Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Topic: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues (Read 1297 times) previous topic - next topic

Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

June 06, 2016, 10:50:40 pm

Took the coach into a local shop (they do minor maint on coaches) to check a water leak at the wet bay. They noticed water dripping from the exhaust/drain area underneath the aquahot bay. Not good at all. They could see ripples from a drip into the AH pan, The pan is full of clear water, So obviously part of the hot water circuit. Which I understand is most likely a terminal condition for the aquahot unit.

I will have to schedule an appointment with a qualified AH tech when we return from a 10 day trip to Leavenworth and the Foretravel NW rally. Of course any suggestions as to whether it might be something else that's a non-terminal condition would be appreciated. My AH is an AHE-100-02S

Also found a leaking PEX line at the coach fresh water pump (which explains the wet floor in the wet bay) which was repaired.

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #1 – June 06, 2016, 11:00:32 pm

We rebuilt our aquahot in the garage over the 4 days. Getting it in and out was the worst, the rest was relatively easy. The most technical was photos and labels for the wiring connections and basic plumbing soldering skills. Our unit was frozen and bust the fresh water coils on the top. The boiler unit will out live me. We also increased the insulation in the unit. Cost us. About $500. 1/4 inch copper tubing to re-wrap the unit and new "cement" to bond the pipe to the boiler.

I have photos if your interested.

Best of luck.

Matthew

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #2 – June 06, 2016, 11:10:37 pm

Quote from: Rob & Matthew – June 06, 2016, 11:00:32 pm

We rebuilt our aquahot in the garage over the 4 days. Getting it in and out was the worst, the rest was relatively easy. The most technical was photos and labels for the wiring connections and basic plumbing soldering skills. Our unit was frozen and bust the fresh water coils on the top. The boiler unit will out live me. We also increased the insulation in the unit. Cost us. About $500. 1/4 inch copper tubing to re-wrap the unit and new "cement" to bond the pipe to the boiler.

I have photos if your interested.

Best of luck.

Matthew

Is yours centrally located under the floor or did you have access from a bay door?

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #3 – June 06, 2016, 11:16:14 pm

Check in with. Rudy

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #4 – June 06, 2016, 11:17:19 pm

Yours isn't accessible behind panel in bay?

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #5 – June 06, 2016, 11:30:36 pm

Quote from: Tim Fiedler – June 06, 2016, 11:17:19 pm

Yours isn't accessible behind panel in bay?

It's accessible but just barely. No way I could drag that 200 lb thing out whilst laying on my belly between two Joey beds.

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #6 – June 07, 2016, 12:34:16 am

I will admit, it was tough to get out. I removed the Joey Bed and placed down 2x4's to slide it out onto a dolly. Mine tucked up in between the batteries and propane tank. I had to use a mirror and long socket to remove the holdings bolts. I also used a wet vac as I disconnected the lines to keep everything tidy. It was worth the work to save $10,000. Seemed scary, but once I broke it down into pieces, was not so bad. I was also fascinated when up I was able to see how it all works. Very efficient, trouble free design.

Matthew

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #7 – June 07, 2016, 06:02:42 am

Bigdog -

Had similar issue with mine that turned out to be a leaking water line connection - my unit is 600D but easy repair.

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #8 – June 07, 2016, 06:22:47 am

Bigdog, I found the fittings connecting the Aqua Hot to the house system were leaking. If yours is plumbed like mine, you'll see two lines going into the unit on the lower left side. The leaking fittings are just inside the cover, close enough to the left so as not to have to remove the burner. Tightening them required less than 1/8 turn. So little, in fact, that I couldn't image it could be the source of the leak.

Getting the cover off was a challenge, as was finding a comfortable working position. During this task I developed a huge amount of respect for those who do this work all the time. HUGE.

Once the lid is off, might as well service it if it's due. Get parts here: http://www.parts.rvhydronicheaterrepair.com/main.sc Excellent customer service and information.

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #9 – June 07, 2016, 09:16:08 am

Quote from: Rob & Matthew – June 06, 2016, 11:00:32 pm

We rebuilt our aquahot in the garage over the 4 days. Getting it in and out was the worst, the rest was relatively easy. The most technical was photos and labels for the wiring connections and basic plumbing soldering skills. Our unit was frozen and bust the fresh water coils on the top. The boiler unit will out live me. We also increased the insulation in the unit. Cost us. About $500. 1/4 inch copper tubing to re-wrap the unit and new "cement" to bond the pipe to the boiler.

