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Home > House & Garden > Household > Home Recycling & Green Energy > Smart Energy Home Recycling & Green Energy > Smart Energy Solar Water Heating System
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User Reviews

for Smart Energy Solar Water Heating System

Rating Summary based on 47 reviews

  • 5 Stars
    		9
  • 4 Stars
    		5
  • 3 Stars
    		4
  • 2 Stars
    		5
  • 1 Star
    		24

Detailed rating

  • Ease of Use
  • Level of Energy Saving
  • Quality
  • Value for Money
  		• 2.3
  		• 2.8
  		• 2.5
  		• 1.8

Review attribute filters

Previous page Next page Page 1 of 5 | 1 to 10 out of 47 Review(s)
  • 21 of 21 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of consumerknight

    consumerknight

    4 Stars Green energy from the sun 28/09/2005
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Green energy, lots of hot water when it's sunny

    Disadvantages Disadvantages High-pressure selling, less hot water when it's cloudy

    We had been considering solar panels for some time and, when renovating our house, deliberately installed an unusual hot-water tank (dual-coil thermal-store) with the express intention of having solar panels installed at a later date. In the meantime, I researched solar water-heating companies. Coincidentally, a leaflet from SmartEnergy dropped through our letterbox. As we were in the market for panels, I sent off the reply-paid card, and SmartEnergy duly made contact by phone. The salesman that arrived a week or two later was pushy in the extreme. Fortunately, because I had already carried ... more
  • 14 of 14 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of paul10june

    Level 1 paul10june

    Member since 04/06/2009

    Reviews written: 1

    5 Stars Smart Energy - The Story so Far - Good Early Savings 04/06/2009
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Good early savings from SMART Energy Master. Professional People. Quality Panels. Flexible

    Disadvantages Disadvantages It is complex, expensive and you must use the system properly to gain savings

    I responded to a leaflet - something I rarely do - but had been thinking about Solar as a means of reducing our energy bills which approach £2500 a year. Installing solar is one of a number of steps i am taking, including new high efficiency windows and doors, 10" loft insulation, replacement boiler and better understanding of my energy use in general. The first appointment was agreed - I had to cancel at short notice - called their call centre who gave me HQ number - sadly the lady I spoke with never passed the message on so the salesman turned up anyway! It was not convenient to he went I ... more
  • 10 of 10 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of Mat_yt

    Level 1 Mat_yt

    Member since 01/05/2008

    Reviews written: 1

    1 Star Not a Smart Choice 01/05/2008
    User doesn't recommend the product

    Advantages Advantages we are helping reduce the use of fossil fuels

    Disadvantages Disadvantages very poor service and far too expensive

    Without prejudice Not a smart choice. Going green is certainly order of the day, but will helping to save the planet provide you with piece of mind or a huge headache? Dealing with smart energy has been as straight forward as managing the accounts for the new Wembley stadium. From technicians who aren't sure what they are supposed to install, to solar panels being mounted on the wrong side of the roof, Smart Energy has it all. The very concept of solar energy and solar heating is a fragile one. How effective are the panels, do they work when its cloudy, will they make a difference to the ... more
  • 7 of 7 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of AndrewsHappy

    Level 1 AndrewsHappy

    Member since 30/05/2008

    Reviews written: 1

    3 Stars MR Andrews 30/05/2008
    User doesn't recommend the product

    Advantages Advantages Little lower gas bills, satisfaction your helping to save the planet

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Pushy sales man, unjustifiable high price, kit not high quality.

    The flash sparkling new BMW 320 pulled into my drive... this might be an expensive visit.... but...WOW I was lucky... the first person in the area to take up Smart Energy's special offer.... but I had to take it there and then or someone else would take it. Even to this day, Im not sure what the special offer was... So that was how the high pressured salesman continued his pitch. I was shown some wonderful photos of their head office, pictures of the sun and other pretty pictures. The sales pitch was screaming THIS IS GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE FOR WHAT IT IS.... But, as I am in the heating ... more
  • 20 of 21 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of nikmacve

    Level 1 nikmacve

    Member since 25/03/2004

    Reviews written: 4

    4 Stars Smart Energy Solar Water Heating System 29/04/2004
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages More hot water than you know what to do with!

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Very complex controls.

