for a MH "wanna be".We are considering a coach with the Aqua Hot system (I have read the operating manual) and are trying to find out a little more about it, so thank you in advance for any responses. Without laying out a litany of questions, here are 5 questions about the Aqua Hot system I’m seeking clarification on.Can you use the AH hot water system when camping in sub 32 degree conditions (maybe 25 degrees), or must you always winterize if it is going to get below freezing? We often camp in colder weather, so I just want to know if I need to winterize at the slightest chance of 32 and below. (not asking about the coach heating, but the water heating system)Generally, what constitutes the bay heating system (maybe coach specific)? Do I need to ask the particular dealer?To winterize, I have read you cannot merely blow out the lines, but you must use anti-freeze. I am just curious as to why?If you are going to be driving through conditions below 32 degree’s and are using the engine to heat the rig, do you still need to winterize your lines?For heating only (not for the continuous water supply) to what general outside temperature will Aqua Hot’s use of the 120 VAC burner be sufficient before the diesel burner kicks in or will electric alone provide enough heat? In reading the operating instructions, it sounds like the electric element alone will heat the anti-freeze solution for heating. But it also sounds like you need the diesel burner, so I am just a little confused. Any clarification here would be helpful. Maybe these sound a little dumb, so thanks for your patience. Thanks again for your time!Tom

Two places for everything you want to know about Aqua-Hot -http://forum.rvhydronicheaterrepair.com/forum.phpany (you will have to join Yahoo Groups for this one - http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/HydronicRVHeating/info

Tom,Depending on which Aqua-Hot system that's in the coach that you are considering, it might have one electric element or two. Ours has two (110 and HI) and it will make the water scalding hot!We have never winterized as we stay in milder climates. The whole purpose of the Aqua-Hot is to use it when it's cold. The engine will circulate the antifreeze through-out the system so you will have very hot water when you arrive at your destination.You can use the heating system when you are driving down the road without the diesel running because the engine is heating the antifreeze. If you are using the Aqua-Hot, it should heat the water bay area also so no worries about freezing the pipes. You will love the Aqua-Hot system.MM.

sloman2001 wrote:for a MH "wanna be".We are considering a coach with the Aqua Hot system (I have read the operating manual) and are trying to find out a little more about it, so thank you in advance for any responses. Without laying out a litany of questions, here are 5 questions about the Aqua Hot system I’m seeking clarification on.Can you use the AH hot water system when camping in sub 32 degree conditions (maybe 25 degrees), or must you always winterize if it is going to get below freezing? We often camp in colder weather, so I just want to know if I need to winterize at the slightest chance of 32 and below. (not asking about the coach heating, but the water heating system)You never need to winterize if you are going to leave the system hot.Generally, what constitutes the bay heating system (maybe coach specific)? Do I need to ask the particular dealer?Every coach I've had with hydronic heat has had a heat exchanger in the water bay. You should ask the seller.To winterize, I have read you cannot merely blow out the lines, but you must use anti-freeze. I am just curious as to why?Because the domestic hot water is produced via a coil in the AH. Coils of copper tubing don't blow out well and are destroyed by freezing water. If you are going to be driving through conditions below 32 degree’s and are using the engine to heat the rig, do you still need to winterize your lines?NoFor heating only (not for the continuous water supply) to what general outside temperature will Aqua Hot’s use of the 120 VAC burner be sufficient before the diesel burner kicks in or will electric alone provide enough heat? In reading the operating instructions, it sounds like the electric element alone will heat the anti-freeze solution for heating. But it also sounds like you need the diesel burner, so I am just a little confused. Any clarification here would be helpful. The answer is dependent on the size and insulation quality of the coach. Remember, the heating coil is only 12.6 amps. The same size as a small space heater. You wouldn't expect to heat a large, four slide coach with one space heater on low. So, maybe down to 45 degrees or so but you won't get much domestic hot water without the diesel burner. Maybe these sound a little dumb, so thanks for your patience. Thanks again for your time!Tom

When stored outside I never winterized anything... just left the single electric element on and set the Tstats as low as they would go. This was enough heat to keep everything warm enough even when it was in the teens outside.

