I went the route of coiling black PEX on an old pallet and just covering it with a scrap piece of plywood when not in use. Not the prettiest, but it gets the job done. I skipped the mixing valve at first too—big mistake, nearly scalded myself. Now I just use a cheap garden hose timer to control flow and temp a bit. Haven’t had any leaks yet, but I do keep an eye out after big temperature swings. Funny how these backyard setups end up being more reliable than I expected.
I skipped the mixing valve at first too—big mistake, nearly scalded myself.
Honestly, that's the first thing I look for with these DIY solar setups. Even with PEX, you can get some wild temp swings. Did you notice any weird pressure changes when the weather shifted? I’ve seen some folks get small leaks or even bursts after a cold snap. Also, how’s the hose timer holding up? Some of those cheaper ones don’t always play nice with hot water over time...
Mixing valve was a must for me too—learned that lesson the hard way after a summer day left the water basically boiling. As for pressure, yeah, I noticed it gets a bit unpredictable when the temps drop fast. Had one PEX joint weep a little last winter, but tightening the clamp fixed it. The hose timer’s holding up so far, but I don’t totally trust it long-term with the heat. Might swap to a brass one if it starts acting up. The cheap plastic ones just don’t seem built for this kind of abuse.
The hose timer’s holding up so far, but I don’t totally trust it long-term with the heat. Might swap to a brass one if it starts acting up. The cheap plastic ones just don’t seem built for this kind of abuse.
Yeah, I hear you on the plastic timers. I went through two last summer—both warped after a couple weeks of direct sun and started leaking at the threads. Switched to a brass one and haven’t had a single issue since, even with the midday heat baking it. Costs a bit more upfront, but honestly, worth it for the peace of mind.
Mixing valve is a game changer too. First time I tried my setup without one, the water was so hot it nearly melted my soap... lesson learned. Pressure swings are just part of the deal with these DIY solar rigs, I guess. I’ve found wrapping any exposed PEX with foam pipe insulation helps a bit when temps drop fast—less expansion and contraction.
All in all, sounds like you’re on the right track. These little tweaks make a big difference over time.
I get the appeal of brass, but honestly, I’ve seen those seize up just as fast as plastic if you’re not careful with mineral buildup. Sometimes it’s less about the material and more about keeping things flushed and out of direct sun. Had a neighbor’s “indestructible” brass timer split right down the side after a cold snap—guess nothing’s truly bulletproof. Mixing valves are great, but I’ve had them stick if you don’t cycle them now and then. Just my two cents... sometimes the simple stuff fails in weird ways.