We had an Apricus 30 tube, gas-boosted system installed in Jan '10. Apart from the fact that the plumber took 2 weeks to complete the installation, I was happy with the job when it was finished. I was a bit concerned, though, when I discovered that the pump was running after the sun went down. I put this down to the fact that the plumber had put the tank sensor on the cold water inlet. Turn the hot tap on and if the water in the collector was warmer than the cold water inlet, the pump would start.
I looked at the Apricus installation manual and noted that their diagram indicated that the tank sensor should be on the tank outlet to the collector. I rang Apricus and pointed this out to them, and they said it was not a problem.
It was at this point that problems started. The tank sensor rarely got above 40-45°C - hence the pump kept going on hot days. Come Nov this year we had a few days of blue skies and the pump burned out! I rang Apricus and spoke to a consultant who asked me to take photos and to email them to him, which I did. He said he would follow it up and would get back to me.
I didn't hear from him for 10 days, so I rang again and got on to the same consultant. He had no recollection of my first phone call and asked me for my details and to send the photos - (again)!!
I phoned Apricus again straight after talking to this fellow and asked to speak to a different consultant, expressing my frustration regarding the muck around so far. This fellow must have got the ball rolling and a plumber (different to the installer), was at my place to replace the pump a few days later. All well, one would hope, but 14 days later this pump blew . . .
Once again I rang Apricus, and they couldn’t believe it. They sent the plumber out again and he discovered that this time the Solastat controller was burnt out also. Here I was thinking how lucky I am that it's still under warranty . . .
But - then I was told by Apricus that the controller isn't covered for “power surges”. I was now keeping an eye on the new controller and noticed that the bottom tank sensor was not going above 21°C. I thought the sensor must also be damaged or not connected properly. The plumber came back and couldn't work out why the bottom tank sensor wasn't going above 21°C.
He phoned around and a couple of days later came back with the Apricus Technical Manager. After an all round discussion they agreed with me, and agreed to put the tank sensor on the outlet return to the collector. Anyway, all’s fine now .... except the plumber has sent me a bill for $352 + $66 labour for the controller which they say is not covered for damage caused by “power surges”.
In the 25yrs we have lived here, we have never experienced a “power surge”.
To cut a long story short, my argument is - if the system was installed correctly in the first place I would not have this problem. I believe the controller was burnt out by the pump burning out. There was no power surge. But - read the fine print in the warranty:
Warranty exclusion - 1.2.6. Where the solar water heating system component has failed directly or indirectly as a result of excessive water pressure, negative pressure (partial vacuum), excessive temperature, corrosive atmosphere, faulty plumbing and/or electrical wiring, or major variations in electrical energy supply.
Does this indicate that if the installer incorrectly installs your system, you are not covered by their warranty?
DO YOU THINK THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY APRICUS' WARRANTY??