We have a 2004 Country Coach Allure with Hydro Hot, the smaller version of the Aqua Hot. We have camped for 5 days in 17 degree icy snowy weather without winterizing the coach. Of course you should winterize if you are storing it and not using it. From the manual: "The Aqua-Hot's Domestic Hot Water Heating System must be completely drained of domestic water any time the heater is STORED where freezing temperatures may be experienced.We have never winterized our coach as we continuously use it. In the winter we turn on the electric and diesel switches per the owner's manual recommendations (unless we're in a park where we pay extra for electric) then we only use the diesel switch. We have a heat exchanger in the service bay that prevents freezing of the fresh water tank and water lines within the service bay. We fill our fresh water tank and disconnect the water line from the coach if the temperature is going to be below freezing for more than 2 hours. Our Hydro Hot provides "continuous" hot water very quickly. Note: on our coach the demand for hot water overrides the demand for heat temporarily. We never notice this feature because we don't use that much water due to grey water holding tank size. We don't worry about what temperature electric vs diesel. The diesel knows when to kick in. We just leave both switches on. Diesel is the primary heating source for hot water and furnace in low temps and high demand. Electric is a secondary source for higher ambient temps and low demand. We love our Hydro Hot (Aqua Hot). Here is a good website for Hydronic Heater Repair with some photos and info about Aqua Hots. Roger Berke is a great resource.

Aqua Hot Questions... | Good Sam Community

smlranger
Explorer
Dec 12, 2013
ct1964ups wrote:
it is a great system and this is what I did so far....
I drained all the domestic water from the lines....I disconnected the water lines from the pump....and opened both low point drains...BUT I DID NOT RUN THE ANTI FREEZE THRU THE LINES
now my question...CAN I STILL RUN THE AQUA HOT SYSTEM FOR HEAT USING EITHER THE DIESEL OR THE ELECT.....????
Thanks..Chuck

When I asked that question of Roger Burke on the Aqua Hot forum, he said yes. The Aqua Hot system is filled with a boiler coolant and that is what provides the heat to your heat exchangers in the coach. So, even if you 'winterized' you can still use the AH for heat.

Regarding Winterization, both Aqua Hot and Roger Burke strongly advise not to rely on just draining the domestic water and using air to blow out the water lines. The coiled domestic water lines in the Aqua Hot need to be winterized by pumping RV antifreeze (the pink stuff) through the system. Merely blowing out the water lines may leave enough water in the Aqua Hot coils for freezing and bursting. If that occurs, the repair is very expensive.
ct1964ups
Explorer
Dec 13, 2013
Hjudge49 wrote:
Chuck, you can still use the Aqua Hot for heat. The boiler is still full of fluid, and the fact that the domestic water coil is empty (or partialy empty) will not hurt it. It would actually be better for you to keep it turned on, since opening the low point drains doesn't really get all the water out of the coils. I never winterize my coach because I live in Florida, but when it even thinks about freezing, I keep mine turned on electric to make sure it doesn't freeze. If it does, it's a replace, not repair situtation.

Hey guys...both of you ..for the quick answer.....Chuck
paulcardoza
Explorer
Dec 13, 2013
Chuck,

If you are going to leave the Aqua-Hot running (either electric or diesel), you will be fine with what you did. HOWEVER, if you shut it down and it freezes, you'll be in big trouble, without proper winterization with the pink stuff. If the internal coils freeze and burst, which will happen quite easily if allowed to freeze, the unit CANNOT be repaired. You'll be looking at a $10,000 bill for a new unit.
dougrainer
Nomad
Dec 13, 2013
NOT running antifreeze thru the hot water coils is a bad idea if you will depend on leaving the unit plugged in and using the 120 or diesel to keep it hot. What happens if you have a major storm and you lose power for a few days??? The system shuts down and then will slowly get cold and then freeze. We just had this type storm in the DFW area of Texas and 10's of thousands were without power for up to 4 days and the temps we had would have frozen the water coil in a Aqua Hot unit. Doug
ct1964ups
Explorer
Dec 15, 2013
paulcardoza wrote:
Chuck,

If you are going to leave the Aqua-Hot running (either electric or diesel), you will be fine with what you did. HOWEVER, if you shut it down and it freezes, you'll be in big trouble, without proper winterization with the pink stuff. If the internal coils freeze and burst, which will happen quite easily if allowed to freeze, the unit CANNOT be repaired. You'll be looking at a $10,000 bill for a new unit.

We also have it in an enclosed insulated garage that is attached to the house....2 walls use the house walls.....and one wall is along another 40 ft garage.....so only the door really faces the outside.....but neither garage is heated.....Chuck

Forum Discussion

Aqua Hot Questions...

About Motorhome Group

Related Content

Aqua Hot

Aqua Hot Satisfaction

Aqua hot 400d winterization

Aqua Hot Hot Water Tanks

Aqua Hot heating system & overall advice 2009 Monaco