Years ago, likely around 7 or 9, when I thought of going with solar, I installed 2 Suntank solar geysers, why, I cannot remember. I think it is 2 150L tanks, running in series. The idea was to split them at a later stage, one doing the house and another the flatlet that was attached to the house (the warm water supply pipe was a bit of an issue then, if I stretch my mind).

Recently, when I decided to go grid-tied and paid the deposit to secure some components, I did an audit to identify the big money wasters and realised that the solar geysers were mostly on for 20 hours per day. Something to do with the "Auto Off" versus "Auto On" setting. So I switched off the geysers, trusting the geysers to heat the water a bit. However, on day 2 and 3 the water was barely warm, although I have to admit that sun was a bit shaded the last week. 

But I need to know, is there a way that I can check the efficiency of the system and what minimum maintenance is required. I generally only visually inspect the system, and replaced the sacrificial anodes a few years back. Is there anything that I can add to the maintenance programme, and is there a way that I can check whether the system still work ?

I had these geysers when I moved into my house (the previous owners installed them). I had constant issues with them gushing boiling water out through the overflow pipes. I eventually replaced them with normal kwikot geysers *Also kinda regretting not going with solar geysers again* 

I would call out the Suntank guys to check the efficiency 

 

 

Boiling water means very efficient. I have two of those on different cottages and we warn our guests not to burn themselves on the water after a few days of no use.

On 2019/04/08 at 2:18 PM, MorneDJ said:

Years ago, likely around 7 or 9, when I thought of going with solar, I installed 2 Suntank solar geysers, why, I cannot remember. I think it is 2 150L tanks, running in series. The idea was to split them at a later stage, one doing the house and another the flatlet that was attached to the house (the warm water supply pipe was a bit of an issue then, if I stretch my mind).

Recently, when I decided to go grid-tied and paid the deposit to secure some components, I did an audit to identify the big money wasters and realised that the solar geysers were mostly on for 20 hours per day. Something to do with the "Auto Off" versus "Auto On" setting. So I switched off the geysers, trusting the geysers to heat the water a bit. However, on day 2 and 3 the water was barely warm, although I have to admit that sun was a bit shaded the last week. 

But I need to know, is there a way that I can check the efficiency of the system and what minimum maintenance is required. I generally only visually inspect the system, and replaced the sacrificial anodes a few years back. Is there anything that I can add to the maintenance programme, and is there a way that I can check whether the system still work ?

This is why I prefer retrofitting existing geysers over solar geysers.

Did you come right Morne ?

You have to flush the collectors regularly, to discharge sediment, at least once every 2 months. I have made a 22mm connection from the flash valve of the collector and ran a hot water line down to a tap next to the house. It's convenient and the collector is flushed every time the tap is used.