Tips to maintain your solar water heater

In this article, you will discover all our tips regarding how to deal with the maintenance of your solar hot water heater! We will cover some tips regarding annual maintenance, steps to follow as well as maintenance plans.

Annual maintenance is recommended

There is no law in Australia that requires us to clean our solar water heater installation. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to do so at least once a year, as you would do for a fireplace or a gas installation, for example.

Regular maintenance is obviously necessary to prolong the life of your solar water heating installation and panels and for overall safety.

The steps to follow

1- The first step here is to make sure that the pipes and the fastenings of the water heater on the roof are in good condition. This will prevent any leaks and drops.

2- In addition, the solar collectors should be cleaned frequently. Since the air in large cities like Perth is often polluted, it is possible that a layer of grease will be deposited on the collectors over time, which will result in reduced solar radiation collection. The collectors can be cleaned with a simple water jet.

3- It is recommended to flush water out of your tank at least annually in order to remove any dust particles or dirt accumulated in the tank or collector. This will prevent any blockages and help increase overall efficiency!

4- You should also remove the surrounding vegetation to avoid hiding the collectors and panels.

5- We also strongly recommend our readers to carry out the first check after a few months of using your solar water heater, following your installation. This way, you will know if your equipment is working properly or not. If your installation includes a temperature control system, you will be able to carry out a visual check more easily.

If your system does not have a temperature control system, you can turn off the auxiliary heater. This will help you to know whether the hot water you receive is coming from the water heater or the auxiliary heating. This will help you to avoid possible malfunctions so that you can make better use of your solar hot water system.

Maintenance contracts

It is possible to take out a maintenance contract for this type of installation. This means that it will be under the responsibility of a professional, usually the contractor who carried out your hot water installation. Many hot water contractors offer 3 to 5 year maintenance plans when selling solar hot water systems.

Things they should be checking for:

• Replacement of PTR valve and/or sacrificial anode (when needed)
• Check and test electric or gas boosters and clean filters
• Check fluid levels and pressure
• Test and clean solar collectors

In general, it is recommended to call in a professional every 4 to 5 years. It is especially important to check the pressure of the heat transfer fluid once a year, as well as the proper functioning of the pump.

In conclusion, solar water heaters are fairly easy to maintain, regardless of the model you have. You will not have to pay too much for the cleaning, provided you are a bit careful. Also remember to make sure you check the terms included in your maintenance contract if you have one.