Solar Hot Water System leaking...

I have a 24 tube system.  3 tubes have recently started dripping water where they enter the large top tank.  The system is 7 or 8 years old (guessing).  I suspect the sealing on the end of the evacuation tubes is all that is at fault.  For once I might get someone in to service the system unless there is a simple fix I can do myself.  Any recommendations?

Eduardo Jimenez installs and repairs solar hot water systems.
(331) 134-8492

Call Alejandro Miramontes, 331 135 2586, Ajijic Native. He recently installed a new unit for me, he is a plumber

I've resurrected this old post to share some interesting info on solar water heaters.

A couple days ago I eventually replace my old 24 tube heater with a shiny new one since the old one was leaking more and more. Once the old one was removed and disassembled the leaking problem and how to fix it was obvious.  For approx. $450 pesos a new set of 24 silicon "O" ring seals could have been purchased off eBay.  Their installation is easy once the tank is drained and the tubes removed - any DIY person could do it.  If you do not have a water softener except a lot of mineral scale buildup inside the tank - no problem just flush it away with a hose pipe.

I would say these solar water heaters could do with a service of drain/flush/seal replacement every couple of years or so and they will last almost indefinitely.  There's nothing either mechanical or electrical about them.

Since I had removed an old system in perfect working order (once some new "O" ring seals were installed) I decided to donate this to a Mexican family who could plumb it into their house.  The installer was delighted to not haul off the old equipment.

When I climbed onto the roof the next day, the old solar heater, all dissembled, along with 24 evacuation tubes were still there BUT the 24 copper heat pipes from inside the tubes had been removed, thus rendering the entire system completely useless.

For me this was a lesson in living in Mexican...!!!

The installer of the new system removed the copper heat pipes (stole them!)  and said he could not guarantee the old system would work again.  I should have been paying more attention to what was going on.