Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Topic: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps (Read 2323 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Reply #25 – February 18, 2020, 09:35:02 pm

8 coach bucks to completely rebuild the aqua hot per Rudy plus shipping.
Not sure what all is replaced.

Re: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Reply #26 – February 18, 2020, 09:50:27 pm

Once out of the rv its not to difficult to take apart but its basically a boiler tank so depending on what they do... If its just the exterior copper tube replaced and new mastic.. you can do it yourself for $1000-1500 (my guess)

You can use most of the old parts but I would replace the shut off valves and the Mixing valve parts while I had it out.

New insulation or a new blanket like I did... Next time I would really consider shut of valves above each motor for maintenance .. still thinking of adding them but I had an idea to help with hot water supply that I borrowed from IRV2 I will add later..

Re: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Reply #27 – February 19, 2020, 07:10:45 am

Don't be shy David, inquiring minds want to know

Larry

Re: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Reply #28 – February 19, 2020, 09:26:00 am

Quote from: ohsonew – February 19, 2020, 07:10:45 am

Don't be shy David, inquiring minds want to know

Larry

So there is a guy on IRV2 that his Aquahot froze or whatever... Coolant side worked great but the fresh side was leaking... he ran a Flat plate heat exchanger in place of the waterside ... I had never heard of them and Looking at how they work they are pretty efficient so I stole the idea basics from him... On my water in I am going to put a small one in so that the water in the winter (or at all times if small enough and doesnt heat to hot in summer) so I can heat the water coming in to a warmer degree and that will help with the water demand for never ending hot water instead of the 1.8g we see in our aquahot... the hard part is the incoming water degree especially in the winter.... I am going to add this thing and maybe do a bypass also and see if my idea will actually work...

open to criticism here also.. jump in..

CBH16-13H - Alfa Laval CBH16-13H - 125,000 BTU/Hr (Domestic Water) CB16...

Re: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Reply #29 – February 19, 2020, 09:38:14 am

Using a plate exchanger is an innovative ideal. We use them in our process units and they are very efficient at heat transfer. I am interested in the outcome.

Re: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Reply #30 – February 19, 2020, 01:38:16 pm

David, what am I missing?? What is used to heat the water in the exchange? I downloaded the brochure and I see how it would exchange from one side to the other, but what is the heating element? What am I not seeing? If this is viable, it could save me a lot of effort on rebuilding the AH.

Larry

Re: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Reply #31 – February 19, 2020, 01:52:12 pm

coolant

Re: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Reply #32 – February 19, 2020, 02:04:07 pm

Either from the engine/engine preheat or the furnace? Interesting, but it would require one of those 2 to be running, correct? If so, when running the furnace for heat, would it also be able to supply enough heat for the hot water or would both suffer?

Larry

Re: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Reply #33 – February 19, 2020, 02:20:48 pm

Since coolant is running in opposing channels in the exchanger which could leak and co-mingle, you would want it to be a non-toxic coolant.

Re: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Reply #34 – February 19, 2020, 06:29:10 pm

Quote from: DayDreamer – February 19, 2020, 02:20:48 pm

Since coolant is running in opposing channels in the exchanger which could leak and co-mingle, you would want it to be a non-toxic coolant.

Could happen.. very doubtful

For those following snap disc thermostats here is a better idea as they come in different degrees

This might be the fix all on the thermostat questions

Given some time I am amazed at what I can find sometimes on the internet

Re: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Reply #35 – February 19, 2020, 07:26:09 pm

Here is where Rob&Matthew rebuilt their aqua hot years ago.
John M.

Aqua hot Rebuild

Re: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Reply #36 – February 19, 2020, 08:49:02 pm

David, that is basically the same type heat exchanger that is used in a high efficiency boiler. The problem we had was the heat exchanger did not have a user friendly way to remove mineral deposits from the water. I would recommend putting in extra ports with valves so you could easily fill it with white vinegar once a year let set for a couple of days then flush. They work great as long as they are clean inside.
Just my 2 c worth
Chris

Re: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Reply #37 – February 19, 2020, 09:07:02 pm

Quote from: Chris m lang – February 19, 2020, 08:49:02 pm

David, that is basically the same type heat exchanger that is used in a high efficiency boiler. The problem we had was the heat exchanger did not have a user friendly way to remove mineral deposits from the water. I would recommend putting in extra ports with valves so you could easily fill it with white vinegar once a year let set for a couple of days then flush. They work great as long as they are clean inside.
Just my 2 c worth
Chris

Was going to add valves at each port so I can remove if necessary. not set in doing yet so still working on it in my head

Re: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Reply #38 – February 19, 2020, 10:25:34 pm

Maybe this might be thought provoking. Consumer reports today had a report on using what we have used vinegar for. They are saying bad things about using it where it will come in contact with rubber, some metals.

