huskerfan
05-11-2007, 04:47 PM
Last year we installed and ran 4: 2x20 solar panels up on a roof of a small shed right next to our pool made by SmartPools--- Sunheater I think is the name. They worked fine, up'd my water temp a few degrees over just using my solar blanket. I installed air relief valves on the units - have two units on each side of roof of building facing east and west. I hard plumbed them in using sch 40 pvc, and run a compool controller on them. The highest I could ever get my pool was 92, which is by all means warm enough, actually perfect for me... but that was only on days when it was extremely hot outside, otherwise maintained around 88-89 degrees only. When I unhooked my plumbing to winterize, in Nebraska here, my hubby said we shouldn't have to blow them out because of the slope we have on them, and the air relief valves. Big mistake - just turned them on today and we have a fountain going on out there! Waaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too many leaks to even think about repairing.
So, my question is: do I buy the same brand again and put up there, and just make sure we blow them out at the end of the season, and just use our mounting setup we have now... OR ARE THERE BETTER QUALITY ONES OUT THERE MADE BY A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER??? I'd like the same size... 2: 2x20's fit perfectly on each side of the roof for us. I don't mind spending a little more money if there are better quality ones... remember my hubby isn't into my pool and whatever I can do to keep him from having to help me with it is best! The way it is right now- he's gonna have to help me replace them now, but prefer not to have to purchase new ones and reinstall them every year! Any suggestions anyone???? Thanks.
So, my question is: do I buy the same brand again and put up there, and just make sure we blow them out at the end of the season, and just use our mounting setup we have now... OR ARE THERE BETTER QUALITY ONES OUT THERE MADE BY A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER??? I'd like the same size... 2: 2x20's fit perfectly on each side of the roof for us. I don't mind spending a little more money if there are better quality ones... remember my hubby isn't into my pool and whatever I can do to keep him from having to help me with it is best! The way it is right now- he's gonna have to help me replace them now, but prefer not to have to purchase new ones and reinstall them every year! Any suggestions anyone???? Thanks.