Plug In Solar Vs Installed Solar Panels: Which Is Best?

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In recent years, the combination of energy price spikes, heatwaves and a concerted push towards renewables has made solar panels more tantalising a prospect for homeowners than ever before.

In general, this means working with heating, lighting and electricity experts to get solar panels installed, typically with a solar battery to ensure that you can make the most out of the energy generated.

However, plug-in solar panels have recently become an option that allows people to install solar panels even if they live in a home where traditional solar panels cannot be installed.

How do they work? When are they a more viable option than conventional rooftop solar panels? And what should you consider when installing either?

What Are Plug-In Solar Panels?

Also known as balcony solar panels or plug-and-play solar panels, plug-in solar panels are portable, easy-to-install, and easy-to-use kits designed to allow you to generate energy easily into your home.

They typically consist of a solar panel with mounting brackets, a microinverter to convert direct current into alternating current, and a three-pin plug for connecting your solar panel to the mains.

Because it feeds directly into your home’s wiring, the solar-generated electricity will be used before anything else.

This allows you to generate your own electricity very quickly and immediately power your home with it without the complexities of installing a solar power system into your home professionally.

The regulations that allow plug-in panels to be legally sold are expected to come into force over the summer of 2026.

When Are Plug-In Solar Panels The Most Viable Choice?

Its primary use is for people who do not really have a suitable house for a roof-mounted solar panel setup, such as renters, people who live in flats or homes without a lot of roof space, or houses which only receive light in their garden or balcony.

Beyond this, however, anyone who wants to dip their toes into solar power could find a lot of value in buying a plug-in panel and seeing if it works for their home before investing in something more substantial.

As plug-in panels are easier to install, more affordable and can be bought on the high street, they serve as an excellent first step, before maximising your savings using a more substantial professional installation.

When Should You Get Solar Panels Installed Professionally?

Plug-in solar panels work best as a stopgap and a proof of concept before getting a more substantial system installed by yourself.

A plug-in system, whilst it can certainly help to lower energy bills, is not enough to power your home entirely, and as solar power generally works best in conjunction with a battery storage system to retain excess power generated during heatwaves, a more substantial array is needed to minimise energy bills in the long term.

As well as this, whilst the regulations may change in the future, if you plan to export excess solar power back into the National Grid, you need a dedicated installation as plug-in panels are designed to use what is generated almost immediately. 

How To Repair Faulty Underfloor Heating | BBS Plumbing

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If your underfloor heating performed poorly last winter and spring, summer is a convenient time to get the problem addressed. Whatever the cause of the problem, there are ways in which we can resolve it, ensuring you are warm and cosy when the cold weather returns.

Underfloor heating is an increasingly popular way to heat homes. Unlike radiators or fireplaces, it heats from the floor upwards, so no part of the home misses out, least of all your feet as you enjoy walking on warmer floors.

However, like any form of heating, things can go wrong from time to time. If you had issues with it earlier this year, now is a very convenient time to get these addressed, as engineers will be more freely available in summer with no emergency call-outs.

What Are The Signs That Your Underfloor Heating Is Not Working Properly?

The first thing to understand about underfloor heating is what can go wrong, as this may give you a clue to whether there is a problem and what sort of underfloor heating repairs are needed.

Among the problems an underfloor heating system can manifest are:

  •       Cold spots, when one area of the floor stays cold while others are warm, which may have various causes
  •       The actuator (which regulates the flow of water in pipe-based underfloor systems) is not working properly
  •       Air pockets in pipes that stop the water from flowing properly
  •       Excessive pressure in the pipes, often caused by a blockage

Causes of such problems vary. For instance, poor installation or wear and tear can lead to parts of the system failing to function. If it is an electric wire system, there may be an electrical connection problem, while damaged pipes will hamper water-based systems.

On other occasions, the whole system can stop working due to external problems, such as a tripped switch on an electric wire system or a boiler failure, which would mean no hot water for the pipes.

How Will An Engineer Deal With Underfloor Heating System Problems?

If you have had problems, the first thing to do is to report them to us and an engineer will start by inspecting the system and the energy supplies it relies on. If, for instance, the problem lies in a boiler, that will be the appliance that needs repair work or replacement.

Should the whole system have a problem, it is likely there is something preventing it from receiving energy, which means checking the sources of heat transmission for problems.

However, the issue will usually lie in the pipes or wires themselves, caused by damage, a blockage, air pockets or another problem, leading to a localised issue like a cold spot or a broader failure.

If this is the problem, the floor may have to be taken up to access the problem area. This is messy, not least as systems are commonly embedded in concrete known as flow screed.

However, this does at least mean that the engineer can get to the heart of the problem by clearing the blockage, fixing a fault or replacing a damaged or defective part.

The good news is that once this has been done and everything is back in place, you can enjoy the benefits of a fully functioning underfloor heating system. By getting it done in the summer, you can be reassured that you won’t be walking on any cold floors this autumn.