Check out all of our great solar thermal videos. Our solar thermal videos cover everything from information about our great solar thermal products and systems, to information about how solar thermal products from SunMaxx are manufactured, and even our industry-leading solar thermal webinar and online solar thermal training series.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New York resident, Peter N., installed a SunMaxx Solar Thermal Hot Water system in his home. One year later, he is truly seeing the payback in going solar. Peter cannot hold his excitement to himself. He tells us he has shared the amazing news with all his neighbors. He says, "the system provides over 90% of our hot water needs outside of the heating season. During the heating season, the system also supplements radiant heating." Not only that, this Middleport resident also qualified for New York's state and federal rebates. The system initially cost $7,635, and Peter claims the payback was worth it, "I received up to 70% Federal plus State Rebates for my system!" The system does supplement Peter's radiant heating, with the primary heat source being ground loop water to water heat pump. The top coil in the holding tank will be used for additional floor heat. The system included 60 SunMaxx Solar ThermoPower Evacuated Tubes, and two 105 gallon coil tanks feeding a 120 gallon domestic hot water tank. The system is also plumbed to allow future expansion. For more information, contact SunMaxx Solar's marketing department.
Installed a Solar Hot Water System at the house of John Semmler. The system takes care of his hot water and heats his indoor pool. Here is a brief testimonial from John Semmler about his solar install of SunMaxx Solar Vacuum Heat Pipe collectors. Check it out!
Join us as we talk briefly with Father Gordon about his Thermosyphon System installed at his residential home.
Video Transcript
SunMaxx Solar testimonial with Father Gordon Todd: Hi this is Todd Paternoster with SunMaxx Solar, here in Sidney, New York, doing a little solar tour. We happened to run into our very own Father Gordon from the Sacred Heart Parish. Father Gordon was one of our early customers back then. A few years ago he installed a couple of thermal siphons. Father Gordon: Two years and a summer, yes. Todd: Very good. He installed a couple of thermal siphons. One’s tied into the hot water, and one’s tied into his heat. And so, sort of off the cuff Father how’s your hot water heater been? Father Gordon: Hot water’s fantastic. It’s just me, and as I was saying earlier there’s one shower, one load of dishes, and four loads of laundry for the week. In the summer, I don’t need any fuel. Todd: Wonderful. Father Gordon: This provides everything. Todd: Good. Father Gordon: In the winter, it provides most of it. Todd: Well that’s good to hear. Father Gordon: Fantastic. Todd: And have you had any maintenance issues at all? Father Gordon: When we first put it in, the first installer didn’t do it correct. The second installer, that was last year, no problems since. Todd: Very good. Well Father, thank you for your time. Father Gordon: My pleasure. Todd: I’m glad you’re happy with your hot water system. Father Gordon: Yup. Todd: And we’re gonna continue on with the Sidney Solar Tour. So thanks again Father, have a great day. Father Gordon: My pleasure. Thank you.
Join us as we talk with Dr. Stephen Benham and discuss the importance of his system.
Video Transcript
SunMaxx Testimonial with Dr. Stephen Benham Todd: Hi this is Todd Paternoster with SunMaxx Solar, continuing with our Sidney New York Solar Tour. This is one of the pioneers, Dr. Stephen Benham…one of the SunMaxx certified installers installed for him a 180-square foot solar thermal system tied into two tanks. He’s got a 275 (gallon) non-pressurized tank, and an 80-gallon pressurized tank. He’s got four collectors on the roof and two on the ground. Here’s Dr. Benham right now, so thanks for coming out and joining us Dr.Benham. I just described that you were one of the pioneers in Sidney with solar thermal, and you hired one of the best installers to get the job done, and spared no expense to make sure it was done right. So you’ve really set a model for everybody…so could I just off the cuff tell you what your initial gut reaction to your solar thermal system? Dr. Benham: Well, it’s working pretty nice. Todd: So you’ve got the hot water and heat for your system. You did some of the installation yourself, you were fundamental in getting the ground-mount going and dug the trenches. You’ve put a lot of thought into orientation, and so, what direction are we facing here? Dr. Benham: Well, they are facing 190 on the compass, 193 for this area would be perfect. Todd: Okay so you’ve got 190. And then what angle did you decide to go with? Dr. Benham: degrees up, to maximize for the spring and fall. Not necessarily for the dead of winter and certainly not for summer. Todd: What would you say your average temperature is during the spring and fall months? Dr. Benham: Average tank temperatures…probably 140-150, but I have it maximized for my domestic hot water. Todd: Okay. Dr. Benham: So that gets heat first. So that gets up…right now I have it set for about 160-165. So it gets to 160-165 and the rest of the tank heats up a little bit faster after that. Todd: Great. So you’re prioritizing your domestic hot water load? Dr. Benham: Right. Todd: Very good. Dr. Benham: And after a while you learn that when the sun’s out that’s when you do laundry and the dishes. Todd: So you’ve modified your lifestyle a little bit to fit the solar. Dr. Benham: