GETTING YOUR SOLAR HOT WATER COLLECTOR DELIVERED
Delivery costs and damage risks for each type of solar collector
When getting a solar thermal collector delivered, there may be some risks involved during the transportation of units. Solar collectors are generally an investment, meaning that any unexpected fees incurred before the system is operational, should not be acceptable. As there are various types of collectors on the market, this means that some of these are susceptible to damage, and additional costs along the way. This article will seek to provide an insight into the potential hidden fees that can occur during the delivery of a solar collector. There are three main types of solar collectors available on the market that will be explored.
Evacuated tube collectors
Flat plate collectors
Flat packable collectors
Evacuated tube collectors- the most expensive type on the market- are made from large glass cylindrical tubes. These large tubes are susceptible and have been known to shatter quite easily, something that usually occurs during transportation. When the air has been removed from the tubes, this risk increases even further. In terms of size, these are often the largest type of solar collector, and most of the components must be packaged separately, which takes up more room, increasing delivery costs.
The high initial costs of purchasing evacuated tube collectors, coupled with potential damage costs during transportation, can significantly lower the value of the initial investment.
Flat plate solar collectors are large, measuring around 3 metres squared (this can vary) and can weigh more than 100 kilograms. Delivery costs for this collector can be very expensive, and if the collector were to be damaged during delivery, the financial repercussions would be substantial. These collectors would also not be able to be shipped via regular courier services and would require a special type of delivery.
Flat packable collectors
The last type of solar collector is the flat packable solar collector, which is considerably lighter than the two other options. Weighing around 10 kilograms, they can be shipped via regular courier services at a lower cost than the other two types of solar collectors as they are much smaller and more space efficient. As with the other collectors, there are glass components that are fragile, but these are only flat glass panels, minimising this risk. All components from the flat packable solar collector are packaged inside one box, minimising delivery costs.
The weight, size, and fragility of each type of solar thermal collector should be considered when getting a solar thermal collector delivered. Heavier collectors will naturally be more expensive to transport and may be less space efficient for buying in bulk. The glass components are the most likely to be damaged during delivery, as well as fragile, technical components which should also be taken care of. Collectors being damaged during transportation can result in not only various additional costs, but also in the time cost of waiting for replacement parts.
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