5 Solar Hot Water System Problems To Avoid

With many homeowners across Australia looking every which way for ways to reduce their energy bills, the humble hot water system certainly gets its fair share of attention. If you have a solar powered hot water system, you can be pretty confident you have a household appliance that truly pulls its weight on the efficiency and sustainability front.
But like any system, the solar hot water heater is not immune to the odd glitch. Various solar hot water system problems can restrict your hot water supply and leave you severely inconvenienced. Knowing these issues can help you maintain the efficiency of the system and avoid surprises like unexpectedly cold morning showers.
Let’s look at what these systems face and how you can keep your solar hot water system ticking along nicely.
The Key Parts of a Solar Water Heater
Understanding the key parts of a solar water heater can help you better maintain and troubleshoot your system. Each component plays a crucial role in ensuring efficient water heating and a reliable hot water supply.
- Solar collectors: These panels absorb the sun’s energy and convert it into heat, which is then transferred to the heat transfer fluid.
- Circulation pump: This pump moves the heated fluid through the system, ensuring consistent heat transfer.
- Heat exchanger: It transfers heat from the fluid to the water storage tank, ensuring the water heats up properly.
- Storage tank: Insulated to retain heat, this tank holds your hot water until it’s needed.
- Control systems: Sensors and controls regulate the system, ensuring the solar hot water system operates efficiently.
By keeping these system components in good working order, you can ensure your solar hot water system continues to deliver consistent and energy-efficient performance. With that in mind, let’s look at some common problems associated with solar heaters.
1. Not Enough Hot Water
Few things are as frustrating as stepping into the shower first thing in the morning, turning on the tap and getting nothing more than lukewarm or cold water. When your solar hot water system can’t produce enough hot water, it’s often due to common culprits like:
- Not enough solar energy
- Faulty solar hot water panels
- A failing heating element
- Accumulated sediment in the hot water tank
Another possibility is a faulty circulation pump which prevents the heat transfer fluid from transferring the sun’s energy to heat the water.
If you want consistent assurance of a hot shower in the morning – and why wouldn’t you? – regular maintenance is essential. Tasks such as cleaning the solar panels and flushing the tank will reduce the likelihood of solar hot water problems so your system can better meet your home’s hot water demand.
2. Leaks and Other Problems With Heat Transfer Fluid
Your solar water heater may suffer if there’s a leak of antifreeze heat transfer fluid.
This liquid is essential for the transference of the sun’s energy from the solar panels to your hot water tank. When leaks occur from the heat exchanger, piping or other system components, your solar hot water heater becomes significantly less efficient, which affects the system’s performance.
In cold climates, leaks can also compromise the fluid’s antifreeze properties and cause further damage. You’ll know if you have a problem when the water temperature drops or you find fluid pooling near the system.
To prevent minor leaks from becoming major dilemmas, we recommend consistent inspections using a licensed plumber. Getting on top of your repairs ASAP is also a must.
3. Faulty Circulation Pump
Next on our list of potential solar hot water system problems to be mindful of is a faulty circulation pump.
The circulating pump is the quiet achiever of your solar hot water system. It keeps the heat transfer fluid flowing smoothly between the thermal solar collectors and the hot water tank. When the pump starts failing, your solar water heating system can’t operate as it should.
So how can you tell if you possibly have a faulty pump? Common indicators can include:
- Inconsistent water temperatures
- Noisy operation
- Entire system shutdown
Without adequate circulation, the system can’t transfer heat so you’ll get cold or warm water at best. Consistent maintenance enables you to spot pump issues early on and quickly nip any further damage to the system in the bud.
4. Control and Sensor Failures
If the circulation pump is the workhorse of your solar water heater, then the control systems and temperature sensors make up its nerve centre to ensure everything works properly. These components monitor and regulate the flow of heat and water temperature to make sure your solar water heating system works just right. But when they fail the whole system can get out of balance.
The performance of your solar water heater may be affected by malfunctioning sensors misreading conditions or control system issues wreaking havoc with the heat transfer system.
Common signs of a problem include erratic water temperatures, no hot water or system shutdown. Thankfully, you can do your best to prevent them from occurring with regular checks and prompt repairs when necessary.
5. Accumulated Sediment in the Storage Tank
The last of our common solar hot water system problems is about sediment build-up.
Over time, sediment in your solar hot water system storage tank can accumulate. Minerals and debris from the water supply settle at the bottom of the tank and reduce the system’s efficiency and heating capacity. This build-up can also insulate the tank’s heating elements, and insulated storage tanks are notorious for making it harder for the system to transfer heat.
If this is your main offender, you’ll likely notice a drop in water temperature or hear a rumbling noise from the tank. You’ll need to flush the tank regularly to prolong the life of your solar water heater so it can meet your home’s hot water needs.
Why You Need a Licensed Plumber for Repairs
Yes, there are some basic solar hot water troubleshooting tricks you can attempt to keep your solar hot water system working properly. But when it comes to repairs, they’re not a DIY job. Here’s why you should always call a licensed plumber for solar hot water problems:
- Expert knowledge: Licensed plumbers know how solar water heating systems work and can correctly diagnose issues like fluid leaks or sediment build-up.
- Compliance with regulations: They will ensure your system meets strict compliance standards, including AS/NZS 3500 which stipulates that licensed plumbers should handle hot water system repairs and installations.
- Safety: Experienced plumbers handle high-pressure and hot elements safely, with no accidents.
- Long-term savings: Proper repairs and maintenance will extend the life of your solar water heater and save you money in the long run.
By hiring a licensed professional, you’ll keep your solar hot water system working nicely and your home in a constant supply of hot, running water.
The Importance of Consistent Maintenance
Essential to keeping solar hot water system problems to a bare minimum is regular, consistent maintenance. We’ve looked at numerous issues that can compromise your system’s ability to produce hot water. Most, if not all, of these are avoidable with routine maintenance and servicing.
You can easily improve system efficiency through basic tasks like flushing the storage tank, inspecting the solar collectors for dirt or damage and checking the circulating pump and heat exchanger.
Maintenance will also ensure the temperature sensors and control systems are capable of maintaining water temperature. By having regular professional inspections, you can maximise the life of your solar water heater and have hot water on tap all year round.
Enjoy Maximum Solar Energy and Consistent Hot Water
A well-maintained solar hot water system is the heart of your home. While issues like fluid leaks, sensor failures or sediment build-up can disrupt your system, most solar hot water system problems are preventable with regular care and attention.
Keeping everything in good nick goes a long way towards maintaining a fully functional hot water system. You’ll also maximise the sun’s energy and reduce energy consumption. When you do need repairs, always call a licensed plumber for safe and reliable solutions.
By being proactive you can keep your solar water heating system running at its best and have hot water on tap for your home.
Please note: Thanks for reading our blog “5 Solar Hot Water System Problems To Avoid”. This information is provided for advice purposes only. Regulations differ from state to state, so please consult your local authorities or an industry professional before proceeding with any work. See our Terms & Conditions here.