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)
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! ^.^d
I know it needed a routine service and planned on that while here in Tucson. But this sounds more serious.
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.
If it keeps running on and off, it is the "brain box". Send Rudy a PM.
Check in with Rudy.
John Carrillo's Itinerary 2019 ⋆ Heat My RV ~ John Carrillo (https://heatmyrv.com/john-carrillo-itinerary-2019/)
John is closer than Rudy
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
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 (http://www.rvhydronicheaterrepair.com)
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."
bigdog that in my opinion is not normal, mine does not do that when it is cooling down.
Chris
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. >:( >:( :thumbsdown: I pray that it's something simple that can be repaired in place.
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.
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)
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.
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?
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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'
I talked to Rudy this evening. He said he has a rebuilt silver box.
I was lucky enough to buy a silver box when they were still available and then have my original rebuilt - good to have a spare to swap out myself - easy diagnostic tool and easy swap if the AH starts mis behaving
They do look dead simple to swap out.
Very easy, slide off the burner unit, unplug 2 plugs (these are different so can't mix up), carefully pry off the black mounting bracket & install on new box, plug in 2 plugs, slide box on burner.
Big dog you can get on line at HEATSO.com and order a new box from a British company. Last fall when I ordered mine it was 211 GBP British pound which was 278 US plus 16 shipping I just checked and they had a substantial price increase they are now 320 GBP which would put them at about 400 US plus shipping It is not a Chinese model they are actually (supposedly) made in the Ukraine but with price increase may not be any cheaper! Just a FYI
Chris
The HEATSO sourced Control Unit is the Sperios box. It is very problem-matic. I have pulled a brand new one out of the car and it did not work. I have replaced many that are beyond the 6 month warranty but only 9 to 14 months old.
This has vexed Aqua Hot so much that they have designed and are manufacturing their own Control Unit. No more Sperios on new Aqua Hots.
If you have a silver box as a core, a reman silver box is a good long lived choice. If you want the very best solid state box, the Aqua Hot control unit is the choice.
Chris,
Black plastic controllers are not as reliable (nor repairable) when compared to rebuilt aluminum controllers.
Jim
Commercial Member
2002 U320
Rudy,
How much for the solid state unit? I have my old silver box, which I was going to have rebuilt, as a spare, but want to make an intelligent decision. If I DID get mine remanufactured, I would swap out the one I have now, in case the one year warranty came into play. Hope to visit you when we get up into Texas.
Glenn,
The Aqua Hot Control Unit retails for only $890.00.
Hope this helps.
Got the rebuilt AH ECU from Rudy. Super easy to R&R. It took longer to wiggle the cover out of the way than to swap the ECU. Treated the connectors to a dose of Deox-it before reconnecting.
The end result is that the burner now shuts down without rapidly cycling the fuel relay and igniter. RESULT!! The local AH guy will do a tune up on Tuesday while I watch so I can DIM next time.