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8) SUMMER VACATION
RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROCEDURES
Solar water heating systems can build up very high
t e m p e r a t u r e s when there is no daily draw on
the system. If a short summer vacation is planned
the best way to dissi-pate heat in the system is to set
the controller to the "on" position. The circulating
pump will run twenty-four hours a day and cool
off the water in the solar storage tank at night. The
collector radiates heat back to the atmosphere at night,
preventing the system from stagnating at very high
temperatures. This will not harm the pump or add
substantially to your monthly utility bill. Remember
to set the control to the "Automatic" setting upon your
return!
During extended summer vacations (4 weeks or more)
it is advisable to either cover the solar collectors with
an opaque material or to manually drain the collector
loop HTF. Rheem recommends that you cover the
collectors if practical.
If you choose to drain the HTF in the collector loop
follow these steps:
8.1 Turn the controller to the “off” position (No. 18).
8.2 Connect one end of a garden hose to the purge/
drain valve (No 11) and place the other end in a ve
gallon bucket. Open the valve and gravity will drain
the heat transfer uid into the bucket. A licensed
recycler, reclaimer or incinerator must dispose of the
Dowfrost HD.
DO NOT DUMP DOWFROST HD INTO A
STORM SEWER, ON THE GROUND OR INTO
ANY BODY OF WATER. BE CAREFUL. THE
HTF MAY BE EXTREMELY HOT!
8.3 If the system is installed with an optional time
clock make sure the clock is not preset to go "ON"
during your absence. If you have a mechanical time
switch, remove the "on" tripper from the clock face
(No. 33).
When you return home contact your service contractor
to recharge the system with HTF. After the system has
been recharged, set the controller to the “automatic”
position. Reset the time switch.
9) MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING
The following simple procedures are intended to
optimize the performance of your Rheem solar water
heating system and also to extend the life of the
primary components.
9.1 Fluid Quality: It is extremely important to monitor
the quality of the Dowfrost HD HTF on a periodic
basis. The chemical composition of the heat transfer
uid may change over time. System pH must be
maintained between 8 and 10 to avoid damage to the
collector loop and absorber plate piping.
9.2 The second most important component in your
system, at least from a longevity standpoint, is often
ignored and never seen. We are referring to the
sacricial "anode rod" installed in your solar storage
tank (No. 20). Typically constructed from magnesium,
anode rods are installed in "glass lined" water heaters
and storage tanks to inhibit corrosion.
As the name implies, the "sacricial" anode rod is
Follow the instructions for single tank systems
above. You also must change the position of the
three way ball valves above both the solar stor-
age tank and the back-up water heater (Nos. 24
and 26). Valve handle No. 24 must be in the hor-
izontal position. Valve handle No. 26 must be in
the vertical position. See Figure 19a, 100% Solar
Operation.
6.5 Solar Preheat
Follow the instructions for the single tank system
for setting the thermostat and the heating ele-
ments for automatic operation. The three way
valve above the solar storage tank (No. 24) must
be in the vertical position. Each valve handle
(Nos. 24, 25 and 26) must be placed in the hori-
zontal position. See Figure 19b, Solar Preheat.
6.6 100% Utility Power
Follow the instructions for the single tank system
above. All three
ball valves above
the heaters (Nos.
24, 25 and 26)
must have the
valve handles
placed in the hor-
izontal position.
See Figures 19c
100% Utility
Power and 19d.
7) ISOLATING
THE MAJOR
COMPONENTS
AND SYSTEM
SHUT DOWN PROCEDURES
Your SolaRay solar water heating system is
designed so that the key components can be eas-
ily isolated for emergency repairs or routine
maintenance. By shutting a single valve you can
isolate the entire system from the pressurized
cold water supply line (No. 23). In the case of a
storage tank or fitting leak immediately shut this
valve and call your installation contractor for
service.
The collector loop can be isolated from the solar
storage tank by closing isolation ball valves Nos.
5 and 10. If the pressure in this loop drops or you
find a glycol leak shut these valves and contact
your installation contractor. Turn the circulating
pump off by setting the controller to the “off”
position.
In two tank systems the solar storage tank can be
isolated from the back-up water heater.
Set the valve handle on the three way ball valve
(No. 24) to the horizontal position and close the
isolation ball valve (No. 25). By closing these two
valves the tank can be serviced or replaced. The
operation of the back-up water heater will not be
effected.
The back-up water heater in two tank systems
also can be isolated from the rest of the system.
Close the cold water supply line ball valve (No.
23) and set the three way valve handle above the
conventional water heater (No. 26) to the vertical
position. Set the two way ball valve handle (No.
30) directly above the heater to the horizontal
position.
8) SUMMER
VACATION REC-
O M M E N D A -
TIONS AND
PROCEDURES
Solar water heat-
ing systems can
build up very high
t em p er at u r es
when there is no
daily draw on the
system. If a short
summer vacation
is planned the
best way to dissi-
P.15
fig.19b
fig.19c
fig.19d
VALVE POSITION DIAGRAM
2-TANK SYSTEM
SOLAR
PREHEAT
100% UTILITY
POWER