mobile aqua hot in Tucson

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mobile aqua hot in Tucson

February 11, 2019, 03:26:57 pm

my Aqua Hot started making strange sounds yesterday. When burning fuel it hums along. But when going through the cool down sequence. The motor makes more noise the closer it gets to shutting down.

was wondering about everyone's experience with the local authorized mobile AH service company. (Cameron's reliable maint)

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #1 – February 11, 2019, 03:37:21 pm

Quote from: bigdog – February 11, 2019, 03:26:57 pm

my Aqua Hot started making strange sounds yesterday. When burning fuel it hums along. But when going through the cool down sequence. The motor makes more noise the closer it gets to shutting down.

It was doing that when you were parked next to us. I also smelled fuel. I thought that was normal, so I said nothing. Good luck!

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #2 – February 11, 2019, 04:41:26 pm

Quote from: mike leary – February 11, 2019, 03:37:21 pm

It was doing that when you were parked next to us. I also smelled fuel. I thought that was normal, so I said nothing. Good luck!

I know it needed a routine service and planned on that while here in Tucson. But this sounds more serious.

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #3 – February 11, 2019, 05:35:25 pm

we had Ken Cameron and his wife work on our AH the day after we bought the coach. He's quite the character.....but knows his stuff. She knows as much too. You will be in good hands.

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #4 – February 11, 2019, 05:36:40 pm

If it keeps running on and off, it is the "brain box". Send Rudy a PM.

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #5 – February 11, 2019, 05:56:04 pm

Check in with Rudy.
John Carrillo's Itinerary 2019 ⋆ Heat My RV ~ John Carrillo
John is closer than Rudy

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #6 – February 11, 2019, 06:04:48 pm

If you need Aqua Hot service in Tucson, like Glenn, I recommend Cameron's Reliable Maintenance Mobile Service (520) 490-7632. Ken and Rachael do excellent work. They fixed my Aqua Hot several years ago. When Rachael emerged from the AH compartment she looked like a chimney sweep. That gal sets the bar pretty high.
jor

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #7 – February 11, 2019, 06:10:38 pm

I agree to call Rudy, he recently helped me on the phone to diagnose and repair my problem which was a bad control box. I ordered a rebuilt unit from Jim Frerichs and got it in a couple days. There are also troubleshooting guides on Roger Berke's webpage: RV Hydronic Heater Repair - Home

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #8 – February 11, 2019, 08:22:50 pm

Quote from: AC7880 – February 11, 2019, 05:36:40 pm

If it keeps running on and off, it is the "brain box". Send Rudy a PM.

What's odd is that while it's on the burn. It runs smooth and steady. It's only after the flame has gone out that the odd noises show up. It sounds as if a motor has a worn bearing and goes in & out of a wobble.

And after I had the unit fully rebuilt by Aqua Hot just 2.5-3 years ago. I noted and called Aqua Hot as well as RnR in Spokane telling them that I could feel a vibration through the floor and was much nosier when it runs than prior to the rebuild. I was told by both places "Oh that's normal, Don't worry about it."

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #9 – February 11, 2019, 08:59:29 pm

bigdog that in my opinion is not normal, mine does not do that when it is cooling down.
Chris

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #10 – February 11, 2019, 09:32:29 pm

Bigdog,

I don't know if you are aware that the factory rebuilt units are the boiler only. Pumps and burner assemblies are tested, repaired where needed and reused. I replaced the blower bearings in my unit within five years. There is no way the bearings should have failed that soon if new.

Bob

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #11 – February 11, 2019, 09:39:14 pm

Quote from: Wattalife54 – February 11, 2019, 09:32:29 pm

Bigdog,

I don't know if you are aware that the factory rebuilt units are the boiler only. Pumps and burner assemblies are tested, repaired where needed and reused. I replaced the blower bearings in my unit within five years. There is no way the bearings should have failed that soon if new.

Bob

Really!!! Bloody hell. For a $10k rebuild one ought to get WAY more than that.

I pray that it's something simple that can be repaired in place.

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #12 – February 11, 2019, 10:34:46 pm

This guy was in Phoenix two days ago, he's mobil and had just come from Quartzsite. He repaired a friends AH the same day. Lloyd told me that he had the parts inventory and if he couldn't fix it. It couldn't be fixed. A pretty tall claim if you ask me but I'm sure he had plenty of business in the Q.

Lloyd DeGerald Services. 501-258-8426. Factory authorized service. Hydro-Hot. Oaisis. Webasto.

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #13 – February 11, 2019, 10:40:17 pm

Rudy said the blower bearings last a long time until they fail. We replaced mine a few weeks ago, the hardest part is getting the motor case off, a tight fit. And you need an internal spring ring tool. It pretty obvious if the motor is bad or it is the blower bearings. There is also a plastic two part clutch in there that I replaced.

There is a pre-ignition blower only cycle as well. Do you hear the same noise then as in theport burn purge cycle?

