As im sure you are aware we are all being encouraged to save energy. There are lots of options on how to do this, one of them being solar power hot water

There are now hundreds, if not thousands of companies in the uk trying to get hold of your hard earned money installing solar heating in your homes.

The majority of these companies will give you a fair price for your installation, but there are quite a few unscrupulous companies out there ripping you off.

Installing solar heating is not as difficult as it may seem. We are not saying everybody can do it, but if you have the aptitude to do DIY and have the correct training there is no reason for you not to install it yourself.

We at the Plumskill centre have designed a course that will teach you all the skills to enable you to confidently do your own installation.

We have been in the business of training plumbing and heating engineers for over 4 years, so you can feel confident that the training you receive is of the highest standard.

FACTS AND FIGURES

You may have done some research on solar heating and found that the more hot water you use, the more money you will save on your fuel bills.

A single person living alone would probably make a saving of between £100 and £200 a year, whereas an average to large family home could save 2 or 3 times this amount.

A solar heating company will charge you between £4,000 and £8,000 with a lot of this money going in overheads and sometimes very large profits.

You can buy all the equipment you need between 1 and 2 thousand pounds, therefore saving you thousands of pounds which is the main reason for having it in the first place, and also do your bit to save the environment.
Solar heating can add value to your home.

COURSE SYLLABUS

The course is run over 2 days, the 1st day being spent in our lecture room learning the basic skills in plumbing i.e. soldering copper tube, bending copper tube, constructing an exercise piece that is pressure tested to 60 psi to check for leaks.

The next stage will be learn about the various stopcocks, isolation valves, where and why they are fitted, and the correct way to fit compression fittings and plastic push fit. You will then construct a 2nd test exercise that is also tested.

Please note : the skills learnt on this 1st day course are the same as the skills taught to all our full time plumbing and heating students that will enable you to do other plumbing related work in the future. You could even earn money by installing solar for family and friends.

The 2nd day will teach you how to remove a hot water cylinder and re-fit a new one.

This section will show the isolation and draining down procedures of the hot water cylinder so that you can safely remove it. You will then install a new cylinder, turn the water back on, fill the cylinder and check for water soundness, i.e. no leaks.

The next stage is to show you and discuss the various components that make up the solar heating system.

We have a fully operational system in place to see for yourself just how easy it is to install your own system, plus all the separate components that make up the system for you to handle to give you a better understanding.

Please note : all  your solar heating components that you purchase will come in a kit form with easy to understand installation instructions, so there is no reason why you should have any problems as long as you are confident with your initial plumbing training.

We would encourage you to get some help with the fitting of your panels on the roof if you are not happy to do this.

COURSE DAYS AND TIMES

The courses are run over two days: Mondays and Tuesdays ,8.30 am to 5.00 pm.

Please contact us for course dates.

Canteen facilities are available with free tea and coffee, please bring your own lunch.

COURSE COSTS

Cost of the course is £ 320-00 inclusive of vat. Payable by credit/debit card , cheque or cash.

A deposit of £ 50-00 is required when booking, with the remainder payable on the start of your course.