View Poll Results: Solar how water: do your pipes bang?
Yes
1
12.50%
No
7
87.50%
Voters: 8. You may not vote on this poll
Solar hot water pipes
Sep 12th 2007, 4:11 am
#1
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Solar hot water pipes
We have an Edwards solar hot water system which we have used since we moved in early January. The tank is on the roof with the panels.
The pipes have always "banged" since day one, but lately it has got worse. We have already had the plumbers round to look at them and they tried putting some sort of aerator thing under the tap in the kitchen which worked for about a week.... I am reluctant to have them back as honestly I dont think they have a clue what to do about it and last time they were hear one of them fell through the ceiling...
At the weekend we stayed with some friends who also have solar and their pipes were banging as well... so I wondered if this is just a normal thing with solar systems?
The pipes have always "banged" since day one, but lately it has got worse. We have already had the plumbers round to look at them and they tried putting some sort of aerator thing under the tap in the kitchen which worked for about a week.... I am reluctant to have them back as honestly I dont think they have a clue what to do about it and last time they were hear one of them fell through the ceiling...
At the weekend we stayed with some friends who also have solar and their pipes were banging as well... so I wondered if this is just a normal thing with solar systems?
Sep 12th 2007, 4:24 am
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,397
Re: Solar hot water pipes
My guess would be that the water is getting up to boiling point somewhere, and it's the release of bubbles. Can you check the temperature in the hottest part?
Sep 12th 2007, 5:07 am
#3
Living in Perthection
Joined: Mar 2003
Location: Wickedy WA WA...
Posts: 1,868
Re: Solar hot water pipes
We have an Edwards solar hot water system which we have used since we moved in early January. The tank is on the roof with the panels.
The pipes have always "banged" since day one, but lately it has got worse. We have already had the plumbers round to look at them and they tried putting some sort of aerator thing under the tap in the kitchen which worked for about a week.... I am reluctant to have them back as honestly I dont think they have a clue what to do about it and last time they were hear one of them fell through the ceiling...
At the weekend we stayed with some friends who also have solar and their pipes were banging as well... so I wondered if this is just a normal thing with solar systems?
The pipes have always "banged" since day one, but lately it has got worse. We have already had the plumbers round to look at them and they tried putting some sort of aerator thing under the tap in the kitchen which worked for about a week.... I am reluctant to have them back as honestly I dont think they have a clue what to do about it and last time they were hear one of them fell through the ceiling...
At the weekend we stayed with some friends who also have solar and their pipes were banging as well... so I wondered if this is just a normal thing with solar systems?
The only thing we did have when we first moved in was some of the pipework which runs across a flat tin roof to an area of the house that is an extension use to rattle slightly if it was really windy so I just stuck some pipe lagging(??) around it and that sorted that out.
Any idea exactly where the pipes are banging? is it air going through the pipes or the pipes themselves banging together or on something?
Up on the roof ours have a sort of release lever which your supposed to check every 6months or so, I think it opens a valve and clears through crap thats built up and maybe air blockages
One other thing could be that its over heating in some way, do you have a switch (ours is in fuse box) to basically turn it on fulltime (ie not rely on the sun) ? maybe thats on fulltime or something and the thermostat isnt working.
Maybe contact Edwards directly and see if they have any advice.
Sep 12th 2007, 6:19 am
#4
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Re: Solar hot water pipes
Thanks for that Steve, yes think I'll ring and ask Edwards as havent a clue what is causing it. Could also try testing the temp.... I am wondering as in the summer it gets sooooooooooooooo hot (we have control valves on all taps other than kitchen and laundry), the sound appears to come from in the walls... very odd...
Sep 12th 2007, 9:02 am
#5
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Joined: Nov 2002
Location: Redneck Wonderland
Posts: 9,932
Re: Solar hot water pipes
We have an Edwards solar hot water system which we have used since we moved in early January. The tank is on the roof with the panels.
The pipes have always "banged" since day one, but lately it has got worse. We have already had the plumbers round to look at them and they tried putting some sort of aerator thing under the tap in the kitchen which worked for about a week.... I am reluctant to have them back as honestly I dont think they have a clue what to do about it and last time they were hear one of them fell through the ceiling...
At the weekend we stayed with some friends who also have solar and their pipes were banging as well... so I wondered if this is just a normal thing with solar systems?
The pipes have always "banged" since day one, but lately it has got worse. We have already had the plumbers round to look at them and they tried putting some sort of aerator thing under the tap in the kitchen which worked for about a week.... I am reluctant to have them back as honestly I dont think they have a clue what to do about it and last time they were hear one of them fell through the ceiling...
At the weekend we stayed with some friends who also have solar and their pipes were banging as well... so I wondered if this is just a normal thing with solar systems?
Sep 13th 2007, 3:06 am
#6
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Re: Solar hot water pipes
Yes, they just bang when the taps are turned on and off. it started with just the washing machine in the laundry (we have UK one so it runs off hot and cold) but now is all the taps......
They have been in the loft and lagged and secured them (putting another hole in our bathroom ceiling in the process....!) but I think it is just shonky building work!!!
They have been in the loft and lagged and secured them (putting another hole in our bathroom ceiling in the process....!) but I think it is just shonky building work!!!
Sep 13th 2007, 4:00 am
#7
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,397
Re: Solar hot water pipes
Yes, they just bang when the taps are turned on and off. it started with just the washing machine in the laundry (we have UK one so it runs off hot and cold) but now is all the taps......
They have been in the loft and lagged and secured them (putting another hole in our bathroom ceiling in the process....!) but I think it is just shonky building work!!!
They have been in the loft and lagged and secured them (putting another hole in our bathroom ceiling in the process....!) but I think it is just shonky building work!!!
I ask because there are two basic models of isolators: one has a "floating" washer and the other a washer fixed to the spindle. The former is prone to rebounding when the ordinary tap/washing machine solenoid closes, sending a shockwave back through the plumbing and causing an annoying "bang".
If you *have* such floating valves, they can be replaced with fixed washers in a few seconds for a few cents and Lo! no banging!
Sep 13th 2007, 4:05 am
#8
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Re: Solar hot water pipes
dunno but will ask teh other half this question and get him to investigate, thanks 
Sep 13th 2007, 4:36 am
#10
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Re: Solar hot water pipes
will do thanks 
Sep 13th 2007, 7:14 am
#11
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 5
Re: Solar hot water pipes
Hi
as seems to have been worked out already you have a water hammer effect caused by a valve slamming shut this causes the pressure to 'bounce' back and forth along the pipes.
I had just this problem in my central heating system (still in uk) after a few weeks of listening to where the noise was loudest I figured out it was a thermostatic valve on the kitchen radiator. Next time I drained the system down I changed the valve, problem fixed.
So you have to find the valve that is starting the water hammer & change it for a new one or as suggested above replace it with a manual non spring loaded valve.
Good luck hope this helps
as seems to have been worked out already you have a water hammer effect caused by a valve slamming shut this causes the pressure to 'bounce' back and forth along the pipes.
I had just this problem in my central heating system (still in uk) after a few weeks of listening to where the noise was loudest I figured out it was a thermostatic valve on the kitchen radiator. Next time I drained the system down I changed the valve, problem fixed.
So you have to find the valve that is starting the water hammer & change it for a new one or as suggested above replace it with a manual non spring loaded valve.
Good luck hope this helps
