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House Renovations
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 10/07/2005, 12:54
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Opel Fruit
 
Joined on 20/03/2005
Posts 339
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RE: Oil Heating, Hot water production and plumbing “funnies” in France
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There are numerous options. You can get tanks (ballons) from 150L to 300L that just have an electric element and a coil that connects to a solar panel circuit. The advantage of these is that you can heat water "free" during sunny days, and top-up at night for the morning shower on Heures Creuses. You can get solar circuits as kits with the ballon (200L) for around 2000 Eur working on gravity (you need to site the ballon and panels in a manner that encourages good thermosyphon action) or a pumped version (allowing you to site the ballon and panels just about anywhere and any distance apart) for about 500 Eur more. You can get single solar panels (collectors) or double panels for speedier reheating. South of the Loire, 2 panels on a pumped solar system and a 300L ballon will reach 65C in a few hours of sunshine easily. A single panel may just about heat the ballon in a full day. Another consideration is the siting of the panels. They should be mounted at about 45 degrees from the horizontal, and face south or south west. Other ballon options include those with two coils inside, one for the solar circuit, and one for a boiler circuit. And you can get ballons with both of the above and an electric element. I have noticed that there are several specialist suppliers around. For simplicity, I would also try the likes of Leroy Merlin, who have complete ready to fit kits available. I also notice that solar hot water systems FITTED are ridiculously expensive. I reckon that a competant DIYer could fit the kit (except perhaps the solar panels on high/difficult roofing) within a weekend, particularly if you site the new ballon where one already exists, and a 300L system would cost under 3000 Eur. (500L twin coil systems are also available.)
Opel Fruit, Dept. 53
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10/07/2005, 19:32
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Wilko
Joined on 23/08/2004
84 Vaucluse
Posts 213
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RE: Oil Heating, Hot water production and plumbing “funnies” in France
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Opel Fruit Thanks a lot rgds Wilko
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10/07/2005, 20:10
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rik.lane
Joined on 15/11/2005
Posts 11
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RE: Oil Heating, Hot water production and plumbing “funnies” in France
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Thank you very much you have given a lot of time to do this post and it has answered a lot of questions for me and I imagine a lot of folkm this is what a forum should be about and I only hope I could help someone in the future as you have done cheers RIK
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15/07/2005, 10:24
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alan&t
Joined on 14/07/2005
Posts 3
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RE: Oil Heating, Hot water production and plumbing “funnies” in France
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Hi I found the advice very helpful I am in the process of having wood burning Villager AHL fire with fitted boiler delivered from the Uk to my holiday home in Laserade Gers . I note that you say that in France they do not have open water tank and everything is sealed . I just want to run a central heating system (6 rads 1 heated towel) I have an efficient water heating system so they will not be linked Do you have any advice on the above . The manual has an open expansion tank shown in the fitting. Are there any good plumbers merchants in my locality Please help
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15/07/2005, 16:02
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Opel Fruit
Joined on 20/03/2005
Posts 339
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RE: Oil Heating, Hot water production and plumbing “funnies” in France
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As far as I am aware, you cannot operate your AHI or ALI on a sealed system, and thus in theory cannot install it legally here. However, I would contact Villager and ask them for further guidance. The problem may be the need for at least one "heatleak" radiator in the circuit. This is also why backburners and AGA type things (yuck) are fairly uncommon, and tend to be installed by expats working in a "grey" area. If you wish to go ahead, I would suggest you bring everything you need that cannot be obtained here, like the header tank. I think you will have BIG problems with a ballvalve here - 7 bar of mains pressure is just going to open it!!
Opel Fruit, Dept. 53
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18/07/2005, 17:03
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VJ
Joined on 15/11/2005
Posts 97
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RE: Oil Heating, Hot water production and plumbing “funnies” in France
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Not certain about soft solder not being able to withstand pressure.
I have soldered in the UK up to 10 bar and in fact standard copper compression are generally listed to 10 bar
My home in Uk will in the evening go to 3 bar and never once have I had a burst joint.
I have never calculated the expansion of ice in a closed pipe to see what the pressure would be and would need to see if a joint exploded due to this increase
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I have had minus 15 deg in France and not one soft soldered joint went, mind you I insulate very care fully
As a precaution one may like to use hard solder but you need a good torch
The point on heating oil will burn at 32 sec and not 28 as in UK so the jets have to be set differently and then gases analised , how ever the Boiler should have the right jets but it will need setting up.
With regards to the Guy with the system he fills from a high point, remember it is a circulating pump with a very low head and which I assume covers the circuit with out pumping over ( a common problem in an open UK circuit that the pump has been over specified) Best thing is to convert to a sealed system and then there are no problems, and dont forget if you leave the house for a long time,have ANTIGEL put in the ch system then you have no worries, as a frost stat is no good if your RCB has tripped
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France Forum » Building and Re... » House Renovatio... » FAQ - Oil Heating, Hot water production and plumbing “funnies” in France
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