Aqua Hot or not?

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Aqua Hot or not?

January 12, 2012, 10:45:06 am

We haven't gotten far enough into Foretravels to determine whether a coach that would interest us would have Aqua Hot or similar equipment as either standard or optional. I've read that people who have them love them as long as they are working properly, but repairs can be expensive. Should such a system be on our "must have," "nice to have," "optional," or "rather not have" list? Why?

Re: Aqua Hot or not?

Reply #1 – January 12, 2012, 11:03:49 am

While our repairs on our Aqua Hot have been expensive, one must realize it was installed in 1996; and, the several parts we have had repaired/replaced were due to normal wear. We love the efficiency of the Aqua Hot over propane heating (we've had both). We never want for hot water, especially when hooked up to shore power and the electric part of Aqua Hot is left on. When outside temps drop below, say 45 degrees, we turn on the diesel function, and stay toasty warm without the noise of propane furnaces. If given the choice we'd buy a rig with Aqua Hot again.

P.S. Don't forget, we have a great resource in Forum member Roger Berke, the guru of Aqua Hot!

Re: Aqua Hot or not?

Reply #2 – January 12, 2012, 11:04:12 am

In my opinion, and I do not have Aqua Hot & we do not full time, if you full time, the AH would be very very nice...added costs included.

Re: Aqua Hot or not?

Reply #3 – January 12, 2012, 11:43:41 am

Being in the South and staying in cold areas for only short periods of time, I find the U295 with two furnaces and hot water heater very adequate. I had a U270 before this coach and this coach really meets my needs without the added cost of operating aqua hot. I like the added features of the 295 over the 270. DAN

Re: Aqua Hot or not?

Reply #4 – January 12, 2012, 12:43:01 pm

David, my budget is similar to what you previously stated, $30Kish. You had also mentioned you're 2 years out. I guess things could change by 2014, but I've not seen any FT with Aquahot listed under $60K.

Re: Aqua Hot or not?

Reply #5 – January 12, 2012, 12:58:40 pm

I don't have Aqua Hot and we have been plenty comfy down to temperatures in single digits with the two furnaces (one of them acting a bit weird from time-to-time) with enough hot water to do dishes. We haven't tried extended showers but most RV parks have good ones (the last one had a wonderful warm shower building).

We have 4 years before we can go full-time and if we get another coach we probably would not make an Aqua Hot a make-or-break part of the purchasing decision. If we like the coach in all other respects - and it does not have an AH - then we'd probably buy it anyway. If the coach has an AH then I'd want to check it closely for problems. I can remove and repair the Atwood furnaces myself, the AH; not so much.

And, frankly, even though I love to cross-country ski, once we full-time we're headed south in the winter where heat is not as much of an issue.

Craig

Re: Aqua Hot or not?

Reply #6 – January 12, 2012, 01:59:56 pm

David,

I have had two Foretravels without AquaHot and two with AquaHot. I vote for VERY nice to have. I use the electric heat function to keep from having to winterize (my coach is hooked up to 50A here in East Tennessee when not in use). The heat from either of the three sources (diesel, electric, radiator) is warm, toasty and lovely. The hot water from any of the three sources is instant unless more than one shower is needed then the electric is not enough and the diesel boiler has to be fired up. All in all, it is a VERY nice addition.

hbc

Re: Aqua Hot or not?

Reply #7 – January 12, 2012, 02:10:00 pm

We have two propane furnaces but travel with the upper crust who have Aquahot. So far our 93 furnaces and hot water heater have given us no problems. Not so for the Aqua Hots. My suggestion is that if you have a relatively comfortable operating budget, get the Aquahot. They provide quieter heat and more hot water. But if you don't mind giving up long showers and putting up with a little noise from a conventional furnace blower, stay with the propane furnace. I can take a shower just fine with our old 6 gallon hot water heater. If I ever have to replace the hot water heater it will be a 10 gallon gas/electric but 6 is adequate for now. And we do full time.

Re: Aqua Hot or not?

Reply #8 – January 12, 2012, 02:56:12 pm

I don't miss it when I've never had it. We use the heat strips in the ac units until it gets to freezing.

Re: Aqua Hot or not?

Reply #9 – January 12, 2012, 05:08:05 pm

Just adds another level of complexity to an already complex motorhome. Probably pretty trouble free the first few years but when you get into the older rigs, got to expect some maintenance that the owner may have to farm out. With two cabin heaters plus the 3 way water heater, I figure we're pretty safe on any kind of trip in case of a failure.

The stock heaters are pretty wasteful (and noisy), especially if you put your hand on the outside exhaust.

Pierce

Re: Aqua Hot or not?

Reply #10 – January 12, 2012, 06:01:42 pm

I agree with Kent & Pierce. You can get by without but...my next coach (if I live that long) will probably have an Aqua Hot. The noise and uneven heat from the furnaces is what brothers me.

It really depends on how and where you use your coach. I'm toughing it out in Denver this winter and I'm so over the furnaces cycling constantly.

see ya
ken

Re: Aqua Hot or not?

Reply #11 – January 12, 2012, 08:09:02 pm

Here's my opinion... we have an Aqua hot and when it works, it's nice to have. It's our 1st experience with one. I have already spent $800 on a new fuel pump and annual service. In my "other brand" RV we used propane to heat the RV when temps dropped below 40F. If I had a choice, I'd skip the AH and deal with propane heat. It really depends how you plan to travel in your RV I suppose. I can say that when we full timed for 2 years, I never had to spend money on AH maintenance and we survived temps in the 20's.

