There is an amazing amount of comment coming in on solar water heating.
Henk sent the following. I found the letter about solar geyser tubes very interesting, but I don’t agree with the advice to either replace them with panels or cover some tubes. My 10-tube system was installed nine years ago and has run continuously, without repairs.
It is fitted with a pressure-temperature relief valve and an automatic air vent, which release steam in case of overheating. Arthur also has a slightly different take on savings from going solar: I believe the “savings”, as claimed by manufacturers, refer to the electricity used on an annual basis by the geyser alone.
While not having actual consumption figures available, I have a 150 litre geyser connected to a 2m solar panel, and I switch off the electricity supply, except for the occasional overcast day, for four months during summer (ie 100% saving).
During the cooler months, a time switch is set to only allow supplementary heating for a couple of hours a day.
*Handy Mac, aka Don MacAlister, is our expert on household DIY issues. If you have a question for him, please send it to [email protected] or SMS only to 082 446 3859. Find Don on FB: