Future owner hot water question

[1atom12]

Please bear with the silly newbie questions... We expect to pick up our new to us 18 Anthem 44A in a few weeks...

How does the hot water system work in an 18 Anthem? I realize there is an Aquahot 450D that supplies hot water for the floors, furnace and the hot water fixtures, etc., but is the hot water at the faucets and shower instant? In our current coach, with a "tankless" hot water heater, it takes a solid 45 seconds to a minute to get actual hot water out of a faucet or the shower. Does the Aquahot circulate hot water throughout the hot water loop in the coach or does it only come on when there is a demand for hot water like turning on the shower or a faucet? In our current coach, we waste a bunch of grey tank capacity during showers waiting on hot water to return to the shower head even when only turned off for a minute or so while lathering up.

Thanks,
Adam

[Victory Blue]

Congratulations on the Anthem and welcome!

Hot water is not instant; I’d say it takes 20 to 30 seconds for hot water to get to our shower head. Once hot water is at the faucet there isn’t an additional wait time for hot water if you turn it off to lather up (navy shower, I guess). You could save water by collecting it while waiting for it to get hot and/or by taking back to back showers. Collected water is easy to put back in the tank through the winterizing hose.

It’s actually heated boiler fluid that heats the water and that is circulated throughout the coach for floor heat and Aquahot “register” heat.

[RubiconTrail]

Originally Posted by Victory Blue

Hot water is not instant; I’d say it takes 20 to 30 seconds for hot water to get to our shower head.

Agreed. It is, however, endless and runs off diesel so no need for propane fillups, which is nice.

I've entertained installing one of these as it bothers me when boondocking to dump fresh water into the grey tank for the purpose of warming up the shower.

https://aquaviewinc.com/product/smwc...l-unit-chrome/

Probably not worth the trouble, but maybe...

[Wrapped]

I'm also looking at aqua view $50. Can't beat the price looking for someone who's done it.

[Victory Blue]

Originally Posted by RubiconTrail

Agreed. It is, however, endless and runs off diesel so no need for propane fillups, which is nice.

I've entertained installing one of these as it bothers me when boondocking to dump fresh water into the grey tank for the purpose of warming up the shower.

https://aquaviewinc.com/product/smwc...l-unit-chrome/

Probably not worth the trouble, but maybe...

Originally Posted by Wrapped

I'm also looking at aqua view $50. Can't beat the price looking for someone who's done it.

Something similar, if not the same, is an option on Newmar coaches; factory installed of course. You’ll probably get good feedback posting a question on the Newmar forum.

[oneknight]

Unlike the "instant tankless" water heaters, there is hot water in the aquahot as long either (or both) the electric or deisel heaters are on.

We get hot water to the rear bathroom fixtures pretty quick, 5 seconds if that.

[voltdoc]

Originally Posted by RubiconTrail

Agreed. It is, however, endless and runs off diesel so no need for propane fillups, which is nice.

I've entertained installing one of these as it bothers me when boondocking to dump fresh water into the grey tank for the purpose of warming up the shower.

https://aquaviewinc.com/product/smwc...l-unit-chrome/

Probably not worth the trouble, but maybe...

To the OP, takes us about 10-25 seconds to get hot water to the showerhead depending on weather and state from previous usage. Equates to less than a quart to as much as a half gallon of wasted water.

Made suggestion to Pat Carroll a couple of times to add recirc option, but... For now when dry camping we use the bucket method.

Also looking at the showermiser but we have a rear bath and a return line needs to be run back to the wet bay (to the tank or inlet side of pump). In our B that means getting into the plumbing/wiring chase under the bed. Would love to hear if someone has done this - or figured out another way to add a recirculating option.

Still think that plastic blue temp indicator on the showermiser is butt ugly.

Does anyone have a detailed diagram of the Entegra fresh water system?

[1atom12]

Thanks all for your input. Sounds like we are going to be in much better shape than our current "tankless" hot water heater in our Palazzo.

[DeWat]

I agree with all of the previous answers about it taking maybe 20-30 seconds to get the actual hot water. This is because there will be a slight delay for the hot water which is heated and always available (as long as the Aquahot is turned on when parked) to get from the heated fresh water loop in the Aquahot to the faucet calling for the hot water. Another benefit not mentioned is that the fact that you will always have hot water available when driving. The 450D has an engine loop that uses the engine heat to heat Aquahot (including the fresh water loop) when driving, even when the Aquahot is not actually turned on.

[DeeGee]

Be aware that the coolant loop through the AquaHot can be a source of leaks. We thought we had another bad radiator, but it turned out to be the hose entering the AH unit, leaking coolant onto it.