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Topic: Winterize Aqua Hot if Leave Running but drain water lines? (Read 804 times) previous topic - next topic

Winterize Aqua Hot if Leave Running but drain water lines?

If I drain the water lines and tanks, and leave the Aqua Hot on to keep the coach at 55 degrees, do I need to do anything to the AH system?

The 2001 instruction book provides a note to disconnect the AH inlet and outlet water lines and tie (connect ?) together at the AH unit.

Is that necessary if we are not using any water in the coach while the lines remain drained?

Said to be 12 degrees one day, highs in 25 range.

I put the 200w heaters in some bays and also have bay heat from the AH system

Thanks....and no, we have not moved up north, north is just coming to east Texas!
Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: Winterize Aqua Hot if Leave Running but drain water lines?

Reply #1 –
Mike,  Leave AH diesel and electric element switches ON and no additional measures are needed to keep interior and basement above freezing.  Set interior thermostats down low, say 50 deg F and turn basement thermostat all the way to the right which will be 45 or 50 deg F.  Open cabinet doors below sinks.

The small water line to the ice maker is right at the wall and is likely to freeze unless you know it is drained.

The hole where the power cord exits the basement needs a rag to stuff it up and stop cold air entry.

You will use 2 to 3 gallons of diesel per 24 hour day.  Monitor grid power.  If over a day in length.  Run generator to recharge house batteries for over night use of AH.
Rudy Legett
2003 U320 4010 ISM 450 hp
2001 U320 4220 ISM 450 hp
1995 U320 M11 400 hp
1990 Granvilla 300 hp 3208T
Aqua Hot Service Houston and Southeast Texas

Re: Winterize Aqua Hot if Leave Running but drain water lines?

Reply #2 –
Mike, leaving the AH on will keep your big bay and the wet bay warm.  It is hard to get all of the water out by just draining the lines but you should do that to be as safe as possible. Be sure to open all of the faucets, shower, service bay faucet, and flush the toilet a few times until it looks pretty fry.  If you can used compressed air to blow the lines put you will do a better job at getting water out of all of the faucets but with heat on you should be OK.  Leave the faucets open and the tank and line drain valves open.

If the thermostat in the manifold side of the wet bay in the panel above your water pump is set to 35° or so the AH heat exchangers (one on each side of the wet bay) will come on an keep the bay at the thermostat setting.

You probably don't need to set the coach thermostat to 55°, 45° would be OK but so is 55°

At home in MN at these temps with the coach set to 40°, electric is sufficient.  Add diesel if there is concern about a power failure or if you want higher temps.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Winterize Aqua Hot if Leave Running but drain water lines?

Reply #3 –
Mike. Please fully understand that the aqua hot will not drain the water out of it by opening the drain valves. There is about thirty vertical loops about 18 inches in diameter. To remove the water from these loops is quite difficult to drain 100%. Failure to accomplish 100% may result in failure and costly repair.
Scott

Re: Winterize Aqua Hot if Leave Running but drain water lines?

Reply #4 –
Thanks of course Roger....read an earlier instruction you posted, it thorough. 

You reply today reminded me about shower faucet, not just the sinks!  And specifics.  If a new to this reader tunes in, i...just me...turn that bay thermostat until i hear the fan kick in...i cannot set mine by the temp scale on the dial, it is not accurate.


Anyway,  in the manual it talked about the AH water lines...glad you not say I need to disconnect those.

I did not know elec only (w/o diesel) would handle 12 degrees but I take it that relates also to temp you want to keep in the coach!  70 degrees might need diesel.

Spending more time on the house, hose bibs and pipes in exterior walls.....in Austin there is some thought circulating that need to cut off water at street, drain the house. Hmmm

Trying to feed thevbirds, they will be hungry.  Jackie said the birdseed will not do much for the bug eaters!  Ok, gotta find dead bugs.
Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: Winterize Aqua Hot if Leave Running but drain water lines?

