A solar heating system comprises a solar panel 16, hot water tank 4 and a heat exchanger 12. The solar panel is thermally connected to the heat exchanger via a first closed circuit 18 and the hot water tank is thermally connected to the heat exchanger via a second open circuit 14. The second open circuit includes a supply conduit 6 that draws water from the tank and a return conduit 28 that returns water heated by the heat exchanger to the tank. Ideally the supply and return conduits of the second circuit are at least partially contained within a T-piece 32 fluidly connected with an outlet 30 of the tank and a hot water discharge outlet 24, e.g. a tap, such that the supply and return conduits share a common connection to the tank. The first and second circuits ideally include respective pumps 22,8 and temperature sensors 10,26. A cold water tank 2 and cold water tank inlet 20 may be provided and water in the tank may also be heated by an immersion heater or heating coil connected to a central heating system.
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