Of course, things can become more complex and that is when you call in the experts, but don't be intimidated by your system.
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There is a very simple way to see if things are working
properly:
Observe the system pump, on a sunny day, when you know you have water
in the tank that is not fully up to 120F.
The system should “cycle” on and off, maybe 2 to 10 minutes
per cycle. If it is cycling then the sensor, controller, pump,
panels, valves are all working correctly.
You can hear the pump slightly when its running, or you can put your hand on it and feel the vibration, but watch out, it can be extremely hot. If you have the STECA controller, with the digital display you can also see the pump movement indicated, however, this does not prove that the pump itself is working.
If the pump is "cycling" then all is good.
If the pump is not cycling or cycling on really long intervals, or
really short intervals, then there is something wrong.
A common problem can be what we call a “vapor lock” in which
an air bubble that was stuck in the tank or delivered via city water goes up to
panels and blocks the movement of water, the pump cannot overcome the stuck
bubble.
This would pretty much make your solar work not at
all. And there is a simple fix for this….it is exactly what
every owner should be doing at least once a year, and some recommend twice a
year….the fix is called "the annual tank and panel flush"
