FAFCO Solar Panel 4'x12' - Replacement

the panels are easy to install and they are doing a warm-up job. instructions were very helpful and material seems of good quality l

I have purchased 13 of the panels (starting in 2012) to replace the units originally installed in 2005. Not one of the panels made it to the warranty expiration. With the new panels I have already had several leaks that have lost thousands of gallons of water and caused me to be afraid to leave the unit on whenever I am gone for a day or two. The panels heat the pool when they are on but with all the problems I do not think it is a cost effective way to heat the pool. There has to be a better company than Fafco. The warranty repair option is terrible.

Just like some of You, I am stuck with 10 4x12 Fafco panels which heat my pool. I installed them about 12 years ago and counted the number of places where I had to repair them to date, cause they are leaking once again, I have had to repair 28 different leaks during that time! The deterioration now seems to have accelerated, the material is becoming ever more porous. I purchased these for about $180.00 each, but now they cost almost 500.00. This was not a good investment.

Had a new roof put on, solar panels removed prior. Found two had header leaks. Contacted Fafco with required documentation. Within a week received two replacements. Were under warranty. Finally a company that backs up it’s warranty. Also, Fafco paid for shipping, Cali to Florida.

Bottom line: Fafco has poor quality, abysmal customer service, does not honor their warranty, and bad judgement in selecting authorized contractors.In February, 2016, we contracted Florida Solar East to install a solar heating system. They used eight Fafco solar collectors and botched the plumbing in the process. In the summer of 2018, the first collector sprung a leak. Shouldn’t be a problem, there’s a twelve-year parts and replacement warranty… Well, that only applies to the panel, not any associated service calls. Florida Solar East wanted to charge us for the assessment, then another one to attempt to repair the panel, then another one to replace it, if necessary.We then complained to Fafco who stated that they had had numerous complaints against their authorized contractor, Florida Solar East, and they have since terminated their relationship with them. They then referred us to a different contractor, Sunlight Solar. The second contractor was much more pleasant to work with and seemed reasonably competent, but they understandably charged a service fee to install the warranty replacement collector. This was all said and done by the end of October, 2018.The second collector sprang its leak in November, 2018 and the third in December. So in the span of less than three years, three of the original eight panels have sprung leaks. We feel we should not have to pay service charges for defective solar collectors manufactured by Fafco. We have complained to Fafco, and they have now stopped returning our calls.The second contractor has come out and attempted to obtain warranty replacements for the other two collectors, and Fafco has refused the warranty with the excuse that the leaks are related to an installation problem. Granted, the original installation was pretty poor, but it is difficult to believe that three of eight panels should suffer latent installation damage, and none of them are anywhere near a coupling or object that could cause a leak within the body of the panel.Even though this second installer is an authorized contractor for Fafco, they do not recommend Fafco for new installations due to their poor quality and reliability. We have talked to other installers as well, none of whom recommend Fafco. As a result, we now have a $5K eyesore on the roof that is completely useless except to drain the pool.

We shopped around for about 3 months looking for the best solar pool heating system. We were "assured" FAFCO was the best. At the time they had the best warranty we could find. They installed the product and it did not heat the pool to the temp they said it would. They added more panels. The system still did not meet their salespersons expectations but he had left the company and we had no recourse. After about 5 years we had our fist leak. The vendor we bought it from was very rude and wanted to charge us almost 250 dollars just to come out and look at it. Turns out they were no longer a FAFCO installer. Called a local solar pool heating company. They came out and fixed my leak but they were not a FAFCO dealer. Contacted FAFCO. They would not cover the cost to repair their system. They refereed me to their vendor out of Orlando. They were not much better. Very rude - demanded 150 dollars to travel out to the site to see the system then 90 dollars for shipping and handling of the 100% warranted panel. Needed three panels so I paid 420 dollars for three panels that were "Fully Covered" by FAFCO warranty. Two year later the last two panels developed leaks. another 340 dollars for a "Fully Covered" warranty repair. NOW three months later I have two more panels leaking. I am switching to a different company. FAFCO is the worst. Their warranty is ridiculous. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS PRODUCT.

Great product in the beginning.. Leaks started 4 years in what was a 12 year warranty. Called the dealer, they came out and said 5 out of 8 panels were leaking next to the header and could not be fixed (they no longer carry FAFCO). Sent an email to FAFCO.. They responded with in one day, with a new dealer. Contacted them. They said a service call would be $250.00 and $110.00 (transportation charge per panel). Give me a break, transportation charge past on to customer!!! As noted in other reviews, replaced panel have also leaked a few years later. Sounds like a money maker for someone BUT NOT THE CUSTOMER. Stay away from FAFCO!!

They leak at the header pipe in a few years and Fafco does not stand behind their warranty