problems with solar panel systems to save heating oil and natural gas

Technology has been installed incorrectly: instead of saving energy, the faulty installation of the fuel oil consumption drove up

Solar system owners bring to incandescence

kre Dahlenburg. A solar panel on the roof of heating oil and natural gas, protects the environment and saves money and makes a good conscience. In short, a reasonable thing also. The thought also of Dahlenburger Rolf Kaiser, leaving his house in 2003 Dahlenburg equipped with this innovative technology. But instead there's quality botch on the roof of the physiotherapist. For eight long years, much time, money and even more nerve it took to make the system was able to finally, what they would have from the first cloudless day to do: convert solar energy into hot water for reliable backup heating.


The LZ-talk recapitulates Rolf Kaiser - almost - never ending story: from artisans who can not get the problem under control. By sworn experts, whose expertise can be more open questions than answers. By a significantly higher fuel consumption and shattering friendships - and from a landlord, who has still never had any doubt that solar systems are useful.

But first things first: "I had the equipment purchased from a seller who waits for my heating system for 20 years," says Kaiser. They knew each other, have become familiar, and in general: the installation of solar systems for specialist companies now everyday routine. Anyway, the thought at the time of the physiotherapist.

But the trouble began with the installation. For instead of the ordered - and paid - tubes with a total area of ​​20 square meters built the contractor after Emperor words other, smaller tubes. When the "misunderstanding" is revealed, the artisans improved with the installation of additional pipes slowed down, but creates other problems.

"Now fit the conveyor system no longer constant air was on the line. It took almost no week in which the artisans struggled not to change the temperature sensor to drain excess air, and they replenish with heat transfer liquid," says Emperor. The result? Zero! Worse. For in spite of the solar system that has come to support the heater on the roof, sudden increases year after year, the fuel oil consumption - about 680 liters up to a year.

An engineer from Hamburg is turned on. Come, look, amazement - and ultimately goes back home empty-handed. Sure it gets nice and warm in the summer at Caesar's, because at 33 degrees outside temperature suddenly jumps to the heating of the physiotherapist. Rolf Kaiser is furious - but he has a solution in sight. Just as the "experts". Components are changed, but installed the wrong way. The Dahlenburger can be from the Chamber to give the address of a referee wants to finally have clarity. Today, he says: "The expert costs € 1198, I could have saved me."

The 'expert' presents, while concluding that the system does not work, but the reasons for this and who is responsible - None. For an action for damages is the "expertise" but useless - "too vague and fuzzy," Kaiser is a lawyer.

Much time has passed. The Dahlenburger now has not only lost faith in the honor of craftsmen, the peer review system and to an active solar system, as he meets on the lookout for another plumbing business to Thomas hatred.

And that creates what everyone did not get to him before the series - to bring the facility up and running but still. Here are just a short list of those defects, which had found the expert in the inventory and had to overcome: the upgraded flow plates were installed incorrectly and too small, however, chose the solar circuit pump is too large. The reversing valve for heat exchanger was installed incorrectly, the heat distribution between the solar storage tank and the existing water storage poorly or not at all solved. The potable water expansion tank is connected with a long, non-flow water pipe (Legionella risk).

It cost 4000 € Rolf Kaiser again to make the system finally ready - after eight long years. Overall, it thus has the idea to use solar energy, more than 26 000 € cost. And - as I said - a lot of nerve. Still, he says: "Of course I would be back to build a plant on the roof this is a sensible and useful technology.." But only if it also works.