Solar Hot Water Repairs, Service & Installation, Gold Coast

A lot of Gold Coast solar hot water was installed in the 1990s and 2000s: roof-mounted Solahart, Edwards and similar close-coupled systems, and split systems with a tank on the ground. Many are now 15 to 25 years old. They rarely fail all at once. More often the electric or gas booster starts doing most of the work, a relief valve weeps, or a collector or tank begins to leak.

Most solar systems have more than one valve: a pressure and temperature relief valve, a tempering valve, and on some systems frost or overheat protection valves on the collectors. Frost is rare on the coast but does happen in the hinterland; overheat protection matters in summer. Salt air near the beach corrodes collector frames, roof fixings and fittings faster, so beachside systems from Burleigh Heads to Currumbin are worth checking more often.

We start with the whole system before quoting a part, because a new valve on a tank that's about to fail isn't good value. When replacement makes sense we compare new solar with a heat pump, and apply the federal STC discount where the system is eligible.

The two main layouts

Close-coupled (thermosiphon) systems have the tank on the roof directly above the collectors. Hot water rises into the tank on its own, with no pump. Split systems keep the tank at ground level, and a small pump and controller circulate water to the roof collectors when the sun is on them. Collectors are either flat glass panels or rows of evacuated glass tubes.

Common faults

On split systems, the circulating pump, controller or temperature sensors are frequent culprits: the sun is shining but the tank stays cool. On any system, the booster element or thermostat can fail (electrical work), the relief valve can start discharging constantly, and roof pipework insulation breaks down in the sun, letting heat escape. Collectors can also leak or be damaged by hail.

Our article on solar hot water that isn't heating walks through these in more detail, including what you can safely check yourself.

Get the booster timing right

The booster tops up the temperature when the sun can't. If it runs early in the day, it heats the water before the sun gets the chance, and you pay for energy you didn't need. Boosting later in the day, or on a controlled-load tariff, usually makes better use of the sun. A high power bill with plenty of hot water is often a booster setting, not a fault.

Coastal and hinterland conditions

Salt air near the beach corrodes collector frames, fixings and external fittings faster, so systems in beachside suburbs are worth checking more often. In cooler elevated areas of the hinterland, frost protection on the collectors matters. Older systems rely on a frost valve that can fail and leak.

Repair or replace?

Weigh up the age and condition of the tank, the state of the collectors, whether parts are still available, and the current STC value on a replacement. A tank that's leaking from its body usually means replacement. A failed pump, controller or valve on a sound system is often worth repairing. If the roof is shaded or unsuitable, a heat pump can give similar running costs with nothing on the roof.

Roof access is a safety decision

Queensland work health and safety rules require proper fall protection for roof work. We assess roof access before any roof-level inspection, and weather or roof condition can mean coming back another day. Please don't go up to check the panels yourself.