What’s the failure rate of vacuum tubes? Some factors do figure in
A poster in a forum I follow asked an interesting question: What’s the normal fail rate for vacuum tubes? He’s a solar-thermal installer in Colorado who several years ago installed a system – at a...
View ArticleGet your hands wet: Charging a commercial pressure-glycol system
I recently helped commission a commercial solar thermal system, so I thought I’d share these instructions I gave to the contractor. This system is providing hot water to Westminster Asbury, a large...
View ArticleSolar thermal system on Ohio school not slowed by cold temps
Who said solar doesn’t work in the winter time? Certainly not the school officials at Chesapeake High School in Chesapeake, Ohio. A five-collector solar thermal system was installed on the school in...
View ArticleWith a mismatched system, you pay to work out all the kinks
‘Good deals’ are not always good or a deal. I know that these days we’re all trying to save our nickels. We’re looking for deals, sales, great finds on Craigslist, whatever. People...
View ArticleFilling the pressure: Sizing an expansion tank correctly
You’ll need a few basic details about your system. Here are some good questions about the correct sizing for an expansion tank from a conscientious installer — which I know includes all of us. Question...
View ArticleScary-sounding steamback system is actually a common design
There are times when a pressure-glycol system is needed A steamback solar thermal system. It sounds kind of scary — like what you don’t want to see coming out of your solar equipment. This kind of...
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