$350 Thermosyphon Solar Space Heating Collector -- Maintenance

Our shop heating thermosyphon solar space heating collector is approaching 10 years, so I thought I would provide a run down on maintenance to date.

shop heating solar collector

The maintenance has been minimal:

I replaced the poly film backdraft dampers once (total cost 12 cents)
I painted the outside a couple years ago -- this was needed in part because when I initially built the collector it was in the winter, and the only protection I could apply was a coat of primer as the parts were built in the shop. I was going to paint it the first summer, but never got to it. So, it was overdue for paint by the time I did get to it a couple years ago -- but, no damage.
I've vacuumed out the bottom of the collector through the inlet vents a couple times just to clear dust and bugs.

That's about it.

Since there is no fan and controller, there is no fan or controller maintenance.

The collector is vertical, so it does not collect snow at all, so no snow to clear after storms.

The glazing will probably have to be replaced at some point (15 years?), but it looks just fine now.

This collector is about as simple, reliable, and maintenance free as it gets.

Gary
January 5, 2012