Turning sunlight into hot showers: best kits or hacks?

- Flexible stainless is pricey, but I’ve seen it hold up way better than PEX in direct sun. Did a run with it last year - no sag, zero leaks, but man, those fittings are a wallet killer.
- Black steel’s solid, but unless you’re religious about paint and checks, rust sneaks up fast.
- Copper’s great for the hot spots, but costs keep climbing.
- Anyone tried aluminum with a good UV wrap? I keep hearing mixed things - some folks swear by it, others say it’s not worth the hassle.

Anyone tried aluminum with a good UV wrap? I keep hearing mixed things - some folks swear by it, others say it’s not worth the hassle.

I’ve wondered about that too. Aluminum sounds tempting since it’s lighter, but I’ve heard it can get weird with certain water types - like, does it pit or corrode if your water’s a bit acidic? Also, how tricky is it to actually wrap it well enough for long-term sun exposure? Curious if anyone’s had it running for a couple years without issues.

I get where you’re coming from - aluminum’s lighter, but I’ve seen it go south if your water’s even a little off. Had a buddy try it with well water and the pitting started after maybe a year, even with a decent wrap. The UV wrap helps, but getting it tight enough to last through seasons is trickier than folks let on. Still, if your water’s neutral and you’re careful with the install, it might be worth a shot. Just wouldn’t call it “set and forget.”

Yeah, aluminum’s a bit of a gamble if your water’s even slightly on the acidic side. I tried it once thinking I’d save some weight and cash, but ended up with pinholes after two winters - guess my city water wasn’t as neutral as I thought. Stainless has been more forgiving for me, though it’s heavier and pricier. The “set and forget” dream is nice, but I’ve learned to expect at least a little tinkering every spring. Anyone else had luck with plastic or composite setups? I’m curious if they hold up better long-term...

“The ‘set and forget’ dream is nice, but I’ve learned to expect at least a little tinkering every spring.”

Ain’t that the truth. I used to think I could just slap a system together and coast through the year, but nope - every spring it’s like my setup’s got a new personality. I tried a plastic tank once (HDPE, I think), figuring it’d be immune to the corrosion drama. It did fine for about three years, then started getting these weird hairline cracks near the fittings. Not catastrophic, but enough to leave me mopping up the shed floor more than once.

Composite stuff is tempting - my neighbor swears by his fiberglass tank - but I’m always a bit wary about UV breakdown over time, especially if you don’t keep things covered. Stainless is heavy, yeah, but at least it doesn’t surprise you with mystery leaks in the middle of a cold snap.

Honestly, seems like no matter what material you pick, there’s always some tradeoff. The “set and forget” crowd must have magic water or just better luck than me...