So?

Maybe dishwasher cleaner would have a better line remover. They mention it in place of vinegar.

Just sharing.

Re: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Reply #39 – February 20, 2020, 06:14:57 am

John thanks for pulling up the link. That is the posting that I remember. I'm always amazed by the amount of vital information available on the forum and the willingness of its members to help find and share their knowledge. Just like Google knows all, it seems like when something is mentioned, someone here finds the right make, model or part # to help one another out.

Larry

Re: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Reply #40 – March 04, 2020, 06:31:07 pm

Coastal Builder. Any updates on your Aqua Hot?

Re: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Reply #41 – March 06, 2020, 07:40:55 am

OK, I called Aqua Hot yesterday. I was trying to find out what diameter, length and type of copper tube I need to buy in order to redo my fresh water system. The tech I talked with said he couldn't give me specific information on the unit because they hadn't made this style in 18 years (possibly before he was born from the sound of his voice). He was pretty certain that it took 50' of 1/2" copper tube to do the job. It also didn't matter if I used type K or type L copper tube, it just needed to wrap tight on the boiler. How disappointing that this is the tech advise available. Evidently it isn't important to even try to look up the information for the general public who own an older unit, which doesn't bring in thousands of dollars for the company.

I'll do my own research on this forum and get much more accurate, friendly results.

End of rant.

Thanks to all the forum members for their help and listening. And an extra big thank you to Rudy for taking the time to answer some questions on the phone. Truly a gentleman and a scholar. I hope to make it down that way to meet Rudy in person someday, and when I do, lunch is on me

Larry

Re: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Reply #42 – March 06, 2020, 10:40:38 am

The link John Morales put in the response above has the info I believe..

One other thing when you get to it..

When bleeding the system.. make sure you have the coach level to push the air out.. you will have issues if its not level..I can tell from experience..

Re: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Reply #43 – March 06, 2020, 07:27:14 pm

That might be interesting. The driveway is too steep to get completely level. I can get close but no cigar .

Larry

Re: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Reply #44 – May 20, 2020, 08:10:08 pm

I have not done anything yet on the AquaHot. It fires up great. It has sat for maybe 3 months now. I have fired it 3 or 4 times in that time and no problem. No white smoke in the exhaust. I do not have gallons of fluid under the coach. I got a new scope and can see inside. Pretty cool actually being able to look inside. The fluid is low but is above all the inside parts. It measures 7 inches from the TOP of the radiator cap tube to the coolant right now. The neck of the fill tube is really rusty and nasty. But I can't get a good look up at it after I go past it. I wonder if it's the neck issue I have read about. Still grasping at straws not to get a new or rebuilt unit. I could add 2 gallons a week for years for what it would cost to rebuild/replace.

Re: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Reply #45 – May 21, 2020, 07:47:11 am

Coastalbuilder. I would add fluid to the radiator fill neck. When it heats and expands it should go into the overflow tank. Inside the main tank are tubes running through the hot water solution for the engine preheat. When I rebuilt mine, the neck was highly corroded. I cleaned it up and got all the scale out of the tank. You really should locate where the leak is coming from to avoid moisture through the exhaust hole where it is possible for it to accumulate in the layer of foam between the fiberglass floor and bottom of the coach. The water could seep to the frame members, that would be no bueno.

Larry

Re: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Reply #46 – May 21, 2020, 08:24:44 am

Depending on how far down into the tank the filler neck is rusted you might be able to replace that. Call Rudy, he might be able to help you with a fix. I have a couple friends who did that, they cut off the old filler neck and replaced it with a rubber hose and new neck.

Re: Aqua Hot Circulating Pumps

Reply #47 – May 21, 2020, 08:34:35 am

The Roger Berke Fillier Neck Kit is a 30 minute soluton to a leaking radiator cap filler neck leak. Once installed, you are done with that problem.

PM me with your phone if this is of interest to you.

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