I have photos if your interested.

Best of luck.

Matthew

Is 1/4 inch tubing what we have flowing our hot water? The tubing going into the riveted box is bigger on my coach.

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #10 – June 07, 2016, 10:03:09 am

As always, when an AQ problem comes up I offer mine to anyone who wants to take it out. It has a fresh water leak and I'm tired of trying to keep it working. I'm in southern Wisconsin for the summer if anyone's interested.

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #11 – June 07, 2016, 10:50:09 am

I certainly hope it's just a loose connection and not the coils.

I will make an appointment with a qualified AH shop to positively identify the issue.

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #12 – June 07, 2016, 11:14:41 am

Bigdog, contact Rudy, or Roger Burk, both are forum members and see what they have to say. Good luck and see you I Idaho.

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #13 – June 07, 2016, 02:21:39 pm

Hi Big Dog,

John Carrillo at jcarillo@aqua-hotservices.com is in Colorado and a good man who will try and help. Hopefully it is just a leaking connection?? Still good fun crawling around down in the bay looking for it. The stainless cover comes off with a few screws so you can look inside. To remove the thing there is a steel upright that has to come out and then you need to support the roof while it is out.
Speedbird 1.

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #14 – June 07, 2016, 05:09:06 pm

We have used John's expert services three times. 100% satisfied. Recommended by Rudy. He has rebuilt systems and major components. He is just north of Denver in Frederick, CO. St. Vrain State Park is nearby.

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #15 – June 07, 2016, 09:36:13 pm

Speedbird, Roger. I did talk to John today. John said if there were no drips from the lines and drips were coming from above that is a sure indication of coil failure. John is booked up till the first week of July.

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #16 – June 07, 2016, 10:24:26 pm

First week in July, that is not far off. About the same distance for you as for us. Hope it goes well.

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #17 – June 08, 2016, 12:56:12 am

Where is Roger Berkes shop at?

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #18 – June 08, 2016, 01:02:47 am

The tubing around your boiler is 1/4 inch copper. There is a reducer after your mixing valve. You should have 1\2 standard PEX connections bringing water in and out of the unit. I was having trouble with my mixing valve so I put a reducer on hot line out so the piping after the mixing valve matched the actual copper tubing around the boiler. I like the older units with tubing around Ted boiler versus inside. Allows us run with standard antifreeze.

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #19 – June 08, 2016, 09:40:09 am

I understand Roger Burke is mobile. He spent last summer in Oregon. He is mainly a parts supplier but you will have to call and ask.

RV Hydronic Heater Repair - Home

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #20 – June 08, 2016, 08:06:25 pm

Roger is based in Sacramento. He is far more than a parts supplier-he's an excellent service tech.

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #21 – June 08, 2016, 09:28:17 pm

I am agree, he is one of the best roving aqua hot repair people you could find.
Jim

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #22 – June 08, 2016, 10:52:01 pm

I hear from one who knows that Roger Burke summers in Bandon, OR and winters in Canyon Lake, TX.

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #23 – June 08, 2016, 11:11:30 pm

Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 – June 08, 2016, 10:52:01 pm

I hear from one who knows that Roger Burke summers in Bandon, OR and winters in Canyon Lake, TX.

I would imagine that a total AH R&R would be a bit much for a mobile tech with no shop (no matter how good he is) Perhaps the folks at RnR in Spokane might be an option as the cost of the new AH is the same no matter where it's swapped out at and they know the Foretravel brand. Plus It's only a three hour drive to Spokane from wally world and I have an old military comrade I can stay with as well.

I just hope that my coach appreciates that I just sold my Caterham super 7 (the car in my avatar) to buy a new Aqua Hot unit. 8 months of ownership and $15K in repairs (so far)

Re: Oh! Oh! Aquahot leakage issues

Reply #24 – June 09, 2016, 12:23:08 am

Talk to Roger Burke about the AH as he gave us a good price on anew unit couple years ago when I replaced my friends in his C Coach while visiting us here at home.
JohnH

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