Maintaining Solar Water Heating System
Solar
water heaters usually need minimal maintenance. However, it’s really
important to check your solar water heater at least once a year to
ensure all components are in top condition and to keep the system
working effortlessly.
Some of the components in a solar water heating system that should be checked include:
Solar collectors –
The
solar collectors should remain unshaded. It’s quite common for solar
panels that were present under the full sunlight when they were
installed in order to receive shading because of the tree growth. You
may trim or remove vegetation, if needed.
Dust
and dirt particles can impact on the collector performance. During dry
and dusty weather, the panel may require cleaning periodically. However,
snow and ice melt off, but may require to be removed during heavy
accumulations, especially if the panels are placed at a shallow angle.
The
solar collectors should be checked for yellowing or cracks and also the
seals to make sure that they are still in top condition.
Roof and support
It’s
highly suggested to check the penetrations of roof to ensure that there
are no problems related to water leakage. The nuts and bolts that are
present on racking system need to be checked for tightness and the racks
themselves checked for the signs of stress.
Pipes, valves and plumbing –
You
should check the pipes and valves for drips and leaked. You can repair
or replace them if necessary. It’s important to ensure that the pressure
relief valve is stuck open or shut.
Pump –
When
it comes to maintaining solar water heaters, you need to check whether
the pump is in good condition. If the pump fails, it can cause the
system to overheat. The burning smells, high-pitched noises, return
pipes and cold supply are the signs that a pump has failed.
Sensors and controllers –
Both
the sensors and controllers are the important components of the control
system of your solar water heating systems. So it’s important that they
should function effortlessly. To inspect a sensor, you can apply mild
heat in order to record the rise in temperature. Most controllers come
with digital displays that are set to indicate malfunctions, if there is
any.
Heat transfer fluids –
Most
solar water heaters use glycol or something similar as an antifreeze
solution. You should check fluid annually to make sure it is in good
condition. If the system is present in a hard water space, the fluid may
require to be treated to prevent it.
Solar hot water tanks –
Maintenance
of solar water tanks is paramount to operate solar water heaters. You
can check them periodically to know whether there are any cracks, leaks
or corrosion.
Final thought –
While
above discussed points can be checked by most homeowners, maintenance
of solar hot water tanks are best performed by solar experts. To know
more about solar hot water tanks, please count on Latitude51 Solar. For immediate availability of solar water tanks, please visit with us today. We will get back to you as soon as possible!
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