Anonymous | Manitou Springs, Colorado | 04/03/2008
Three recommendations (two of which I realize will increase the cost to the customer, but I think the cost is negligible relative to the overall cost of the system):<br /><br />1) Provide a better wiring diagram of the final system design (mine had hand-written corrections and proved difficult for the `average` furnace contractor to troubleshoot when the non-solar part of the furnace failed).<br /><br />2) Provide an option to cover the tank in something other than sheet metal -- this will add cost, but the aesthetic preferences in our situation necessitated it being re-covered by us anyway.<br /><br />3) Provide an option for different aquastats. The mechanical one installed MAY be defective, and we elected to procure a digital one at our own expense. Capitol Solar did acknowledge they would have replaced it if the unit was defective. The mechanical one has proven to have a `temperature sensed` vs. `switch activated` (my layman`s terms) difference of up to 45 degrees (sometimes its dead-on, but its usually off by 20 degrees or more).<br /><br />We`re waiting for about another month to determine how much propane we`ve saved by installing the system. The original estimate provided by Capitol Solar was that the system would eliminate 60-80% of our original propane usage. We`d be satisified if it took care of 50% of the propane usage, and it feels like we`re on track to accomplish that.<br /><br />I would definitely recommend the company to anyone and I consider the owner & company to be a trusted, honest, and reliable contractor. They were very responsive and helpful when the circuit board on our furnace failed (non-solar related), and the furnace contractor had to work with them telephonically to restore the solar-incorporated heat system.<br />
Anonymous | Castle Rock, Colorado | 08/20/2006
very professional, great system. eleminated gas usage for hot water and space heating.<br />I have been aware of the improtance of solar power for water and space heating since 1974
Anonymous | Boulder, Colorado | 08/14/2006
Exceptional work and professional conduct. The system has worked flawlessly for 9 1/2 years. I would recommend Capitol Solar to anyone.<br /><br />We had a solar hot water system in Pennsylvania for 12 years before moving to Boulder
Anonymous | Boulder, Colorado | 03/13/2006
We understand how the system works much better than we ever did before. We are getting much more energy from our rather large system than we did for the first 15 years since using Capitol Solar. We have 7 4x10 panels on the roof and a 600 gal. tank plus 3 radiators, separately zoned for each of 3 floors. I am not sure when they rebuilt our solar tank which is when we started with them. Please ask Bruce Padgett for that date.<br />Our initial investment and installation of the system was in 1980 when there were both federal and state tax incentives which were very important in allowing us to put in the system. Capitol Solar only came into the picture in the 1990`s when the original holding tank needed to be replaced. There was no incentive at that time and we did the replacement even though it will take a long time to recoup the costs. Capitol Solar did help us greatly increase the efficiency of our system for space heating with the radiators. They have been great.
Anonymous | Boulder, Colorado | 03/02/2006
This was the second time I`ve hired Capitol Solar. They added solar to my previous house and I was satisfied enough to hire them a second time.<br />