. These things ( Aqua Hots) can be expensive to maintain. Just my opinion...

Re: Aqua Hot or not?

Reply #12 – January 13, 2012, 12:41:35 am

Owned two Foretravels with propane. Our current has Aqua-Hot.....Would be hard pressed to return to propane...Usually, problems with them is lack of use..they like to be used on both electric and diesel.. Full timing so we use regularly. FWIW>>

Re: Aqua Hot or not?

Reply #13 – January 13, 2012, 01:36:15 am

two FT with Propane, now a U-320 with Aqua Hot - no comparison - despite expense and Maintenance - not going back

Re: Aqua Hot or not?

Reply #14 – January 13, 2012, 02:28:37 am

We're full-timers and have just one propane furnace, which is noisy and inefficient but reliable and keeps us plenty warm.

We also have a little Wave3 catalytic which does most of the heating unless we're in really cold areas.

When we're in really really cold areas (not too often), we're hooked up and mostly use electric heaters with the Wave3.
Furnace starts coming on when it gets below 20 or so.

Our concern with Aquahot is mainly the space it takes in the bay. We're full to the gills and don't want to give up any storage.

Re: Aqua Hot or not?

Reply #15 – January 13, 2012, 09:53:34 am

Quote

Our concern with Aquahot is mainly the space it takes in the bay. We're full to the gills and don't want to give up any storage.

I don't see that mine takes up any space in the bay. It's pretty much flush with the forward wall of the forward storage in my 1999 U320 40ft

best, paul

Re: Aqua Hot or not?

Reply #16 – January 13, 2012, 10:37:57 am

Quote from: Jeff Savournin – January 13, 2012, 12:41:35 am

Owned two Foretravels with propane. Our current has Aqua-Hot.....Would be hard pressed to return to propane...Usually, problems with them is lack of use..they like to be used on both electric and diesel.. Full timing so we use regularly. FWIW>>

Yeah. . .what Jeff said. Mike Rogers at MoT said that to us when we came in for round #2 repairs. . ."Use the diesel at least once a week to keep it happy (sic)." We had (we thought wisely) mostly used the electric to save wear & tear on the diesel. Wrong! Just like using your diesel powered motorhome to forestall idle deterioration, the same goes for the Aqua Hot. We have used ours regularly since October, even when temperatures didn't warrant it, and good 'ol AH is purring nicely right now (24 degrees outside this morning).

Re: Aqua Hot or not?

Reply #17 – January 13, 2012, 12:36:48 pm

We have been full timing for 10 years in our Foretravel and Aqua Hot is on our must NOT have list.

Re: Aqua Hot or not?

Reply #18 – January 13, 2012, 02:49:19 pm

Quote from: Barry & Cindy – January 13, 2012, 12:36:48 pm

We have been full timing for 10 years in our Foretravel and Aqua Hot is on our must NOT have list.

I'm definitely with Barry.
There is an 800 lb. gorilla in the room here, folks! He costs a lot and STINKS!
Plus the "To KISS or not to KISS" issue?
We've been using our coach and propane furnace, "near" or full-time, since July of 1998 in the full range of US climates.
We've also been around other "near" or "full" timers with Aqua Hot systems. I've helped other FT owners tear-down and replace two failed Aqua Hot systems (Think BIG $$$$$'s). I've also watched as other FT owners went through months of frustration trying to overcome Aqua Hot delicacies and idiosyncrasies.

Most recently, I watched a Prevost conversion owner, at the Farmington, NM FMCA Regional Rally, spend several thousand dollars having his four year old unit removed and having it rebuilt while at the Rally. He eventually had to leave the Rally with a unit that stank to the high heavens every time it ran. The authorized repair service technicians (that worked on it for three days) never did get it correctly repaired/tuned. The owner was headed to the Phoenix area and a different service outfit.
Our next door neighbor in Florida (high end American Coach Product), has similar tuning issues. He's spent a small fortune having it tuned and retuned (by at least three different service outfits) but it still drives one out of the area whenever the Aqua Hot runs (which is every time they take a shower, run their dishwasher or do a wash, because American uses a smaller tank and a smaller capacity electrical heating element).
To my way of thinking, what it really boils down to is whether one wants to "keep it simple, s_____" or not (to KISS or to not KISS), if you will.
The propane furnaces and hot water heaters may be noisier but they provide copious, instant, reliable heat and hot water. They are easy to maintain, repair, and even replace, all at very low cost.
We only use the propane furnace infrequently (for quick heat in the mornings and when the roof air heat strips don't keep us comfortable -- when outside temperatures go below 32 F).
We only use the propane hot water when boon docking. Otherwise the Cummins engine coolant loop and the shore power or gen set supplied electric element is more than adequate for long showers and for all other demands.
We are using the 13 year old (+) original installed equipment and the most expensive maintenance/repair part has been a mud-dauber screen to keep the mud wasps out of the propane furnace burner.
Not the greatest in bells n' whistles but not suffering (or making neighbors suffer) either.
FWIW
Neal

Re: Aqua Hot or not?

Reply #19 – January 14, 2012, 07:00:02 am

I agree with the expense of owning an AquaHot. But otherwise it sure is nice to have!

One thing that no one has mentioned is the PLACEMENT of the AquaHot in the coach. Some installations are easy to get to for most service requirements. However, in our 1997 U320 the dang thing is in the center of the coach and a real bear to service. So how the AH is positioned in the coach is of some significance.

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