Hydro Hot Question

Most winters in S Fla I do not need the diesel boiler as the single electric element is enough for heat in the mornings and showers in the evening. In 10 years I'm on the second nozzle as the yearly replacement is not needed/.

Hydro Hot/Aqua hot systems with the ONE 120 element will NOT supply continuous Hot Water. If the larger Aquahot that has the TWO 120 elements is installed(usually units OVER 500k), then you can get continuous Hot Water. For continuous Hot Water you must use the Diesel burner. This is NOT for Heating, but fresh Hot water for the rest of the system. It DOES have a tank, but the ONE 120 element cannot give you more than about 1 gallon of hot water. Doug

The hydro hot has a 5 gallon tank. We do turn on the diesel burner when more than one of us is taking a shower. The electric element is more than enough for our other domestic hot water needs in including clothes washing...

JohnnyT

Thanks for the replies. I guess I need to take a look and see which Hydro Hot version is installed. If it truly does have a 5 gallon tank that would be wonderful.

We have the Hydro Hot. When we arrive at the campground the water is already hot. Plenty of hot water for 2 people for the night. If we're staying a few days, we turn on the electric element. When we have more than 2 people, are camping in frigid weather, or higher demand, we do use the diesel. Of course, we use the diesel when dry camping.
Note: If we're at our daughter's house we don't use the electric because it increases her electric bill. The diesel boiler will heat the water in about 10 mins so we turn it on before shower time. Once our showers and dishwashing are done, we turn the diesel off.

JohnnyT wrote:
The hydro hot has a 5 gallon tank. We do turn on the diesel burner when more than one of us is taking a shower. The electric element is more than enough for our other domestic hot water needs in including clothes washing...

JohnnyT

You are confusing the size of the Boiler tank with HOW Hot Water is produced. The COLD Water is run thru small 1/8 inch type coil THRU that 5 gallon Boiler tank. They use this small coil to quickly transfer the heat to the water passing thru. From the Aqua hot manual. Doug

"The 120v AC Electric Element: When plugged into
shore power, the electric element lets you use the
power you are already paying for to provide interior
heat and meet your light duty hot water needs".
NOTICE IT STATES LIGHT DUTY---NOT CONTINOUS

"Using the Domestic Water Heating System
When the Aqua-Hot is at operating temperature, the domestic
water is automatically heated as it is being used.
Because the Aqua-Hot does not store any hot water,
simply open any hot water faucet and a continuous supply
of domestic hot water will be present within a few
seconds. This hot water feature is continuous and is
accomplished by the Aqua-Hot’s Domestic Water Heating
System".

"The Diesel-Burner switch on the Interior
Switch Panel must be ON in order to obtain a continuous
supply of hot water (e.g., during showers); be sure
to also activate the Electric Element switch for maximum
hot water capacity".

I went back and looked at the coaches, found out they have Aqua-Hots not the Hydro-Hot....any big difference between these?

AH is a newer version of the HH.

Yes the AH is the bigger unit. It has a 13 gallons of coolant and depending on the year either one or two elements. The known issue with them is the elbows that can be repaired. I love mine and it works like a champ. Also will heat the coach running down the road with engine heat providing the heat to the unit. Much better then the smaller unit and can het the coach and run unlimited hot water at the same time.

We have the upgraded larger Aqua-Hot system with the two heating elements. Over the last 7 yrs. it seems the single heating element makes plenty of hot water for two showers. When I turn on the both elements, wow, we have really hot water and have never run out.

If it's not too cold out, let's say in the lower 50's, I can heat the coach through the Aqua-Hot system with the eletric elements (bringing the inside to 65-68 degrees).

One thing I should point out, heating with one or two elements will depend on the incoming temperature of the water. We were just in Colorado and I had the two electric elements on and noticed I had to turn the shower position more towards the hot to get good warm water. Then it hit me, while I was outside earlier, I washed a towel out that I used to wipe off the front cover of the Honda, I remember the water being so cold it kinda numbed my hands. So, the incoming water temp can make a difference on how quick the water will heat.

MM.