Rose | 
09 3rd, 2010| 
The local pool supply company sole me a white ribbed PVC hose that has developed two major leaks which has not allowed me to enjoy keeping the pool opened longer at all. It isn’t flexible like other pool hoses at all. Can anyone recommend a better tubing that can tolerate summer weather? I plan to order this online for next year’s season since I would have to special order any other tubing through the company any way. (I am so disappointed since I had to find a kid to install the system and then someone to straighten out his mess.)
* sold . . . I hate you can’t correct typos if you don’t catch them to being with . . . sorry.
I emailed FAFCO since they don’t recommend any specific hose in the instruction manual. I would glady hire a solar expert, but there are none in my part of Appalachia.
Sounds to me that they didn’t use the proper glue on the PVC flex. You can’t use just any old PVC glue. I have a bit of an issue with using PVC flex in an area that gets a lot of sun as well. It tends to break down with UV light and goes off colour and consequently splits. They used it, likely because it was fast, but not cheap.
For a neat, professional looking job:
You can use any brand name,1 1/2 inch rigid sched 40 PVC pipe. You can even choose between white or grey. Just remember, that you’re going to now be dealing with additional plumbing fittings, like 90’s, 45’s, possibly male and female adapters and couplings and plan the plumb job accordingly.
For a not so neat, but cheaper cost wise job:
You can use 1 1/2 inch poly pipe. It only comes in black and make sure it’s rated fro the job. Use red stripe or the more costly green stripe. You won’t find any 45 degree insertion fittings, just 90’s and couplings. You may also need male and female adapters to go to your existing plumbing. The pipe comes in a coil and has "memory" so getting it perfectly straight ISN’T going to happen. No matter how long it’s laid in the sun, you won’t take all the curve out. This is why it’s "not so neat".
For both instances, you may need some ABS transition cement as most solar headers are made of that material. I’m not sure if Fafco’ are or if they have a patented hook up connector. The popular solar array here is made by Enersol, which is similar in design to Fafco and the one I am most familliar with.
I’m surprised that you can’t find anyone to do this. Any pool shop that has a service department worth a damn can handle this. You don’t need a "solar installer".
This video shows the power of solar water heating which is 10 times more efficient that solar panels (PV). At 58 degrees, the solar hot water collector is steaming with a temperature of 220 farenheit inside.
