Turning Sunlight Into Hot Showers: Best Kits or Hacks?
Yeah, I’ve seen that black hose-in-a-box trick floating around. Honestly, it’ll get you warm water for a quick rinse, but for a whole family? You might be standing in line for lukewarm showers by the afternoon. Copper tubing’s tempting since it holds up better long-term, but it can get pricey and finicky to seal up tight. Ever thought about mixing copper with PEX just for the collector part, or is that just asking for another sun-baked disaster?
Mixing copper and PEX for the collector is doable, but there are a few things to watch out for:
- PEX isn’t rated for high temps long-term. Direct sun can push it past its limits, even if it’s “solar” PEX. You might get leaks or warping over time.
- Copper’s great for heat transfer, but yeah, it’s a pain to seal up and expensive these days.
- If you do try a combo, keep the PEX in shaded or insulated runs only—never exposed in the collector itself.
Honestly, I’ve seen folks try all sorts of hacks. Sometimes they work for a season or two, but if you want something that lasts and doesn’t risk a burst line mid-shower, stick with materials rated for solar use. It’s tempting to cut corners, but water damage from a failed line isn’t worth it... trust me on that one.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had decent luck with PEX in a collector—just kept it under a layer of aluminum flashing and some insulation. It’s not perfect, but it held up for three summers before I swapped it out. Sometimes you gotta work with what you’ve got, especially if copper’s out of budget. Just keep an eye on it for leaks or soft spots.
I hear you on the budget thing—copper’s just crazy expensive now. I’ve been tempted to try PEX myself, but I always worry about it getting too soft in the heat, even with flashing and insulation. Three summers is actually better than I’d expect, though. Maybe I’m just overthinking it... Hard to beat the price, that’s for sure. Still, I’d probably check it every season, just in case.
- PEX does hold up better than most folks expect, especially if you’re using the UV-rated stuff and keeping it covered where possible.
- I’ve had a couple of rental units running solar hot water with PEX for 4+ years now—no major issues, just minor cosmetic fading.
- Always double-check your fittings each spring. The plastic can creep a bit in the heat, but leaks are rare if you use quality clamps.
- Copper’s great, but at current prices? Not worth it unless you’re flipping high-end properties.
- You’re not overthinking—caution’s smart. But honestly, PEX is way tougher than its reputation.