Solar Energy Services Company Ltd.

Solar water heaters typically last 15-20 years with proper maintenance. Our Mega Sun systems come with a 3-year warranty and are designed for durability in Caribbean climates.

We say thank you to people who will take time to read through this entire post. We hope you welcome the information, and the amount of information gained will help you make the correct decision.

Frequently ask questions by first-time buyers of solar water heaters and people who have had their solar water heater installed for many years. We would like to share our insights on selecting the correct size, capacity, and type of solar heaters from our over twenty years of experience dealing with various brands, types, make, models, and sizes for domestic, hotel and commercial purposed solar water heater systems.

The purchase and installation of the correct size of a solar water heater is very important for all uses. Here, we will focus on household usage. This is important, because it allows you to spend the right amount of money to ensure you have enough hot water for comfort. Any excess spending is wasteful.

Excessive or oversized water capacity in solar water heaters is not recommended because of unfavorable effects by you most likely will not make use of the excess storage. Unreasonable excess storage prevents your heater going through the process of adequate decompression stages.

This will affect your solar heater in many ways, like overheating, which will cause frequent tripping of safety valves, increased pounds per square inch (PSI) within the holding tank causing more combustible pressure within the tank, panels or manifold and will eventually lead to develop leaks and gradually lead to shortened life period of your system, especially if a pressure reducer valve was not installed on initial installation or this valve is incorrectly adjusted to scientifically control Main’s water supply to the heater. Possibilities for replacement or repair are more likely and can be costly.

If you have an oversized or excess capacity solar water heater installed there must be Draw or use of hot water more frequently than usual

When we come across cases like this, we advise customers to use hot water to do laundry at least once a week. This can also be applied if you have the right size but make very little use of the hot water

If you’re oversized or sized correctly and sometimes not at home for long periods at a time and no hot water is being used within that time, we recommend that you shut/close the cold-water supply line to the heater and leave one or two hot water taps open, this will allow the heater to be free from build-up combustible pressure for too long a period which will cause tripping valves and causing leaks. Don’t worry, if your stop or cutoff valve is working properly, once there’s no water going into the water heater, no water will come out of the water heater once the water reaches below level of the exit point. Your water heater can safely sit there for a long time. If you can’t reach the stop valves or have a passive system installed, we recommend that you have someone to go in and run the hot water for at least 15 minutes as often as possible. Doing this is a precautionary measure and is especially important during all Sun seasons

Correctly sized or not, it is not recommended to leave your water heater under water pressure supply and unused for very long periods, especially during all Sun seasons

Calculations should be 10 gallons per person in the household. If you’re frequently having guests, friends, or family members on long stays, calculating at 12 gallons per person is reasonable. If you’re also using hot water often for laundry, an added 15 gallons is recommended. But you can work your way around this if you have a small budget, you can have the Right Size and still use hot water for washing by doing laundry early mornings. This will allow the solar heater to adequately recharge during the day for nighttime use. The results are better on sunny days

As much as it is a cheaper system, the Low Pressure or Gravity Flow solar water heaters are for very specific applications. They are not suitable to work with Mains water pressure supply, unless electrically powered equipment is added, you will never be able to get the right mixture for proper equilibrium of hot and cold water to achieve the desired temperature with good pressure for an enjoyable warm bath. The Mains water supply will always overpower the gravity flow from that water heater. The situation worsens if more than one person is taking a bath in two separate bathrooms or using hot water in a separate place within the same house. Also, those water heaters require specific types of plumbing and connections for proper flow, and you may still experience improper hot and cold-water mixture

Over the years, many people have asked us the same question, when is the best time to service my solar water heater? How often should I service it? in some cases, we find that people are unaware that a solar water heater needs to be serviced at all.

From the time a solar heater is installed, it must be filled with water which can come from either the mains water supply or water storage tank with a pressure pump. Those represent two different types of water supply systems to the solar water heater. Pressure Controlled and Raw Pressure supply.

A Pressure Controlled supply uses a pump or regulator to maintain consistent water pressure, while a Raw Pressure supply relies directly on the pressure from the main water line. Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages.

Mains Water Supply (Raw): This source comes in raw after all Wasco have done to make the water fit for human consumption but sometimes, especially when there’s heavy rains, the water comes in with a bit more turbidity and highly chlorinated. This highly chlorinated and turbid water supply goes directly into your system and over the years and of the life period of the system will settle within the tank, panels or manifold and will gradually accumulate, creating thick heavy sediments and in the process, gradually causing damage to your system to a point of inefficient performance or total irreparable damages.

For example, accumulated sediments can gradually clog pipes and reduce flow by up to 30%, while excessive chlorine can corrode metal components within five years of continuous exposure.

Advantages: Continuously consistent pressurized flow of hot water, better equilibrium or equal amounts of hot and cold water to maintain stable water temperature even when multiple taps are opened simultaneously. You can take a shower while someone else uses the kitchen sink without experiencing a drop in water temperature or pressure.

Disadvantages: Sediments can accumulate more quickly in the system. It is more problematic if water pressure supply to the system is not properly or scientifically controlled. The system has a shorter life period compared to alternatives. Hot water is unavailable during mains supply outages unless a reserved storage tank and pressure pump are installed.

Storage Water Supply (Controlled): With this source, the raw water supply first goes into your storage and is then pressurized by a pump, then goes into your water heater. With this process, the raw water, which contains high levels of chlorine and suspended particles (turbidity) first enters your reserved water storage tank. Therefore, very little sediment/turbidity travels into your water heater and therefore sediments take a longer period to build-up or cause damage. This type of water supply is friendlier to your water heater.

Advantages: A cleaner internal hot water system, fewer deposits, contaminants and maintenance costs, longer life period, continuous supply of hot water when there’s no water in the main water supply. The water pressure going into the hot water system is controlled.

Disadvantages: Contributes to your monthly electricity bill by increased power consumption from the pressure pump. The water pressure and temperature become unstable due to lack of equilibrium. The balance of water pressure changes especially when more than one tap is open or the pump pressure switch deactivates and reactivates. (if you have a mechanical pump)

Even if your solar water heater seems to be working fine, the fact is, all solar water heaters require a general service upon the first five years of installation. Depending on your water supply source, it should be every 2-3 years. This helps identify developed issues early. help the system continually perform efficiently, avoids high repair or replacement costs, and prolongs the lifespan of the heater.