Hydro Hot Question

Regardless of how it seems to be working now, I agree with the recommendation to either get it fully serviced or do it yourself if you are mechanically inclined. Replace burner nozzle, clean combustion chamber, replace fuel filter. You can download the manual for your unit from Aqua Hot's website. Otherwise, take it to a Aqua Hot certified service center and get it done.

Thank you all for the info, We think it may be working we had not given it enough time. We have always had propane and that just never took long :) Our diesel does take at least 20 minutes to start with the heat but seems to work. I'm not sure the electric side has ever had a chance but were checking it now. I now have hope and will be saving this. Thanks again.

It's a great system that's needs to be cared for. I would get a certified tech to check the system out and do the needed service. If it's low on boiler fluid the burner won't light. If the check valves are stuck or the circulation pumps aren't working, heated coolant won't get to the registers. It it hasn't been properly winterized it can suffer severe freeze damage. It will cost about $200 to have it serviced but you will also gain a lot of knowledge about the system. Just make sure the tech has experience to do a complete service including cleaning the combustion chamber.

We have Hydro Hot. It should take no more than 10 minutes it should be blowing warm air. For Hydro Hot service use this link:
http://www.aquahot.com/Service-Help/Service-Locations.aspx

another good resource is: www.rvhydronicheaterrepair.com (Roger Berke) he lives in California but has lots of info on his site.

If the fans aren't blowing you need new fans inside the vents.
If the air is not warm, some of your brass check valves may be sticking from lack of use. Tap with a screw driver. Remove cover from Hydro Hot and follow hoses until you see the valves.
You can also look at the lights outside to see if there are any warning lights on the unit like low coolant.

I don't have the identical unit as yours because ours is an AquaHot 200. They should work pretty much the same though. I leave the electric burner on most of the time as that will provide you with sufficient hot water to wash dishes etc. Fire up the boiler if you're going to shower or use the furnace.

In answer to your question:
1. Turn on the boiler.
2. Set your thermostat to furnace.
3. Heat should be felt within a few minutes at most.

My system consists of several floor mounted registers that have their own fan system. It's very quiet and most times you won't even know it's on, you'll just feel the heat. It takes about 10 minutes to heat the coach depending on the outside temps of course. Between 10-20 degrees F outside, it'll take about 30 mins to bring the inside temps to about 70.

The unit should be checked once a year during your annual maintenance. There is a reservoir filled with fluid that needs to be checked periodically. Mine's in the propane compartment. It takes a special solution, NOT antifreeze. There is also a separate filter that should be changed annually. Mines in the same compartment. The filter also has a sight glass on it to drain any water so as not to contaminate the system. Usually the nozzle is replaced during the maintenance. Not a difficult job but access to the boiler can be difficult if you're a large person. I have mine serviced every two years unless there's a diesel smell or smoke from the exhaust when the boiler is fired...it's an excellent system and realtively worry free.....hope this helps....Dennis

They said it had been serviced but we are planning on doing it but just not sure how it is supposed to work

There are two settings for the furnace under gas mode - electric and gas. The electric won't put out real heat if its below about 40 degrees. You need to switch on the burner. We use both when we have hookups as the electric will help the burner fire off less often.
We too have a hydohot/aquahot for the first time. It's a learning experience.

Are you turning on both the diesel burner and the electric element? Has it been serviced? A HydroHot needs to be serviced annually.

If you fire the Diesel burner, about 15 minutes. If you are just using the 120 element about 1 hour. Use the Diesel burner to get it to temp, turn off the diesel burner and then just let the 120 element keep it up to temp. The system is designed so that the 120 element will keep the boiler hot enough for heating. BUT, you MUST use the Diesel Burner for continuous Hot Water at the faucets.