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mkdutch

Jun 2, 2009, 10:13 AM

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Lakeside/Guadalajara Solar Water Heater repairs needed

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Several years ago, in the midst of a major home remodel, I bought a solar water heating system and stored it. A year later, hired a local plumber to install it. He wasn't familiar with the fragility of the fittings, and over-torqued two of them, causing some damage. One was external and was easily fixed by the sub-distributor who originally sold me the system. The other caused internal damage, rendering the system useless. Pressurized water entering the system just runs out the overflow valve.

The manufacturers representative in Guadalajara has advised there are no authorized repairman/ facilities in the area, and they can only replace the damaged tank(in about two months). Problem is, the price of a new tank is about what I paid for the entire system in the first place. So I'm looking for that famous repairman "that can fix everything". OR maybe there's a retired guy from NOB that is handy and likes to tinker. The solar tank is stainless steel, with an endcap secured by rivets. That part should not be a problem-just drill out the rivets and remove the cap. There is an inner tank, however, that is welded and may be difficult to enter & reseal to effect repairs, as it is of fairly thin material. My hope is that it can be repaired externally after removal from the outside tank. Anybody out there that has (maybe hot-water heater) repair sklls? Want to give it a try before giving up the ghost and buying new (again!). TIA, Dutch