Rheem SolPak Use and Care Manual - Page 23

Section 7: Isolating the Major Components and System Shut Down Procedures 7) ISOLATING THE MAJOR COMPONENTS AND SYSTEM SHUT DOWN PROCEDURES Your solar water heating system is designed so that the key components can be easily isolated for emergency repairs or routine maintenance. By shutting a single valve you can isolate the entire system from the pressurized cold water supply line (No. 19). In the case of a storage tank or fitting leak immediately shut this valve and call your installation contractor for service. The collector loop can be isolated from the solar storage tank by closing isolation ball valves (Nos. 6 and 8). If the pressure in this loop drops or you find a glycol leak shut these valves and contact your installation contractor. Turn the circulating pump off by setting the controller to the "off" position. In two tank systems the solar storage tank can be isolated from the back-up water heater. Set all necessary isolation ball valves to the off position to service the solar storage tank or the back up water heater. Section 8: Summer Vacation Recommendations and Procedures 8) SUMMER VACATION RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROCEDURES Solar water heating systems can build up very high temperatures when there is no daily draw on the system. If a short summer vacation is planned the best way to dissipate heat in the system is to set the controller to the "on" position. The circulating pump will run twenty-four hours a day and cool off the water in the solar storage tank at night. The collector radiates heat back to the atmosphere at night, preventing the system from stagnating at very high temperatures. This will not harm the pump or add substantially to your monthly utility bill. Remember to set the control to the "Automatic" setting upon your return! 8.1 Turn the controller to the "off" position (No. 4). 8.2 Connect one end of a garden hose to the isolation/ drain valve (No. 6) and place the other end in a five gallon bucket. Open the valve and gravity will drain the heat transfer fluid into the bucket. Repeat process using isolation / drain valve (No. 7) . A licensed recycler, reclaimer or incinerator must dispose of the Dowfrost HD. DO NOT DUMP DOWFROST HD INTO A STORM SEWER, ON THE GROUND OR INTO ANY BODY OF WATER. BE CAREFUL. THE HTF MAY BE EXTREMELY HOT! During extended summer vacations (4 weeks or more) it is advisable to either cover the solar collectors with an opaque material or to manually drain the collector loop HTF. The manufacturer recommends that you cover the collectors if practical. If you choose to drain the HTF in the collector loop follow these steps: 8.3 If the system is installed with an optional time clock make sure the clock is not preset to go "ON" during your absence. If you have a mechanical time switch, remove the "on" tripper from the clock face (No. 33). When you return home contact your service contractor to recharge the system with HTF. After the system has been recharged, set the controller to the "automatic" position. 23