    My Smart Energy experience started with an invitation to have a salesman visit me to show me their wonderful solar water heating system. I took them up on it, because I like the idea of sustainable energy sources. The salesman duly turned up and gave me the usual pitch - discount applicable only if you sign up today, you can earn money back by recommending friends or talking to potential customers, and so on: nothing new there. As part of his presentation he claimed that the system would pay for itself in seven to eight years, a ludicrous statement disproved in about thirty seconds' work using ... more
  • 14 of 14 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of magicziggy

    Level 1 magicziggy

    Member since 02/09/2007

    Reviews written: 1

    1 Star Scam artists 04/09/2007
    User doesn't recommend the product

    Advantages Advantages none

    Disadvantages Disadvantages HARD SELL and sales techniques used by con artists and scammers

    Thankfully i was not taken in by these scam artists who work to a cleverly pre-scripted format designed to close the sale on the day. Like the other annoyed customers on this site, I have a similar story and it seems almost identical. Our meeting was for a Sunday (they pick Sunday because you are not rushed and can spend a few hours wasting your time with them). Like another reviewer, he called at exactly 11 and said he would be 30 minutes late. I think this is a ploy - because when they arrive, they apologise profusely and say they will 'take care of you'. They reintroduce this idea later on ... more
  • 17 of 17 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of KH206cc

    Level 3 KH206cc

    Member since 21/01/2004

    Reviews written: 36

    5 Stars Too Hot And Cold Solar Water System 04/06/2004
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Cheap, Efficient and Good for the Environment

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Expensive to Install

    Smart Energy Solar Water Heating System, With the government promoting more and more ECO friendly homes throughout the UK, it makes sense that we should all start with new homes and install more solar, energy friendly products, and where best to start, which is on heating systems. Research is currently underway which is investigating the linking of absorption chillers with solar panels as a source of generator heat. It is an advantage that the appearance of large amounts of cost and pollution free solar energy coincides with the need for cooling. One method in production from solar energy into ... more
  • 3 of 4 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of cwink_99

    Level 1 cwink_99

    Member since 14/04/2004

    Reviews written: 4

    2 Stars Thinking of using Smart Energy - read this first. 13/10/2004
    User doesn't recommend the product

    Advantages Advantages Good for the environment, reduces fuel usage.

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Finding a decent company to work with.

    I've been looking at alternative methods of energy for some time and decided that Solar heating for domestic hot water made a lot of sense. Given the amount of sunlight we get each year I wasn't expecting to have all year round hot water for nothing, but any reduction on my fuel bill would be welcome, as would any positive impact on the environment. Initially I contacted a local firm after they’d sent me a mail shot. We went through the preamble about how oil wasn’t getting any cheaper, the benefits of buying something that pays you back over many years, had a cursory site survey etc. Then we ... more
  • 17 of 17 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of allisterj

    Level 1 allisterj

    Member since 25/08/2004

    Reviews written: 1

    1 Star Smart Energy (UK) Ltd – my personal nightmare 25/08/2004
    User doesn't recommend the product

    Advantages Advantages none

    Disadvantages Disadvantages expensive, constant breakdowns, dreadful aftercare, cheap components

    Like other contributors to this website my family and I have been badly let down by this abysmal company from Colchester. Though never taken in by the promises of all the money we would save, we did go ahead with having their solar water heating energy system installed in January 2004 for two reasons: (1) ‘Doing our bit for the environment’; (2) the Swiss connection. I have little doubt that the Swiss-manufactured solar panels are of high quality, but the rest of the system is not: the replacement larger hot water cylinder (which takes up three quarters – not one third, as promised – of our ... more
  • 15 of 15 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of bobjord

    Level 1 bobjord

    Member since 20/08/2004

    Reviews written: 2

    1 Star the most regrettable purchase ever made 20/08/2004
    User doesn't recommend the product

    Advantages Advantages none, zero, zip, nil

    Disadvantages Disadvantages expensive, dire service, poor quality, highly unreliable

    Having read previous reviews of Smart Energy UK on CIAO, the double glazing salesman tactics alluding to are in fact an insult to even the most unscrupulous, deceptive and manipulative double-glazing salesmen that exist [and I never thought I'd be defensive of the double-glazing window trade]. After repeated system failures of what culminates to be less than £1800 worth of equipment for BARGAIN price of £6000 [actually value of equipment provided by one of the fitters at the time], I have been left with a potentially hazardous, unsafe, and wholly regrettable waste of money [difficult not to ... more
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