A little bit. Not a lot, but a little. Todd: Good. Any suggestions or things you wish you had done a little differently or not at all with this design? Dr. Benham: (Pause) Whew… Todd: Well I guess that’s a good sign. (laughter) You get this guy to pause for two minutes and that’s a good sign. Dr. Benham: No there are a lot of things that were done right. There are a lot of unknowns, a lot of decisions that we made along the way. But there had to be compromises made along the way and so they were. Todd: Yup, very good…the frame on this flat-roof, he decided to shorten the spread by raising the back row up so that the front row doesn’t cast as much of a shadow on the back row. It decreases the overall footprint. Dr.Benham: Or cast any shadow at all. Todd: No shadow. I do remember having conversations with you about using some of your sloped roof and you put a lot of thought into it. You didn’t want any roof penetrations there, so in fact we’re not even penetrating the roof here it’s just sitting on these frames here. Dr. Benham: Yup. Todd: And obviously you don’t have any roof penetration here. One nice thing I can point out is that in the summertime Dr. Benham does reduce his production by covering these collectors up. And that can effectively reduce his need for heat dump, although you do have a heat dump. Dr. Benham: I do. Todd: I suspect it probably doesn’t operate too much throughout the day, perhaps an hour or two each day. Dr. Benham: Well it depends. If you get several sunny days right in a row during the summer, then it takes on for the last couple of hours for each day. Todd: And you’re blowing hot air out a window. Dr. Benham: Yup. Todd: Very good. Okay, well thanks to Dr. Benham, appreciate the time. And I appreciate you being a pioneer for solar thermal in Sidney alone. But Sidney, New York is, as many of you may realize, is one of the pioneers in the country, in terms of numbers square-footage solar thermal collectors per person. We have many more to go and we’re burning daylight, so let’s say goodbye for now and we’re gonna move on.
Join us as we talk with George Edwards in Sidney, NY to talk about the solar thermal system installed on his apartment building. George talks about installing the system himself and the support he received from SunMaxx Solar wall installing his solar thermal system.
Video Transcript
SunMaxx Testimonial with George Edwards Todd: Todd Paternoster with SunMaxx Solar, continuing the Sidney Solar Tour. We ran into another homeowner, George Edwards, who installed the system on his own. It was a pretty big undertaking for anybody, let alone someone who wasn’t necessarily a certified installer. I don’t know, I can’t think of anybody that I’ve experienced that’s been able to take a system like this and get it functional without the proper training. So what George has got is a 300 (evacuated) tube system, with a 900-gallon storage tank that throws hot air into his rental apartment building. And George, from your initial first winter, what’s your reaction to the performance? George: Well, it’s been good…I think probably, so far this year I’ve saved about $500 dollars in fuel oil. Todd: Okay. George: Last year of course the sun went away right after Thanksgiving and didn’t come back for a while, so I don’t think it was a really good year to judge. But I did heat all six apartments’ hot water all summer long. Hot water heaters never turned on. Todd: And that’s pro-bono right? George: Yeah it is…but it enables me to do something with the rent, so it helps. Todd: Sure. George: I’m looking for a good winter this winter, so far the system’s been working real well. And I don’t think I’ve used probably, I don’t know, 30 gallons of fuel oil this year. Todd: Great! George: Which is wonderful compared to this place, which has used probably 150 gallons. Todd: Well, like I mentioned, you attempted a big task on your own. Can you comment on any support that you were happy to get from SunMaxx? George: Oh sure. I used a rail system to mount that on the roof, and you guys thought that would be very good because there’d be less snow retention underneath the tubes. And it works very very well. I went to see you guys about balancing and you taught me how to do it, and I did what you told me to do and it worked perfectly. Todd: Great. George: I think that’s where a lot of people get into trouble…when they go to get a tutorial, they’re told what to do, and then they just sort of do what they feel like doing anyway. I always did exactly what you guys told me to do, and it always worked out really really well. Todd: That’s good to know. So an upgrade that you might .. I see that you were able to tie the hot water into the tanks, so that’s done. Does that take care of your production in the summer, or do you have any excess, do you have to dump some still? George: I had one vacant apartment this summer and so I did have to turn the hot water on occasionally to get rid of it. Heat. Todd: Oh okay. I see. George: But with all six apartments rented, it should be a perfectly balanced system through the summers. If my tenants take more showers, I’ll be all set. Todd: George can I ask you any…were you able to take advantage of any of the New York state, or Federal tax credits? George: Yeah. Todd: Did that process run smooth? George: Yeah everything was fine. Todd: Good. Well I’m glad we ran into George, we’re just running around town doing the Solar Tour. George: Well thank you for the talk. It was a great adventure and I look forward to many years of useful productivity. Todd: Very good. Thanks George. George: Thanks for your time.
