Goodbye Gas Hello Solar!

[Kev the gas]

After 25 years installing what I believe to be quality gas boiler installations, training to be Part P approved, I have now taken the plunge to gain a certificate in Solar Thermal.

So Tuesday morning I will be sitting in a classroom again in Worcester, eager to learn.

Seems to good to be true £ 200 and I get a badge. And then the hard work begins :-

So if anyone has any advice suggestions to help me along they will be gladly rcvd.

As I am an approved W Bosch installer I thought I would start with them, are their units any good?

Do you guys install the panels on the roof yourself ? or do you employ a roofing specialist?

I wont ask silly questions like which are the best marketing tools you use,but please PM me if you can

I have seen some fantastic websites, but presume they get looked at by people like me.

So please, wish me luck !!

 

[eaton]

Wouldn't fit any boiler manufacturers kit. Its all rebadged and very expensive. I use Barilla and will try h2solar

 

[GQuigley67]

goodbye gas hello solar ??? isnt gas still a big part of solar systems

 

[Ivor Bates]

So when are you doing the MCS? Because you will have a hard job flogging the stuff, when MCS accredited installers will be able to offer rebates? I've done both Worcester and Vaillant solar courses, Vaillant was far more in depth and there were exams to take as it was run by BPEC. Worcester on the other hand, was more of a cosy chat over coffee and choclate biscuits, with 50% of the course if thats what you call it, nothing other than sales spill. Having said that they do do quite a nice buffet lunch and they give you 50% of the fee back or at least they did. You also get a refractor kit and a really naff compass which if I'm honest is only really suitable as a kids toy. For getting bearings etc forget it! All in all, it's a nice day out and a time to catch up with old pals and talk about the old days!
My main business in solar, is repairs, I make more on repairs than I ever do on installing it. Couple of reasons for this, most companies will not carry out repairs even on their own installations they seem to turn this work away, even some of the so called reputable ones turn this work down or refuse to return to rectify their mistakes. And secondly, there is a company in the Bournmouth area who are absolutley dreadful, been bankrupt several times, phoenixed the company half a dozen times and still trade. They've blown of peoples roofs, trashed peoples houses all sorts of mishaps whilst trying to promote being green and selling solar. I get called to around 3 of their installations every month. And all I can say is, is that it is very lucrative and I'm very grateful to them.

 

[Kev the gas]

Thx for the replies guys.

The post was a bit light hearted and a bit of venting of frustration!!

Im fed up with working on gas boilers full time so Im looking for a challenge!

Yes I am fully aware of MCS and some peoples opinions of how difficult and some companies views of how easy :love: it is to achieve.

My primary goal is to reduce my home gas bill issue.

Family of 6, who all shower /bath every day al least once a day, we have a 210ltr megaflo, new condensing boiler, 3x heating zones + 1 x hot water in total.

The Heating wont go on until November up to a max 21 degrees.

Im paying £92 per month for gas something has to be done !!

Also Im a bit quiet for the next 2 weeks so I thought Id fill my time.

Please dont think I was belittling the Solar industry or the guys who are trying to raise its profile.

Kev.

 

[GasmanxxxR1]

Nice one mate good look to ya

I know what you mean about looking for a new challenge as its easy to get bored just fitting boilers all day, id like to get in to green renovations, stripping old houses right back then bringing them up to scratch energy effcency wise but still sympathetic to original features

 

[mike_s]

Also planning to do the worcester and baxi solar courses and wondering how us plumbers cope with the roof work involved or how much do they pay the roofers for doing their bit?

 

[Gray0689]

Kingspan thermomax top of the field

 

[ecowarm]

So when are you doing the MCS? Because you will have a hard job flogging the stuff, when MCS accredited installers will be able to offer rebates? I've done both Worcester and Vaillant solar courses, Vaillant was far more in depth and there were exams to take as it was run by BPEC. Worcester on the other hand, was more of a cosy chat over coffee and choclate biscuits, with 50% of the course if thats what you call it, nothing other than sales spill. Having said that they do do quite a nice buffet lunch and they give you 50% of the fee back or at least they did. You also get a refractor kit and a really naff compass which if I'm honest is only really suitable as a kids toy. For getting bearings etc forget it! All in all, it's a nice day out and a time to catch up with old pals and talk about the old days!
My main business in solar, is repairs, I make more on repairs than I ever do on installing it. Couple of reasons for this, most companies will not carry out repairs even on their own installations they seem to turn this work away, even some of the so called reputable ones turn this work down or refuse to return to rectify their mistakes. And secondly, there is a company in the Bournmouth area who are absolutley dreadful, been bankrupt several times, phoenixed the company half a dozen times and still trade. They've blown of peoples roofs, trashed peoples houses all sorts of mishaps whilst trying to promote being green and selling solar. I get called to around 3 of their installations every month. And all I can say is, is that it is very lucrative and I'm very grateful to them.

Yes I agree Ivor I get a lot of repairs on Smart Energy solar systems, now out of business but where high pressure, high price (£12000) for an average property. Salesmen that would not leave the property untill customer signed etc. They are now MCS with a new name????????? work that one out??????? I have several installations with the sales reciept in with the instruction pack and the average price was £10-12K. Going to one on monday and it has copper soldered fittings, poor insulation, a pump rather than pump station, ball-o-fix for filling points. Cheap stuff!!!

 

[ecowarm]

Thx for the replies guys.

The post was a bit light hearted and a bit of venting of frustration!!

Im fed up with working on gas boilers full time so Im looking for a challenge!

Yes I am fully aware of MCS and some peoples opinions of how difficult and some companies views of how easy :love: it is to achieve.

My primary goal is to reduce my home gas bill issue.

Family of 6, who all shower /bath every day al least once a day, we have a 210ltr megaflo, new condensing boiler, 3x heating zones + 1 x hot water in total.

The Heating wont go on until November up to a max 21 degrees.

Im paying £92 per month for gas something has to be done !!

Also Im a bit quiet for the next 2 weeks so I thought Id fill my time.

Please dont think I was belittling the Solar industry or the guys who are trying to raise its profile.

Kev.

I when to H2solar in Doncaster last week and they have some very reasonable priced kit. Very nice people.

 

[Kev the gas]

Well I took a half day, drove 170 miles , 2 nights @ £ 70 per night.

I just spent £35 on a steak dinner and 4 pints.

£ 200 for the course and Logic Thermal Solar cert.

Thankfully the company is picking up the tab, my company that is !

This renewables idea of mine might start getting expensive.

 

[mooreofdevizes]

Kev I've come across the Bournemouth company as well. They are trading again and ripping people off with repairs to their crap installations.

 

[eaton]

Don't bother, there will never be enough in this country, plus underfloor would eat it up in seconds