Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 14, 2025 ...

DIY Aqua Hot maintenance

September 03, 2013, 07:44:54 pm

How many members do their own maintenance and repairs? Are these systems so complex that the average mechanically savvy owner can't do minor repairs and adjustments? I can't see paying to have something done that I can do myself. What is the consensus here?

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Re: DIY Aqua Hot maintenance

Reply #1 – September 03, 2013, 07:50:51 pm

Aside from one under-warranty zone valve and the electric element in the first few months we had the coach in 2004, ours has never needed repair.  Steve has done the routine maintenance on ours himself for at least the last 7 years.

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Re: DIY Aqua Hot maintenance

Reply #2 – September 03, 2013, 08:50:51 pm

Nothing your average rocket scientist from Huntsville can't handle. 

As Michelle says, it is a reliable system and the routine maintenance is easy enough.  I have had a couple of issues with mine but with the help of Roger and Rudy I was able to make repairs myself.  Once you dig into it, it is a very straight forward system.  Other than the cramped access in my model of Foretravel, it is really pretty easy to work on. 

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Re: DIY Aqua Hot maintenance

Reply #3 – September 03, 2013, 09:17:39 pm

Royce,

It is not rocket science so I believe you can do the maintenance if you can work your tools.  As I tell folks, if I can do it, you can too.

Roger is a great source of parts as he sells them at a modest discount and usually no ship and no tax.  Purchasing parts from Roger supports him and his forum.  Roger has been most helpful to many many folks.

Roger and I have a few special tools that make our work easier and faster, but then we use them all the time.  You can get by with out them and the manuals available on-line at the AH website will tell you how.

Please join Roger's AH forum.  You can ask any question and get an informed reply.

The link to the forum is here  Register at RV Hydronic Heater Forum

I needed to edit the post because I forgot to end by saying ROLL TIDE.

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Re: DIY Aqua Hot maintenance

Reply #4 – September 04, 2013, 12:06:23 pm

Here's my system on Aquahot maint.  I purchased a rebuilt burner assembly from Roger.  When the Aquahot fails, I try a new nozzle and filter.  If that doesn't cure the problem I install the spare burner and send the old one to Roger for repair.  The burner can be removed and replaced in less than 20 minutes.  The best part of this system is you always have heat.     

Dave VanAmburg

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Re: DIY Aqua Hot maintenance

Reply #5 – September 04, 2013, 08:24:39 pm

Thanks to everyone. I don't even have a coach yet, but want to be as knowledgeable as possible in making my decision. I feel certain that we want an Aqua Hot in our next coach. I will definitely join Roger's forum.

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Re: DIY Aqua Hot maintenance

Reply #6 – September 04, 2013, 08:53:40 pm

With Rudy's help I connected with John Carrillo in the Denver area to get my AH back up and running.  I needed a new spark coil.  I had the great fortune of getting to watch John take the AH apart, pull the burner assembly, clean everything, replace all of the replaceable parts and the spark coil.  The main tools he had that seemed specialized were the spark gap adjustment and setting tool and a long reach socket extension with a flexible joint.  It made getting at the burner hold down nuts on the back side (the hard side to get at).  In our coach You have to crawl into the basement to get at the AH.  For a 6'2" fellow who is somewhat less flexible than he was 40 years ago the first entry/exit was challenging.  From the outside it probably looked pretty funny.  The DW, bless her soul, learned a long time ago to withhold her laughter at least until I was vertical again.  Then I can usually join in.

So between Rudy for tech support and Roger for parts and great service and some training by watching from John I will give the annual cleaning and maint a go at least until I run into trouble.

Best practice seems to be run the AH at least once a month all year round.  Same thing for the generator.

Roger

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