Solar water heating is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce your power bill in Auckland. By using the sun’s energy to heat your home’s water supply, a well-designed solar hot water system can reduce your water heating costs by up to 75% — making it one of the smartest investments a North Shore homeowner can make.
At Kiwi Worx, we supply, install, and service solar water heating systems across North Shore and Auckland including Castor Bay, Takapuna, Milford, Browns Bay, and Albany.
We offer Full and Conversion system options in both pumped and thermo-siphon options.
Contact Kiwi Worx now for a free quote.
Flat Panel Collector
Tube Panel Collector
How Solar Water Heating Works
We install both flat panel and evacuated tube collector systems — and we’ll help you choose the right one for your home and budget.
Flat panel collectors are the most common choice for North Shore Auckland homes. They perform well in our mild coastal climate, are lower cost, and are easier to maintain. In a north-facing installation a flat panel collector will heat your water to around 55°C on a typical sunny day.
Evacuated tube collectors perform better in colder or cloudier conditions and can achieve higher temperatures. They cost around 20–40% more than flat panel systems but may be worth considering for south-facing roofs or homes with higher hot water demand.
Flat Panel vs Tube Panel, what is best?
Cost is typically the primary consideration. Collector for collector, evacuated tubes can cost around 20% to 40% more to buy than flat panel collectors.
Generally, evacuated tubes perform better in colder and/or cloudier conditions than their flat panel counterparts. They also perform better in an east or west orientation. However in summer time with high temperatures tube collectors can produce super heated steam in excess of 200 degC resulting in more water loss and maintenance. In a north facing installation a flat panel performs equally as well as the tube panel in getting the hot water cyclinder up to 55 degC.
Installation
We offer two main system configurations:
Full System Installation — a complete solar water heating system including new cylinder, collectors, and controller. Ideal for new builds or replacing an ageing hot water system.
Retrofit Installation — we connect solar collectors to your existing hot water cylinder, reducing the cost of entry and making solar water heating accessible for most existing homes on the North Shore.
Both pumped and thermo-siphon options are available depending on your roof configuration and hot water demand.
Flat panel collectors are more sensitive to sun angle, and may require the use of a frame to maximize their efficiency and production.
When considering which technology to use please feel free to contact us directly. We will be glad to look at both technologies and see which is the best fit for your specific application.
Solar Water Heating Maintenance & Repairs
Already have a solar hot water system that isn’t performing? We diagnose and repair solar water heating systems across North Shore and Auckland — including controller faults, pump failures, collector damage, and cylinder issues.
Why Choose Kiwi Worx for Solar Water Heating?
- PGDB-licensed certifying plumber — fully qualified to install and certify solar hot water systems in New Zealand
- Over 16 years of solar experience across residential and commercial installations
- Owner-operated — you deal directly with Shane, not a call centre
- Honest advice on whether solar water heating is the right fit for your home
- Serving Castor Bay, Takapuna, Milford, Browns Bay, Albany and surrounding North Shore suburbs
Get a Quote
Interested in solar water heating for your North Shore Auckland home? Get in touch with Kiwi Worx today for a free consultation.
021-075-2825
kiwiworxplumbing@gmail.com