote for evacuated tube solar, flat panel solar or a heat pump hot water system you should be confident that you are completely aware of what you are buying and what you can expect from that system.
Below is a good example of the type of information that you should expect to find in solar hot water quotes.
The location of tanks and collectors
Your quote should clearly show the location of the solar storage tank. The location and orientation of the solar collector array.
For example..
The full price including GST
Some installers will try to quote you a price and then try to get you to pay GST on top of that price when the installation is completed. This practice is illegal.
For example..
Your quote should read ($6930.00 Including GST) or ($6300.00 plus GST) or ($6300.00 excluding GST). It is illegal for an installer to charge you GST on top of the quoted price if the GST status is not stated. If your quote does not clearly say that the GST has or has not been included, you can legally assume that GST is included in the quoted price.
Standard inclusions with your solar hot water system.
So you don’t get caught out at the end of the solar installation, your quote should clearly state the brand, the model number and all of the inclusions with the installation of your solar hot water system.
For example…
System brand and model number (Apricus AE-GL-315-MID-30) comes complete with..
- User-friendly, digital Resol automatic solar controller with three position temperature monitoring. (This allows for easy diagnosis and faster repairs.)
- 315 litre solar Glass lined /enamel storage tank with upper and lower sensor ports and 10 year warranty.
- 30 frost proof glass evacuated tube collectors.
- Frost resistant insulated collector manifold with 2 sensor ports and 15 year warranty.
- A collector sensor.
- Weather proof cover for the control station.
- 1 upper tank sensor.
- 1 lower tank sensor.
- German made, Grundfos 3 Speed solar hot water circulating pump.
- 2 x pressure protection (Limiting valve and TPRV.)
- 1x scald protection.
- 1x backflow protection.
- 1x frost protection.
- 1x Pitched roof frame.*
- Sight flow meter to determine the rate of flow water between the storage tank and collectors. This also helps with tuning the system for optimum performance and allows home owners to check for faults.
- Automated boosting system, timed to allow boosting between 3pm and 7pm only. *
- Graded insulated copper flow and return pipes.
- Securing flow and return pipes in the roof cavity to prevent sagging.
- A precast slab for the solar storage tank to sit on 50mm above the surrounding ground level.
- A weather proof GPO for the solar pump and control station.
- All electrical work required excluding an RCD.
- Compliance certificates where required.
- Provision of STC rebate forms and their completion.
- All plumbing labour. We do not use sub contractors.
- 12 months full parts and labour warranty.
- 15 year tube warranty – Parts only.
- 10 year tank warranty – Parts only.
- 5 year Labour warranty on installation – Labour only.
- The old system drained disconnected and taken away.
- Bird proofing of the collector sensor wires.
- System hand over and explanation of operation of the controls and valves.
- Removal of packing boxes and rubbish upon completion.
Educational information that should be included in your solar hot water quotes
Your quote should provide you with enough information to help you to distinguish between the different systems on offer. Some of this information can be found in the inclusions. Other useful information should also be included.
For example..
* Why have a time clock?
To make this Apricus solar hot water system extremely efficient it comes supplied with a programmable time clock on the booster whereby it will only come on in the evening and only if the tank has not fully heated using solar energy during the day. This would be installed in the meter box or on the hot water system with a manual override. Set times 3pm -7pm. These times can be changed to suit varying hot water requirements.
If you do not want this option subtract $340.00 from this quote.
* Why have the collectors pitch 45 – 55 degrees?
Our Apricus solar hot water installations come standard with the collectors on a north facing roof frame pitched between 45-55 degrees. This reduces boiling in summer and maximises efficiency in winter when hot water is needed most. This also helps to significantly increase the life of the system as it reduces overheating in summer. Over heating causes sensors and pumps to fail. This can lead to freezing in winter. The result is repair bills in the $000’s
We strongly recommend a roof frame for all evacuated tube systems. If you do not want this option subtract $320.00 from this quote. ( your 5 year labour warranty on the installation will drop from 5 years to 2 years also)
Information about solar hot water rebates
Rebates vary from state to state and council area to council area. Your installer should know all of the rebates you are eligible for in your locality. The amount of the rebate available and how you will receive the rebate should be clearly explained.
For example..
The only rebate for this system in the ACT and Queanbeyan NSW is the Small Scale Technology (STC) rebate
The system quoted gets 37 STC’s. Currently we are selling each STC to Greenbank Environmental for $38.50 per STC. Therefore this system is eligible for an STC rebate of $1425.50.
You can choose to pay the full quoted price and sell the STC’s yourself. Or we can give you the $1425.50 STC rebate as a point of sale discount on the day of the installation.
The quoted price is $6930.00 inc GST
The STC rebate is ($1425.50)
The end cost would be $5504.50 inc GST if you take the STC rebate as a discount on the day of the installation. If you elect not to take the rebate as a point of sale discount you will be required to pay the full $6930.00 inc GST.
Please note –
The prices offered by Greenbank for STC’s can vary from day to day. Therefore, we cannot not buy the STC’s from you after the installation date.
* Why have a time clock?
To make this Apricus solar hot water system extremely efficient it comes supplied with a programmable time clock on the booster whereby it will only come on in the evening and only if the tank has not fully heated using solar energy during the day. This would be installed in the meter box or on the hot water system with a manual override. Set times 3pm -7pm. These times can be changed to suit varying hot water requirements.
If you do not want this option subtract $340.00 from this quote.
* Why have the collectors pitched at 45-55 degrees?
Our Apricus solar hot water quotes include the installation of the collectors on a north facing roof frame pitched between 45-55 degrees to reduce boiling in summer and to maximise efficiency in winter when hot water is needed most. This also helps to significantly increase the life of the system as it reduces overheating in summer.
Over heating causes sensors and pumps to fail. This can lead to freezing in winter. The result is repair bills in the $000’s
We strongly recommend a roof frame for all evacuated tube systems. If you do not want this option subtract $320.00 from this quote. ( your 5 year labour warranty on the installation will drop from 5 years to 2 years also)
Why use us?
We believe that it is a waste of time installing a solar hot water system if it is not optimised for maximum efficiency and longevity. When we install your Apricus system we want you to be able to take it for granted. Therefore, we aim to ensure…
- It is installed to maintain peak efficiency for both winter and summer.
- It is install in a manner that will give you the longest possible life from the system.
- It is installed in a manner that will minimise repairs and servicing.
- We take as much care when we install our budget systems too. However, they are what they are.
Please note: New Government regulations require us to submit a copy of your rates notice along with other documentation to claim STC’s. Can you please forward a copy by email before the installation or provide a copy on the day of installation.
If you are happy with this price we order the system and start as soon as possible.
Robert Edwards
