Q&A

Q&A of solar water heater
Frequently Asked Questions are hypothetical questions about the local environment and users’ habits in Taiwan. Performance will vary depending on where the heater is installed. Therefore, this Q&A is for reference only.

1. How much does a solar water heater cost? 
．The price of a solar water heater depends on the capacity and the number of users. The choices of different models should suit your bathroom, habit of hot water use and roof type, etc.
．Most people in Taiwan choose the models between 256~504L for a small family with 4~6 people. The prices are between NTD 50,000-90,000
．A professional examination of the installation site by our distributor is required before a price quotation.

2. Which type of water heater is cheaper? Solar water heater, electric water heater or gas water heater? 
．You only need to invest on the solar water heater and its installation fee. Then, no more gas bill and electricity bill. 
．You could recoup your investment in 3 years compared to electric water heater; and 5 years compared to gas water heater. With proper usage and regular maintenance, a good quality solar water heater can last for over 20 years. Therefore, it is for sure the solar water heater is the cheapest option. 
．The earlier you start to use a solar water heater, the more money you save, especially when heating cost is high. 

3. What is the maximum water temperature a solar water heater can achieve? What should we do on rainy days or cloudy days? 
．The water temperature in the solar water heater depends on the hours of sunlight and location. The hot water temperature in summer is around 60~80℃. In southern Taiwan, the temperature can still reach 60~70℃ in winter.
．In Taiwan, there is an annual average of 280 sunny days during which free heating energy is available. On cloudy or rainy days, you can use electric auxiliary heating device to make up for heat insufficiencies. This still saves energy.
．SUNCUE micro-computerized auxiliary heating device is very easy to operate, so you don’t have to worry about the lack hot water.

4. Is there any site limitation for a solar water heater? How much space is needed?
．It can be installed on most types of roofs. Before Installation, the site should be inspected by a SUNCUE’s distributor. 
．If you live in an apartment, make sure you have the right to use the space on the roof. The piping system needs to suit the solar water heater. 
．The space required depends on the model you choose. For example, SUNCUE’s standard model TOP-384 requires a space about 3.3m(W)x2m(L). 

5. What are the main components of a solar water heater? How long does it take to install one set? 
．A solar water heater consists of 5 main parts, including solar collectors, water tank, auxiliary heating device, inlet tank and stand.
．SUNCUE solar water heater adopts modular design for easy installation that can be completed in a day. Nevertheless, we suggest that you plan ahead and reserve the space and hot water pipes. This will offer you convenience, efficiency and saves your money and time.
 
6. How to install a solar water heater on an old house that lacks pipelines on the roof? 
．Simply adding pipes that come with insulation material can solve this problem.
．The performance of pipe insulation depends on its material. With the right material, the insulation efficiency could be better than existing pipes in a house.

7. How many choices of auxiliary electric heater are available for a solar water heater? 
．There are two types of auxiliary electric heaters for a SUNCUE solar water heater. Electrical auto auxiliary heating device and micro-computerized automatic heating system. 
．If the hours you use hot water is fixed every day, we recommend electrical auto auxiliary heating device which allows multiple settings. It is convenient as you only need to do the setting once right after installation.
．A Micro-computerized automatic heating system has a screen indoor, showing hot water temperature and all settings. It is more user-friendly because you can adjust the settings indoors. 
．A micro-computerized automatic heating control system can be operated via SUNCUE Remote Control APP anytime and anywhere. 

8. What are the differences between SUNCUE solar water heater and other brands in the market? 
．SUNCUE solar water heater is the only Taiwanese brand that uses stainless-steel plated solar collector exclusively imported from Japan.
．SUNCUE is also the only brand in Taiwan that is awarded with TAIWAN EXCELLENCE and Green Mark.
．A SUNCUE solar water heater has excellent quality in material, great solar collecting efficiency and is economic and convenient. SUNCUE products are highly recognized by consumers and we have a market share of 34% in Taiwan, making it the No. 1 in the nation. 

