Solar Panel Problems

cantwbr1

I had a set of Pro Solar vacuum tubes installed about 6 years ago. They worked fine for the first few years. 3 years ago (last good summer) I was abroad for the entire summer and my house was unoccupied. Over this period it appeared that the thermal fluid leaked/evapourated off. On my return I tried to contact the installer/supplier but they had gone out of business. The guy I got to look at the system flushed it out and set it going again. Although it was working it never seemed to be as efficient as it was previously. I had it flushed out twice more and it ran ok.
We were away for 3 weeks this month, the hottest in yonks, and when we returned home everything seemed fine, however, last night we realised thet there was no hot water in the tank. The collectors are showing plenty of gain but its not getting to the tank. The pump is running away but I dont think that there is any circulation.
Is there anything that I can do to check what is the problem? In addition, I'm not keen to get the guy I had previously back as I'm not too sure about his competence, and he is also not local to me. Can anyone recomend someone in east Cork to look at the system.
Thanks in advance

shane0007

Air was left in the system which is caught now in the manifold & the circulating pump is not strong enough to shift it.
The system will need to be re-purged again but properly this time. This takes approx 45 minutes of purging, longer for single stream pump stations.
Make sure they have a proper solar pumping station.

ccsolar

Hi
Your system keeps overheating when the weather is very good or your away, this results in pressure building up within the system putting the fittings under pressure .
Eventually the fibre washer breaks down causing a small leak within the system, this leak can be hard to find as its normally not much more than a large drip and evaporates fairly fast due to the heat from the piping.
You only wasting your money if you don't get a heat dump fitted when your getting the system repaired this time,
You need to get all the joints/fittings repaired with new washers, flush the system out and fill with new glycol, fit the heat dump or you will be back here again.
You should also get a 1 year guarantee on the labour and a customer satisfaction guarantee from the repair company..
Best of luck
Cc

ccsolar

cantwbr1 wrote: »

Can anyone recomend someone in east Cork to look at the system.
Thanks in advance

, My head service man is on hols in Cobh and might give it a look over nxt week( no charge)
Pm me if that helps
Cc