PSA: Aqua-Hot 400D furnace problems

[Tiny Shoppe]

In Lyons, CO, after the 18" of snow, followed by a low of four degrees. I am new to the Aqua-Hot, scouring the operating manual, the internet and forums for information. We had hot water this morning, but no furnace. After my second call to Aqua-Hot's customer service, I got information from Jim, and he solved my issue. The 400D is too small to provide both continuous hot water and furnace demands. If there is water flowing in the motorhome, the furnace stops, and the system commits all of its resources to heating the water. With the forecasted (and achieved) 4 degree low overnight, I ran one bathroom sink faucet on hot and the other sink on cold, barely a stream above a fast drip, trying not to fill up the grey tank before morning. I had no problems with the water, but the furnace did not run from 11:00PM to 9:30AM, BECAUSE of the slight demand for water, yes, even cold water use will shut down the furnace. So, keep this in mind: Running water will shut down the Aqua-Hot furnace. Jim, at Aqua-Hot tech services, said that we should be fine in below zero weather, at least in terms of physical comfort. P.S.: The first call to Aqua-Hot's tech service resulted in a bad control board possibility...no help there...!

[MSHappyCampers]

Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

Wish I could help but I have no experience with the AquaHot. Noticed you are kinda new on the forum and wanted to say hello!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

[tankcj]

That seems strange that the AH would shut down the furnace when using cold water. If no water is flowing thru the AH, I would think it would still run the furnace. I have the 450D which I believe it is similar to yours except I have the engine preheat. My furnace will stay running if I only use cold water but will stop when there is a demand for hot water.

Why did you have to run the water? I assume you have a wet bay heater, correct?

BTW - in those temps, any RV will have a rough time keeping you comfortable!

[Tiny Shoppe]

I know, tankcj, I thought it was strange for the cold water as well, but sure enough, that is what happened. The Aqua-Hot tech said ANY water demand, including disconnecting the supply hose as one of the check list of items, if just turning off the faucets didn't work.


I let the water run, because we lost water at 10 degrees earlier in the month, so with a forecasted low of 4 degrees, I just wanted to make sure my water flowed in the A.M.. Since we are new to this rig, I am messing with all of the variables to make sure we are protected. Perhaps I did not have the bay thermostat set high enough at the 10 degree experience, and of course, I recently learned that zones 1 and 3 on my domestic thermostat are for the the house and zone 2 is for the basement. I also have a separate 12v. bay heater installed as well, because I was used to it on my former rig. We are from Minnesota, and I know it gets cold in Colorado, too. Mainly, my concern were the wind chill temperatures while driving. We will be moving on to warmer climates after the Holidays.



P.S. It was only a high of 24 during the day and down to 9 degrees the following night, but now that I know how the system works, we have been toasty and comfortable. No problem keeping the domestic heat at or above 70 degrees.

[DonB2]

Have the same system. Back in october in michigan it got cool before we left and the electric side had hard time keeping temp above 60 degrees inside.
Called aqua hot, tech said the electric side only puts out 5,000 btu's, and below 50 outside its hard for system to keep up. He said use the diesel burner when it gets that cold, that side puts out 50,000 btu's..
Kicked that on the next nite and waalaa. 67 all nite

[Ron Postma]

Get yourself a heated hose and you will never have to run a faucet again.

[HJLowell]

He ran hot water in one sink and cold in another.
For some reason.
But he was running hot.

Originally Posted by tankcj

That seems strange that the AH would shut down the furnace when using cold water. If no water is flowing thru the AH, I would think it would still run the furnace. I have the 450D which I believe it is similar to yours except I have the engine preheat. My furnace will stay running if I only use cold water but will stop when there is a demand for hot water.

Why did you have to run the water? I assume you have a wet bay heater, correct?

BTW - in those temps, any RV will have a rough time keeping you comfortable!

[37driver]

The key to not having problems with your Auqua Hot is yearly maintenance by someone that's an actual factory trained tech. That unit has the capability to make sane men into foul mouth ogars.

[Busskipper]

Originally Posted by Tiny Shoppe

In Lyons, CO, after the 18" of snow, followed by a low of four degrees.

I am new to the Aqua-Hot, scouring the operating manual, the internet and forums for information.

We had hot water this morning, but no furnace.