9. How long is the warranty period? How long can a solar water heater last? 
．The standard warranty for a SUNCUE solar water heater is one year and the warranty for the stainless-steel solar collectors is three years. Consumable parts are not covered by warranty.
．Many SUNCUE solar water heaters have lasted more than 20 years in Taiwan thanks to the stainless-steel solar collectors that are also used in Japan as well, as the stainless-steel water tank and tempered glass that are durable materials. Natural circulation of water allows components to be simple, reducing the chance of malfunction. The only things that need to be changed after years of use would be rubber water tubes and electric heating units.

10. What is the difference between stainless-steel solar collector and copper solar collector?
．The special stainless steel we use is an anti-chlorine and anti-corrosive material which is developed exclusively for solar collectors in Japan. 
．SUNCUE exclusively uses solar collector plates that contain 26 diamond-shaped hot water channels that receive heat though direct conduction. This is more efficient than indirect heat conduction from copper plates to copper tubes.

11. Does a solar water heater require regular cleaning and maintenance after installation? 
The cleaning and maintenance of a solar water heater:
．For external cleaning and maintenance: Use clean water to wash away the dust on the solar collector to ensure efficiency. 
．For internal cleaning and maintenance: Clog might incur after long term usage. SUNCUE solar water heater is designed with cleaning hole for easy maintenance (water tank and solar collector).
The worst enemy of a solar water heater is to have clog in both water tank and solar collector. Therefore, purchasing a solar water heater with cleaning hole, and applying regular maintenance can prolong the lifetime of the solar water heater. 
．The required frequency of cleaning depends on water quality and habit of water use. It is advised to clean once or twice per year in Taiwan.
．Precautions for snow and freezing area：When the ambient temperature drops to 0ºC (32ºF) or liquid water freezing temperature, the pipeline will burst due to the thermal expansion and contraction.
Customers must make sure: All the liquid water in the solar heater must be drained BEFORE the significant temperature change, or temperature drops to 0ºC (32ºF) or the liquid water freezing temperature.

12. What’s the market penetration rate of solar water heater now? What’s the history of Taiwanese government’s subsidy policy? What can we do with a solar water heater?  
．Market situation: more than 400,000 Taiwanese families have installed solar water heaters and 300,000 of them are still using it, making Taiwan the No. 10 country in terms of total solar water heater installed.  
．History of government subsidy policy:
1986, NTD 3,000/㎡.
1990, NTD 1,500/㎡.
2009-2015, NTD 2,250/㎡.
2016, NTD 2,000/㎡.
2017, NTD 1,750/㎡.
．Applications: solar water heaters are the most popular products in solar-energy industry. It can be used to heat water at homes, hotels, dormitories, swimming pool, factory and fish farms.

 13. There are many types of solar water heaters produced by SUNCUE. How to make a choice? 
Factors consideration when making choices: 
(1) Number of users: the more users there are, the more hot water required. Each person requires about 50 liters to take a shower.
(2) Available space: a solar water heater must be installed facing the south in the north hemisphere (depends on location). Therefore, the model you can use also depends on your available space. 
(3) Habit of using hot water: for light use such as shower (TOP128 series/TOP168 series); for heavy use such as bathtubs, we recommend models that can hold a lot of water (TOP278/TOP348/SK45/NSK45).

14. What should we pay attention to when purchasing a solar water heater in Taiwan where typhoons and earthquakes occur frequently? 
The strength of the stand as well as the entire properly-designed structure is important because a solar water heater must be installed on the roof of a building. The installation should be done by well-trained professionals.

15. How to plan ahead when building a new house on which a solar water heater may be installed? 
．Reserve a 3m x 3m space (for 5~6 family members) on the roof. 
．Pre-fit insulated hot water pipes on each floor for future convenience and efficiency.
．Pre-fit hot water pipes need to be well insulated to reduce heat lost and for better efficiency.
．Make single-phase 220V power available in advance. This will be for the electric auxiliary heating device.