As a general contractor involved in new builds and remodels, I was introduced to a Grumman Sunstream. The homeowner explained that his home was built in 1980 and was a model home for all the new solar technology programs president Carter had introduced. Anyone remember the solar panels on the whitehouse during this period?
Grumman built the lunar lander, the F-14 Tomcat, B-2 Stealth bomber and yes, the Sunstream solar hot water system. In other words, they make amazing things and the system in this house had worked flawlessly for 30 years. I was fortunate to have found a guy who was familiar with them and had serviced them. We replaced the 80 gallon tank, which had failed, before flushing the NASTY 30 year old ethylene glycol from the closed loop and heat exchanger. We then refilled with PROPYLENE glycol as it is not as toxic. We cleaned the collector and inspected the copper lines and added new pipe insulation . That was all the servicing it required. The 80 gallon tank had back up electric heat elements like any other conventional water heater but due to the sunny weather in Austin, it rarely needed them. Great system and I’d recommend keeping it.
Warren Spain
Austin, TX
Warren@greenbuilt.com