Watch as Todd goes over on of the most popular tanks in the solar thermal business, the StorMaxx PTec Tank. The PTec tanks are high quality tanks loaded with features such as two internal coil heat exchangers, a large cleaning flange, enamel lining and a thick foam jacket.
StorMaxx PTEC Tanks Hi this is Todd Paternoster with SunMaxx Solar. I’d just like to take a few minutes to introduce you to our latest and greatest solar thermal storage tank. I took the top off to show you that we have a closed foam, there’s 2 inches of foam around this steel tank with an ice foam zipper jacket. One of the nice features about this is we have two coils. We have a bottom coil for the solar loop and a top coil to bring in extra heat from an indirect hot water heater. But another nice feature is this recirculation return loop. Stratification is optimizing not only your collector efficiency, but optimizing the number of BTUs you have in the tank. It’s all about the quality of the BTUs, not the number of BTUs. So with a recirculation return port such as this, we’re pulling off from the top of the tank and we’re coming right back into the top of the tank for our heat loop or for a domestic hot water tank, while we maintain the coldest part of the tank at the bottom for our solar input. Which means we have a longer run time and we have a higher efficiency on the tank. This tank is an enamel-lined, steel tank. So we have several barriers to corrosion, first one being the baked on enamel on the steel, but there’s also a magnesium anode, which is a beefier anode than you’ll typically find in hot water tanks. So we have a double barrier to corrosion, the enamel and the anode rod. There are two sensors, which is standard, the bottom sensor is used for solar tie-in, the top sensor port is used to tie into an indirect water heater or as a recirculation port, or as recirculation port for an existing hot water tie-in. They’re very manageable to move around. They’re relatively light weight as far as tanks go. They come in 50, 65, 80, 105, 130, and we’re exploring some much larger combitanks in to the 200-300 gallon range, which are going to be extremely effective at tying into home heating systems. So the SunMaxx StorMaxx PTEC tanks are a very good solution for preheat solar hot water systems and combisystem design. Thanks.
Join us as Todd Paternoster goes over the many benefits of the XMaxx Heat Wand. The XMaxx heat wand allows most residential customers to use their existing domestic hot water tank as their solar thermal storage tank as well. With a few turns of a wrench, most users can install this into their existing tank in a matter of minutes and use it to pre-heat the tank in order to reduce the amount of energy the tank requires.
XMaxx Heat Wand Hi, this is Todd Paternoster with SunMaxx. I’d like to show you for a moment a very unique product that we offer, the SunMaxx Butler Wand. What this is going to allow you to do is tie directly into an existing hot water tank without a preheat storage tank. It brings the cost down, especially for clients that don’t have the extra room for a preheat storage tank. Essentially what we have here is a double wand heat exchanger. It’s a solar wand, it fits inside of your hot water supply out of the tank. So, I’ve got my storage tank and I insert this into the hot water supply. Now this elbow becomes my hot water supply, so this is going to pour hot water out of the storage tank just like before. The difference here is that we’ve installed, we have a double-walled exchanger that’s inserted into this wand. So if you can follow me for a moment, I have a supplier return here, this copper tubing is braised to the inside of the top elbow. So what’s going to happen is as my heated fluid goes into the top, it’s going to go all the way down to the bottom, and it’s going to come out of that bottom. Well as it comes out of the bottom, it’s got to work its way, spiraling up, coming in contact with this twisted copper piping and exchanging heat, and as it comes through there, now the return back to the collectors is going to go up through here and come back down this way. So we’ve got the supply and the return, a double-walled heat exchanger, this is a tube in a tube system essentially, and it very easily threads into the hot water supply of most common household electric, gas, propane, fuel oil hot water tanks. No need for extra space, no need for extra cost. This is a very simple tie in, the SunMaxx Solar Wand is going to have a lot of applications in the residential home, domestic hot water market. Thanks.
Join us as we talk with Dr. Stephen Benham and discuss the importance of his system. 
Join us as we talk with George Edwards in Sidney, NY to talk about the solar thermal system installed on his apartment building. George talks about installing the system himself and the support he received from SunMaxx Solar wall installing his solar thermal system.