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #14 – February 11, 2019, 11:21:21 pm

Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 – February 11, 2019, 10:40:17 pm

Rudy said the blower bearings last a long time until they fail. We replaced mine a few weeks ago, the hardest part is getting the motor case off, a tight fit. And you need an internal spring ring tool. It pretty obvious if the motor is bad or it is the blower bearings. There is also a plastic two part clutch in there that I replaced.

There is a pre-ignition blower only cycle as well. Do you hear the same noise then as in theport burn purge cycle?

Roger. The odd sound only happens when the unit is going through it's shut down cycle. Upon starting the unit it sounds the same (rather noisy though) as the first time I used it after the rebuild.

Maybe I should have you and or any of the others at the park over to have a listen.

As it will be nice tomorrow. I'll turn off the AH when we leave for our hike and get hold of you/everyone that might want to listen when we return and start it up. (I have a bottle of Jameson's caskmates IPA edition as enticement)

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #15 – February 11, 2019, 11:50:41 pm

A zillion years ago I briefly sold pools. Part of the heaters design was to run the circulation motor after the heater flame shut off .
Stopped the banging noise when the water in the coils was boiling as the tubes were hot.

Called it a deadman's switch. 15 minute thing.

Is there such a thing in the aquahot. Does the chamber and the coils get over the boiling point of the coolant?

If you shutoff the flame is the recirculating motor supposed to run on for a bit.

Ot both shut off at the same time? Mine seems to run a bit after the flame turns off but maybe not.

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #16 – February 12, 2019, 08:30:18 am

The motor will run for a minute or 2 after the burner shuts off to cool off the combustion chamber. The motor sound may change since it doesn't have the load of the fuel pump, also with less load you may hear a chatter from the clutches.
Can you post a video or just the sound recording?

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #17 – February 12, 2019, 08:59:45 am

Quote from: folivier – February 12, 2019, 08:30:18 am

The motor sound may change since it doesn't have the load of the fuel pump, also with less load you may hear a chatter from the clutches.

Your unit must be different than ours. Our older unit the fuel pump is direct drive and the flow and pressure is the same no matter if the fuel valve is open or closed. When our fuel valve opens it flows a small amount of fuel to the nozzle to burn and the rest is bypassed back to the fuel tank. When our fuel valve is closed all flow is just returned to the fuel tank.

Mike

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #18 – February 12, 2019, 09:43:05 am

Quote from: folivier – February 12, 2019, 08:30:18 am

The motor will run for a minute or 2 after the burner shuts off to cool off the combustion chamber. The motor sound may change since it doesn't have the load of the fuel pump, also with less load you may hear a chatter from the clutches.
Can you post a video or just the sound recording?

Something in ours has changed. In that the sound has suddenly changed from how it has been while operating in the past. All ours has done in the past is to continue to spin and the jet exhaust sound goes away and the motor hums away for 2-4 minutes. The odd varying pitch sounds that have cropped up, starts a minute after the flame goes out. Then gets worse as time goes on till the motor shuts off

As it needs a tune up anyways. I made an appointment with Cameron's and they will stop by on Thursday to have a look.

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #19 – February 12, 2019, 09:48:45 am

It was not that bad when you were here, but I heard the same sound (quieter) when I was in my chair close to your coach.

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #20 – February 12, 2019, 10:58:42 am

If the noise is just a varying pitch, as it the motor speed is changing then check geound wires at the post on the AH and the power connections. If there is a loose connection somewhere voltage may vary a bit causing motor spreed to change.

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #21 – February 14, 2019, 08:54:28 pm

Prognosis isn't good on my Aqua-Hot (AHE-100-02S)

Cameron from Cameron's Maint. as well as Rudy both say that the "brain Box" isn't so brainy anymore. It's starting to fail but still works at the mo. Fortunately my AH has the preferred old style silver box. So I'll order a rebuilt silver box from Rudy & have Cameron install it as well as do a tune up and check the bearings/clutch.

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #22 – February 14, 2019, 09:58:20 pm

The price of a rebuilt silver box is extreme, to say the least. Of course, they no longer make the silver version. You can buy a new " black" box, not made in Germany, and then take your chances that it will work properly. I am disappointed that Westbasco decided to stop making replacements. Wish there was a more reasonably priced unit available as OEM. Get the checkbook out.

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #23 – February 14, 2019, 10:08:05 pm

Quote from: GleamB – February 14, 2019, 09:58:20 pm

The price of a rebuilt silver box is extreme, to say the least. Of course, they no longer make the silver version. You can buy a new " black" box, not made in Germany, and then take your chances that it will work properly. I am disappointed that Westbasco decided to stop making replacements. Wish there was a more reasonably priced unit available as OEM. Get the checkbook out.

If I'm remembering correctly. With my core of the old silver box, Rudy said a rebuilt silver box from him is about $550. A plastic OEM is $1087. So it's actually 50% cheaper than the cheap Chinese (I assume it's Chinese) knock off.

Re: mobile aqua hot in Tucson

Reply #24 – February 14, 2019, 10:27:22 pm

A rebuilt silver box is less than half the price of the previously available new one. You might look online or in the ForeForums classifieds.

Jim

2002 U320 42'

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