solar water heater

[Gerardo Araujo]

Hello
Does anyone has experience with solar water herater?s.
I would be thankfull if you share your experience.
Did you have any problems installing it?. Has it been worth it?
Is there any specific trademark or type you would or would not recommend.

Thanks for your help.

Gerardo Araujo

[kasugie]

In Mexico (Zapopan, Jal.) there are two manufacturers of relatively low cost solar hot water heaters - Thermosol http://www.thermosol.com.mx/index.html

and Sunnergy http://www.thermosol.com.mx/

My fontanero, arqui, and I installed a Sunnergy gravity-fed system 5 years ago - has worked so well that the back-up boiler rusted out, and we have no back-up. The savings on gas paid for itself in 18 months. 4 glass tubes broke in the biblical hail storm 4 years ago. We installed a malla (mesh net) above the tubes to protect them. That's been the only maintenance so far.

Placement of the unit relative to the Tinaco is of critical importance, and you need a competent plumber involved. Competent fontaneros willing to install these systems come-and-go -- mostly "go" because they become exasperated trying to park their pick-up trucks to deliver and install these systems. It's probably best to call either Sunnergy or Thermosol to obtain a distributor/installer.