solar water heater question

[Royall]

Have a client that is out of town. Neighbor noted steam rising from the solar panel on a hot day. Is there a vent on the panels? Or, could it just have been rainwater evaporating out of the nooks and crevices in the panels?

[Obie]

There is a pressure relief valve on the panels.It could be malfunctioning.

[geochem]

If the circulation pump fails, you can overpressure the water heater panels on a sunny day - if the pressure relief valve is working properly, it will prevent the panels from breaching due to the pressure. I have a couple of derelict panels where the relief valve failed and destroyed the panels.

[Royall]

Thanks for the information... Is the pressure relief a resetting valve like the one on the water tank?

[geochem]

quote:

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Originally posted by Royall

Thanks for the information... Is the pressure relief a resetting valve like the one on the water tank?

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It should be - but, like on water tanks, once it starts to release, it could continue leaking indefinitely. Best to watch it and see if it re-seals properly.