Solar water heating- Fafco “Hot2O”
Anyone have any experience with the Fafco “Hot2O” solar collector.
http://www.fafco.com/SolarHotWater/Solar-Energy-Benefits.html
Seems to be a pretty basic concept and perhaps the simplest off the shelf system I have found. I’m curious about how it performs in actual use.
I plan to use a dual tank system to maximize hot water storage as our hot water use is primarily in the evening and I hope to minimize the use of electricity. It seems that storage capacity is the most pertinent and limiting factor as production only needs to be adequate to heat the water in the storage tank over the day while no one is home using hot water.
I have no experience whatsoever with solar water heating systems other than garden hose in the sun so any feedback is appreciated.
Edited 7/13/2008 12:20 pm ET by jp99
Replies
http://www.solarh2ot.com is the system I feel strongest about for a drain-back off the shelf kit. They have a number of options at different price points and great customer service.
M
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"You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."
Thanks, I'm actually building in downtown Cary, mere blocks away from these guys. I really appreciate the local input.
i couldn't find a spec sheet on the fafco but from what i saw, it's a non-metallic absorber
and i have no idea what the glazing is.. but i bet it isn't glass
my guess is it will not have a 20 year life
i do like drain back systems
their weakness is usually the vent at the top of the system
Spec sheet is somewhere on the site, but the collector is black plastic, no glass.