Simple - turn off the water and the furnace will run.

After my second call to Aqua-Hot's customer service, I got information from Jim, and he solved my issue.

The 400D is too small to provide both continuous hot water and furnace demands.

Correct it is in it's program - if there is ANT demand for Hot Water the heat is secondary to hot water.

If there is water flowing in the motorhome, the furnace stops, and the system commits all of its resources to heating the water.

Correct

With the forecasted (and achieved) 4 degree low overnight, I ran one bathroom sink faucet on hot and the other sink on cold, barely a stream above a fast drip, trying not to fill up the grey tank before morning.

Why? - Disconnect the water supply and work off the onboard tank in cold weather. Repeat do not run the water - or no Heat.

I had no problems with the water, but the furnace did not run from 11:00PM to 9:30AM, BECAUSE of the slight demand for water, yes, even cold water use will shut down the furnace.

No not normal - but as is said above Do not run the Water!

So, keep this in mind: Running water will shut down the Aqua-Hot furnace.

Think there may be a bleed between the hot and the cold as that is not in the Program. Again do not run the Water - Disconnect and use on board tank.

Jim, at Aqua-Hot tech services, said that we should be fine in below zero weather, at least in terms of physical comfort. P.S.:

He is Correct - turn off the water - bring in the hose - turn on the heat and enjoy Lyons and the Beautiful drives all around the area.

The first call to Aqua-Hot's tech service resulted in a bad control board possibility...no help there...!

Possible, but with the cost of a new Board - a little Operator Education can solve the issue - do not Drip water all night!

Few side notes from someone who has spent three winters in Golden - just a bit south down the road from Lyons - First a few pointers on Cold - even with a heated hose I always advise to disconnect at temp below say 20, just for piece of mind, as a burst hose will cause a lot of ICE sometimes thick ICE that will cause issues for the Future.

Next note, Stop at the Local Wal*Mart in Longmont and get yourself a few electric heaters to supplement the heat - usually you are on on the Parks Nickel for electric so it will save you diesel

Be sure the heat is on in the Basement - say 55 + so as to keep the floor over the basement warmer. While in Longmont maybe check with the Ace Hardware to see if they have some 48" Reflexic bubble insulation for the front windshield - this will really help you stay warm in the evening. (Just roll it up during the day)

I could go on and on but if you hang around all winter you will see MUCH COLDER TEMPS in your future - we did -17 10 nights straight one year - no problem.

Best of Luck,

[ecsproull]

@BusSkipper I realize this is a very old post but I noticed that you might have some experience with the basement heater:

"Be sure the heat is on in the Basement - say 55 + so as to keep the floor over the basement warmer. While in Longmont maybe check with the Ace Hardware to see if they have some 48" Reflexic bubble insulation for the front windshield - this will really help you stay warm in the evening. (Just roll it up during the day)"

In your experience will the basement heater work with electric only? Someone on our Discovery alias said they could only get it to come on with the Diesel burner.

Thanks.

[96 Wideglide]

Originally Posted by tankcj

My furnace will stay running if I only use cold water but will stop when there is a demand for hot water.

Same.

I've tested it.

[Busskipper]

Originally Posted by ecsproull

@BusSkipper I realize this is a very old post but I noticed that you might have some experience with the basement heater:

"Be sure the heat is on in the Basement - say 55 + so as to keep the floor over the basement warmer. While in Longmont maybe check with the Ace Hardware to see if they have some 48" Reflexic bubble insulation for the front windshield - this will really help you stay warm in the evening. (Just roll it up during the day)"

In your experience will the basement heater work with electric only? Someone on our Discovery alias said they could only get it to come on with the Diesel burner.

Thanks.

Not familiar with your exact system - So if you have a thermostat in the Basement turn it on with electric only and See. - - I ALWAYS keep a seperate remote Thermometer in my Basement and in the Sewer and Water compartment to be sure I'm fine.

Not to change the Subject but if Electric is provided and Free - think about a small heater - if the HH does not work as needed or a work light to keep the basement from freezing - something like this will produce, normally more than enough heat to keep the Basement from freezing. - https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-250-...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

In my TS Coach the HH keeps the basement safe on just electric and will generally keep the coach comfortable to say 40 degrees.

If I can be of more help just ask, I'll try to answer as best I can.

Hope this Helped,