Terry Murphy
5th December 2009, 20:11
Hello everyone.
I'm new here and am in need of some information about a solar domestic hot water system manufactured by Nortec Solar Industries. The complete system is disconnected from the domestic water but the 4 panels, the tank, heat exchanger and expansion tank are all still hooked up, full of fluid and the pump working. The home changed owners about 4 years ago and the new owner disconnected the domestic side because she had coils put in her hot water furnace for heating her domestic water and has now decided to have the solar system removed from the house completely. I contacted the original owner who said he had the system installed about 22 years ago and it was working 4 years ago when he sold the house. I am wondering if anyone knows the life expectancy of a system like this, especially the panels? I can not see in the panels because of the frosted glass and would like to know how they are constructed inside? The inlet and outlet pipes of these four panels are at the top left of #1 and top right of #4 and they are all connected by 1/2 copper pipe at the top of each panel and not connected in any way at the bottom of each panel so that is why I'm wondering how they are constructed inside. Also I would like to know what the domestic tank is made of, ie stainless steel, galvanized, or fiberglass? My last question for now is how much fluid might I expect to have to contain when draining a system of this size, and what type of fluid am I dealing with? I am trying to determine if I might expect this system to be reinstalled on my house and function as it is without too much upgrading or should I more likely expect that only certain parts of this system would be useful any more. The cost to me for getting this is very minimal and I am mainly interested in knowing if it is worth my effort to dismantle it and bring it home? Thanks in advance for any information anyone can provide.
Terry
I'm new here and am in need of some information about a solar domestic hot water system manufactured by Nortec Solar Industries. The complete system is disconnected from the domestic water but the 4 panels, the tank, heat exchanger and expansion tank are all still hooked up, full of fluid and the pump working. The home changed owners about 4 years ago and the new owner disconnected the domestic side because she had coils put in her hot water furnace for heating her domestic water and has now decided to have the solar system removed from the house completely. I contacted the original owner who said he had the system installed about 22 years ago and it was working 4 years ago when he sold the house. I am wondering if anyone knows the life expectancy of a system like this, especially the panels? I can not see in the panels because of the frosted glass and would like to know how they are constructed inside? The inlet and outlet pipes of these four panels are at the top left of #1 and top right of #4 and they are all connected by 1/2 copper pipe at the top of each panel and not connected in any way at the bottom of each panel so that is why I'm wondering how they are constructed inside. Also I would like to know what the domestic tank is made of, ie stainless steel, galvanized, or fiberglass? My last question for now is how much fluid might I expect to have to contain when draining a system of this size, and what type of fluid am I dealing with? I am trying to determine if I might expect this system to be reinstalled on my house and function as it is without too much upgrading or should I more likely expect that only certain parts of this system would be useful any more. The cost to me for getting this is very minimal and I am mainly interested in knowing if it is worth my effort to dismantle it and bring it home? Thanks in advance for any information anyone can provide.
Terry