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SWIMMING POOL SOLAR HEATING SYSTEM
INSTALLATION MANUAL

MAINTENANCE Winterizing Procedures The solar collectors should drain automatically each time the pump cycles off. There are no special requirements for winterizing the solar collectors. The pool piping should be winterized as per your normal practice. In southern parts of the country pool owners operate their pools throughout the winter although light freezing conditions may occur. The accepted procedure for avoiding freezing of the pool piping and filtration system has been to continuously circulate the water. When solar heaters are used on a pool under these conditions, anti-freeze precautions should be taken. The solar collectors themselves are not normally affected by light freezing. However, in order to protect other components such as end caps and pipe fittings and the collectors against unusual or severe freezing conditions, one of the following two procedures should be followed when freezing weather is imminent.

1) Turn circulating system off and allow solar collectors and piping to drain. Isolate collectors with gate or ball valve in collector feed line and a check valve in the collector return line. Switch the solar control collector to the bypass position. The pool filtering system may then be turned back on. When freezing conditions have passed, open isolation valves and switch the solar control collector to “AUTO”.

2) Switch the solar control collector to the “COLL” position so that water circulates through the collector. When freezing conditions have passed, switch the solar control collector to “AUTO”. THIS METHOD IS NOT RECOMMENDED WHERE TEMPERATURE LEVELS MAY DROP SEVERELY.

Annually Service Collector Clamps In particularly hot climates, such as Arizona and Southern Florida, the clamps which are used to connect the solar collectors may become loose. If you notice leaks around the hose couplings, use a nutdriver to tighten clamps. Do not tighten to the extent that the pipe collapses or the clamp gears strip. In areas where unusually high stagnation temperatures are prevalent or where abnormally high system pressures occur, use header inserts.

COLLECTOR REPAIR This method allows for an easy and permanent on site repair of a collector by isolating the leaking riser tube. Referring to the figure, locate the tube to be isolated. (End tube has been shown for clarity.) Using a sharp utility knife, very carefully cut away approximately 1” of the tube at both headers. Drive a #10 - #12 sheet metal screw, preferably stainless, into the hole in the header. The screw must be between 1/2” and 3/4” long. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN! If the screw strips out, or if the repair leaks, use a larger screw. This repair method will not void the collector warranty.