Silent chiller: Avoid costly frost damage to your solar hot water system

A cold shower might not be your only problem if frost damages your solar hot water (SHW) system this winter.  

These energy-saving appliances offer environmental and cost-saving benefits and have enjoyed strong take-up in our service area in recent years. But not everyone knows that if not maintained, winter frost can cause solar panels to freeze, expand and ultimately, crack and leak, causing substantial water leaks.

Our customer service centre reports an increase in calls about higher bills caused by leaks during winter. Sometimes, these leaks can go unnoticed until an unusually large water bill arrives.

Damaged SHW systems may also lead to higher energy bills. This is because when the solar panels are damaged and stop working, automatic electric or gas boosters kick in.

Cracked and leaking systems and panels are expensive to repair or replace. When you have a leak in your solar hot water system, it can be like leaving a tap running until it’s repaired.

Leaks such as these are hard to detect, so it’s important we raise awareness of this potential issue to help our customers minimise bills and reduce environmental impacts.

A solar hot water system on a residential house roof.

Solar Victoria has tips on how to prevent and identify damaged SHW systems. These include:

• Inspect your solar controller for error codes and warning lights.
• Engage a licensed plumber to service your system – it may still be under warranty. Have it serviced as regularly as specified in the operating manual, typically every three to five years.
• Ensure you have a frost protection valve installed.
• If you’re considering getting SHW installed, ensure it's installed by a reputable technician. Visit the Solar Victoria website for a list of authorised retailers or the Victorian Building Authority website to find an accredited installer.
• Check the plumber is installing a system that's fit-for-purpose for your climate.
• Consider installing energy metering with alerts that notify you of increases in energy, as these can indicate that your SHW system is damaged.