Add hot water solar to outdoor wood boiler

[Bob R]

Trying to reduce wood usage , live in wv, have a outdoor wood boiler 200 gal. During the winter 35 deg and below water temp needs to be 160 and higher, but when out door temp is above 35 i can reduce temp to 140, heats house and domestic hot water fine. Wood boiler does have a roof above it, i do have a solar hot water system for my domestic hot water works fine and i have applied to receive (srec) for the hot water solar system ever little bit helps... I would like to use another hot water solar system to work wtih the wood boiler.

[russ]

Hi Bob - Welcome to Solar Panel Talk!

Russ

[Naptown]

Hi bob
The area you are going to run into problems with are the temperatures you require for heating the house. I am assuming you are using old fashioned cast Iron or baseboard radiators. If you want to go solar consider switching to a floor radiant heating system which operates at substantially lower temperatures.
What you want to look at is the return temperatures from the radiators. If you are returning at under 100 degrees adding some solar may help.
Operative word there is may.
It would take a lot of solar panels to achieve temperatures high enough to be of use during the cold months and then you have to deal with excess heat during the summer months.
I would stick with just a domestic hot water system that will work all year and cost substantially less to install.