Reply #5 –
Thanks Rudy....much.  The ice maker line connects under the sink....i will cut it off, hope with cabinet door open be ok.  It residential fridge.

Good idea get gen on, msybe "auto"?  In snow a few weeks ago we lost line power and i went out to start generator.  I knew auto would sense low batteries and come on but I forgot I used it once, left coach at Cummins not plugged in.  Thanks.
Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: Winterize Aqua Hot if Leave Running but drain water lines?

Reply #6 –
Dsd.....i gather though i not need to drain that water as will be leaving the AH running?

Your notation in this discussion is to be sure for a person new to this knows that part needs to get fully drained or proper antifreeze if you were to store with no heat? 

Thanks....always to all
Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: Winterize Aqua Hot if Leave Running but drain water lines?

Reply #7 –

Thanks....to all, hope you are warm, safe and well.
Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: Winterize Aqua Hot if Leave Running but drain water lines?

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Michael & Jackie –
If I drain the water lines and tanks, and leave the Aqua Hot on to keep the coach at 55 degrees, do I need to do anything to the AH system?

I put the 200w heaters in some bays and also have bay heat from the AH system

Thanks....and no, we have not moved up north, north is just coming to east Texas!

I grew up in the family business of heating oil sales and service, and the one thing my father groused about were the summer homes left with the heat set on 40F as that reduced the amount of time available before freezing if the heating system broke down.

Your U320 is a true 4-season coach, in my humble opinion, equivalent to a brick and mortar home.  With the addition that you have a full house generator whereas most homes don't.  Do you need to do anything to your AquaHot?  Yes, feed it diesel and electricity.

In my opinion, your desire to be proactive while admirable, is just an invitation to new problems later on.  12F one day?  To quote the great Alfred E. Neuman "What, Me worry?"  For the 12F night why not make it a date night for you and your wife?  And a down duvet.
1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.

Re: Winterize Aqua Hot if Leave Running but drain water lines?

Reply #9 –
Mike I just feel that when you look at the drains marked aqua hot one would assume that opening them would drain all the water for safe cold weather storage and that is "not how it works" Yes some water drains out but a majority does not. Keeping them powered up electric / diesel would be preferred.
Scott

Re: Winterize Aqua Hot if Leave Running but drain water lines?

Reply #10 –
Mike, I don't think you need to do anything with the "manifold by-pass".  The way I read tht it was for an LP,gas waterheater.

Scott is correct, it is hard to get all of the water out of the AH and everywhere else.  Even if you don't have an AH it is still not easy. If you leave the AH on it won't be a problem.  If you are somewhere where it can freeze and you can't keep the coach heated, drain everything out, used compressed air at about 30 psi to blow as much of the rest out as you can and fill all of the waterlines, traps, faucets, shower and toilet with RV antifreeze.  Takes about an hour and $20 to do.  Takes about an hour to undo.  Anything frozen anywhere will cost more in time and $ to fix.

Nacogdoches is going to be below freezing every night for a week.  And several days too.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Winterize Aqua Hot if Leave Running but drain water lines?

Reply #11 –
I went to Lowe's,  the crowd looks like one you see in preparation for a hurricane!
Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches
 

Re: Winterize Aqua Hot if Leave Running but drain water lines?

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Michael & Jackie –
I went to Lowe's,  the crowd looks like one you see in preparation for a hurricane!

Here in southern Georgia, many well heads are out in the yard, so the first sub-freezing night causes the same uproar at Lowe's that I'm used to seeing in New England before a Nor'Easter rolls into town.

Our baby Foretravel, our U225 is better insulated than the house in which I grew up and that was in Western, Massachusetts.  I have lived in 3-season motorhomes, and even our Grand Villa is a 4-season home.  You really have no worries, unless your power goes out and you can't start your diesel generator.  Because, you know, you're going to worry anyway.
1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.