Solar HWS help please

[Signal1]

I've just noticed my neighbour's panels on the roof are spewing water from the outlet pipe. I've turned the water off at the meter which has stopped the flow.
As I don't know anything about solar hot water, can anything go wrong at this point? Does water need to circulate through the system. If it'll be fine I'll just leave it till they get home from holidays otherwise I'll get it fixed. Thanks in advance.

Peter

[dullbird]

Ian seems to think you may have to isolate it electrically as the pump may possibly still keep turning and he is unsure whether water is needed to keep the pump cool.

Only help we can offer maybe others can help more

[shorty943]

I think the worst that can go wrong already has.

If you have a contact number for them might be an idea to let them know, apart from that, water is off, so no huge bill they will have to pay.

Bettr go and take a look at my solar hot water system now, see if the heat has made that explode.

[Gidget]

Is it panels on the roof & tank on the ground ? Or everything on the roof ?

Either way it is going to have either gas or electricity booster, so you need to isolate the boosting heater. Easy done.

For a electricity booster, just pop open the fuse box & isolate the H/W/U circuit. It will have it's own circuit, so just either flick it to off if it is a breaker, or pull the fuse if it's an old fuse type (dry hands here).

For a gas booster, find the gas heater & just turn the gas off to it.


If everything is on the roof (TANK INCLUDED), the worse thing that can happen is a panel may slit with the water sitting in it getting over boiling temp & splitting the tubing, but if it is spewing water already, i don't think you need to worry about that.

If the tank is on the ground, there is going to be a circulating pump, if you can get in next door, just find the tank & there will be a power point near it connecting the pump, just switch it off.
The real problem here is the panels on the roof. They will need to be covered so they don't boil the water sitting in them, once water turns to steam, it will split the panel.
An old sheet, blanket, cardboard. Anything to cover the panels will help. But once again, if they are spewing water, they are most likely knackered already.

Hope this has been of some help.

[Disco_owner]

Is it panels on the roof & tank on the ground ? Or everything on the roof ?

Either way it is going to have either gas or electricity booster, so you need to isolate the boosting heater. Easy done.

For a electricity booster, just pop open the fuse box & isolate the H/W/U circuit. It will have it's own circuit, so just either flick it to off if it is a breaker, or pull the fuse if it's an old fuse type (dry hands here).

For a gas booster, find the gas heater & just turn the gas off to it.


If everything is on the roof (TANK INCLUDED), the worse thing that can happen is a panel may slit with the water sitting in it getting over boiling temp & splitting the tubing, but if it is spewing water already, i don't think you need to worry about that.

If the tank is on the ground, there is going to be a circulating pump, if you can get in next door, just find the tank & there will be a power point near it connecting the pump, just switch it off.
The real problem here is the panels on the roof. They will need to be covered so they don't boil the water sitting in them, once water turns to steam, it will split the panel.
An old sheet, blanket, cardboard. Anything to cover the panels will help. But once again, if they are spewing water, they are most likely knackered already.

Hope this has been of some help.

Thanks for the Tips Gidget , I also have and Edwards Solar HW System with the tank on the Roof and the other days while I was working outside I noticed the water is dripping from one of the down pipes into the storm water drain. it 'was' rather hot day. called the installer and he told me to keep an eye on it and if this happends they will send their serviceman out to check the Thermostas which may be intermitantly fault and the water temp is moving up beyound the set Temp of the Thermostat and then it starts to overflow from the tank on the roof. sorry for diversion of the thread Signal1. :angel:

[Gidget]

It could be something as simple as a faulty relief valve dripping or dumping.
But if the water has been turned off, just need to follow a few precautions just in case :)

[Signal1]

Thanks everyone with the prompt replys.

Gidget - thanks heaps. There wasn't a separately labelled circuit on the board so I turned the booster and pump off at the gpo and unplugged. Tarped both panels held down with bricks (not on the panels :-p)

Victoria Police (my job has some perks) helped by contacting them and they've just rung me so I'm happy they're aware.

Gotta love AULRO!!

[Gidget]

You have done well mate :D By the sounds of it, I wish you lived in my neighbourhood :D Someone who cares :o
It was good to be able to help, instead of the usual. Me asking the questions :D :p

[woko]

If its a Rheem Low line solar, they have plastic joiners joining the panels and fail regularly. I used to keep a spare set. There is a upgrade kit to brass fittings. I know the local Reece plumbing keeps the kit in stock. Both mine and the neighbors have the same rheem and both of us were having troubles with the panels leaking out of these joiners. If it is one of these and you repair it you need to bleed the air from the panels, there is a valve in the pipe work near the tank, you need a flat screwdriver to open the valve ,it basically a ball valve. mine leaked from being overused and I have replaced with a ball valve.

[Signal1]

When I was up there putting the tarp over I noted the water was leaking from a plastic blanking cap at the top of the panel like what you described. I looked at the caps and joiners and thought it was pretty poor that they looked all perished and ready to fail. Until has been installed for 4 years.

The neighbour in question, his brother is a plumber and believe he's attended to fix same.