Last fall we had a freak frost and my Fafco 4x10 panels froze and cracked. I was able to repair most of them using "goof plugs" that I got from a local irrigation shop. I cut the cracked galleries open and glued the plugs in with cyanoacrylite (sp?) and they are solid as a rock but I safety wired them in with stainless wire as well for added assurance.
My original install did not include a vacuum relief and my panels remained charged even with the solar off. I would like to change this setup now ( lesson learned) and was reading different threads in the forums with regard to proper install. I'm going to start with installing my vacuum relief at the top of the panel array (I know this is a topic which has varied opinions) as this is where the Fafco installation manual suggests to put it.
I also read that the 3 way valve needs to be "leaky"so that the supply line to the panels will drain when the solar is off and the pump continues to run. Somebody mentioned drilling about a 1/2"hole in the valve and I found somewhere on the internet where the Hayward people suggest removing the internal seal on the valve.
Has anybody have any experience or insight as too which method I should use to accomplish making my valve "leaky"?
My original install did not include a vacuum relief and my panels remained charged even with the solar off. I would like to change this setup now ( lesson learned) and was reading different threads in the forums with regard to proper install. I'm going to start with installing my vacuum relief at the top of the panel array (I know this is a topic which has varied opinions) as this is where the Fafco installation manual suggests to put it.
I also read that the 3 way valve needs to be "leaky"so that the supply line to the panels will drain when the solar is off and the pump continues to run. Somebody mentioned drilling about a 1/2"hole in the valve and I found somewhere on the internet where the Hayward people suggest removing the internal seal on the valve.
Has anybody have any experience or insight as too which method I should use to accomplish making my valve "leaky"?