Brentr, nice thread. I should have thought to do that. I like the lifetime warranty, and the 150MPH spec. Looks like you got a real pro install.
I decided to do the work myself and save about $6K. So far so good. I figured solar panels are pretty sturdy (not like a complicated NG heater with lots of parts, etc), and cheap enough that I could buy two more complete systems for what I saved. Plumbing is plumbing. And I'm confident (-ish) in my roof connections. My vendor sold me the exact materials they use for the attachments, and coached me through the installation process, so I think that's a reasonable roll of the dice.
Like you, I was very concerned about falling off the roof! I thought about proper ropes and harness, etc, but once I got up there it felt much safer than I imagined. Most of my work was over the patio overhang, so even if I rolled off the main roof I'd'a come to a sliding stop on the flatter patio roof! It all worked out.
I used the black PVC, too. How is yours holding up? Mine's not peeling or anything like you'd see from installations that use painted white PVC, but it is just now starting to fade a bit. That stuff was expensive, but worth it, I think. I'd recommend it. Or just go with white. Painting PVC on the roof just does not work.
I chose Heliocol because of it's reputation, and for its mounting and connection technology. I really like both. I hope you don't mind me warning the OP about a few things I saw in your install. I read many bad reviews of systems that use the connection method that appears to be on yours. Any problems so far? The concern was for the "radiator hose" type connections, that use some sort of rubber hose held on with hose clamps. The exposure to sun can cause the hose material to decay and shrink, and when those types of systems fail, that's usually the cause. Sometimes the fix is just to get up there and tighten the clamps, but depending on the material of the hoses, that's can be a failure point. The Heliocol connections are all CPVC and rely on an internal gasket to be watertight. It's still some sort of rubber, but it is encased in the connection joint and not exposed to sun. Something for the OP to consider. I couldn't find his panels on the 'net, so it's not clear what they are or how the go together.
The other thing I insisted on for the install was the use of sweep 90 elbows. There is some debate on this site about whether a sweep 90 offers less resistance to flow than a regular 90. The answer is not definitive, but, at least in my mind, a sweep 90 must allow better flow. Certainly not worse, so I used sweeps, and tried to use as few of them as possible. I think every little bit helps when it comes to energy efficiency. A solar system adds a lot of 90s to your pool system, for sure.
I also had a FlowVis installed in my system. It has come in very handy for all kinds of other uses, but I wanted one originally to determine the exact, perfect pump speed to achieve the perfect flow for my system, which as of today is 40 GPM @ 2200 RPM, or 568 watts (if my VS pump's interface is to be trusted). So that's like six 100W light bulbs to heat my pool. Pretty cool (uh... warm!). The flow rate is pretty important to optimize the panels, and the FlowVis is a very easy way to determine, and maintain, the proper flow. I think one can calculate flow, but you end up with an approximation at best. The FlowVis was not cheap, but I would have spent more in time trying to do the math. And since my system's flow can vary over time (mostly because of the filter slowing things down as it gets dirty) I can easily keep an eye on flow rate (something a rough calculation can't really do on the fly). So I recommend a good flow meter.
I later negated most of my original concerns over power consumption with the installation of a PV solar system. So I don't track pump expenses all that much any more.
And my panels are on the North side, a big no-no, but my vendor claimed it wouldn't matter all that much in the seasons I would use solar, and I think that is true. During prime-time swim season, the sun is virtually directly overhead, so north or south would not matter. I might lose a few weeks of total swim season (at each end) when the sun is lower to the south, but I needed my prime roof space for the PV solar system, which is much more sensitive to sun angles, so that was a trade off.
Lastly... the great cover debate. Clearly a cover will improve the whole heating scenario. But I just didn't want to deal with one. I know me, and I wouldn't want to take it on and off, look at it while it's in the pool or look at it laying around in the yard when it's off the pool (a roller thingie would not be possible in my yard). So I don't use a cover. Curious, now that you've been up and running, do you still use the cover? Does it bother you at all to do so? Either from the stand point of aesthetics, or effort?
