Community Forums

mel s · 09-14-2012, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wardy

Doc, I do like the radiator style heat as it is not the dry forced air you get from propane.

Can you explain why, or how, a propane furnace gives you DRY forced air?
The way I understand the operation of a propane RV furnace follows:
The fan, in the air supply side of the furnace, draws cold air from the living area of the coach... passes it over the sealed combustion side, which has been heated by the propane flame..... then the same air, now warmer, (but NOT dryer), returns to the living areas of the coach.
The humidity of the air in the coach can not/is not changed by the propane flame since the propane combustion takes place in a sealed combustion chamber, which is 100% isolated/separated from the air in the living area of the coach.
Mel
Suburban SF-42F 40,000 BTU propane furnace

lonestarace · 09-14-2012, 06:40 PM

AquaHot is wonderful thing if you can afford the additional up front cost. They usually come in hi-end coaches with lots of other expensive nice-it-tees.

Mike2007 · 09-14-2012, 06:43 PM

Whitetop

The jury is still out. I have had a 2001 Kountry Aire for 3 years and find the Hydro Hot aka Aqua Hot to have a few undesirable traits. If I am at a rally or
close quarters I feel obligated to use a Genturi so as to keep on speaking terms with my neighbor. The maintenance can be a pain. I use it most of all to avoid winterizing before I leave Ohio for the south in early December. The motoraid function is nice. We usually get 2+ showers on the electric heat. I have not purchased propane for 2 years.

The Kountry Aire is a comfortable, reliable, quality coach that is not recognized by many. Very few (15 in 2001) were built.

Mike 2007
2001 KADP 4084

Pigman1 · 09-14-2012, 07:14 PM

Mel, it's not the absolute humidity, it's the relative humidity. When you put an absolute amount of water in an air mass at a specific temp, the humidity number you get is a percentage of how much water you have in the air compared to how much it can hold. That's at that specific temp. Raise the temp and the air can hold more, so the relative humidity goes down. No less water, the warmer air can just hold more. That said, the body senses RELATIVE HUMIDITY way better than absolute, so you feel better when the heat goes up but the absolute amount of water doesn't increase. In an RV, normal people activities are always adding water to the air so the relative humidity goes up even when the temps are stable. That's why we need to crack a window or vent, especially in the newer, tighter rigs.

Pigman1 · 09-14-2012, 07:26 PM

I too am not a fan of the Aqua Hot type systems. My objections are primarily because we boondock a lot and Aqua Hot uses WAY more electricity to run. Also, there's no way to limit the system when it's constantly heating water I am not using and don't want. Vent/radiator fans, system pump, burner pump, etc., all consume more power than a BTU equivalent gas system. And as some responders have indicated, the system is also somewhat touchy as far as periodic maintenance and adjustment. Since we operate off grid a lot, and sometimes are in close quarters, it makes a big difference to us. For others who don't RV the way we do, the system may have advantages.

wardy · 09-15-2012, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mel stuplich

Can you explain why, or how, a propane furnace gives you DRY forced air?
The way I understand the operation of a propane RV furnace follows:
The fan, in the air supply side of the furnace, draws cold air from the living area of the coach... passes it over the sealed combustion side, which has been heated by the propane flame..... then the same air, now warmer, (but NOT dryer), returns to the living areas of the coach.
The humidity of the air in the coach can not/is not changed by the propane flame since the propane combustion takes place in a sealed combustion chamber, which is 100% isolated/separated from the air in the living area of the coach.
Mel
Suburban SF-42F 40,000 BTU propane furnace

Good morning Mel: What you explain is correct. But with propane systems the air heated is hotter than the air coming off the Aqua Hot heat exchangers. Therefore that "same" air's relative humidity decreases. Add in the higher velocity and volume of the forced-heated air and it can bother those with dry eye's or sinus. I've had both system's. I prefer Aqua Hot's heat and I would get it again. But as others have mentioned it does come with some negatives.

whitetop · 09-15-2012, 07:03 AM

Thanks to all who have replied.This is the reason for my questions (opinions from the users of a item) to help me complete my list for must have,want,and deal breakers.So far all the help we have got at this point has made it a lot eaiser on us to sort this out.So thanks again a Bunch ladies and gentelman for the free collage of motor coaching.

Five2o · 09-15-2012, 02:23 PM

How does changing a fuel filter (about 5 minutes) and changing out the burner nozzle (about 20minutes) once a year turn into more maintenance than a conventional furnace and separate hot water tank?

Cat320 · 09-15-2012, 02:30 PM

They are a bit pricey, but a nice addition. As for taking up storage...it takes one of my 12 storage bins. I manage to get by using the others.

B Bob · 09-15-2012, 09:26 PM

We bought our coach used and it came with aqua hot. Ours has been troublesome. The only big trip stopper repair on our current trip is when a fluid - air separator in the engine compartment that is in the aqua hot system decided to die. Getting a replacement locally was not possible. I had to contact Country Coach to find one for me. Since it is not cold now we just capped off the place where the broken part went. In the three years we have owned the coach I have repaired the aqua hot maybe 6-7 times.

When it works it puts out lots of good furnace heat. HOWEVER, the 5 recirculation pumps run all the time. That means sleeping when aqua hot is running can be a problem. We avoid really cold places. So we just have a 30 buck electric heater and run that in the coach. As far as hot water the electric one that came with the aqua hot is plenty good for my wife and I. It has ten gallons so we don't run out.

historyljc · 09-16-2012, 12:09 AM

My next coach will have it, or I won't have a next coach.

travelynne · 09-16-2012, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B Bob

We bought our coach used and it came with aqua hot. Ours has been troublesome. The only big trip stopper repair on our current trip is when a fluid - air separator in the engine compartment that is in the aqua hot system decided to die. Getting a replacement locally was not possible. I had to contact Country Coach to find one for me. Since it is not cold now we just capped off the place where the broken part went. In the three years we have owned the coach I have repaired the aqua hot maybe 6-7 times.

When it works it puts out lots of good furnace heat. HOWEVER, the 5 recirculation pumps run all the time. That means sleeping when aqua hot is running can be a problem. We avoid really cold places. So we just have a 30 buck electric heater and run that in the coach. As far as hot water the electric one that came with the aqua hot is plenty good for my wife and I. It has ten gallons so we don't run out.

Only ten gallons of water for 2 showers??? That's what, maybe 5 minutes each? Obviously utilitarian only ... it takes 10 mins of hot water massage on the back of my neck just to de-stress!

wardy · 09-16-2012, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B Bob

We bought our coach used and it came with aqua hot. Ours has been troublesome. The only big trip stopper repair on our current trip is when a fluid - air separator in the engine compartment that is in the aqua hot system decided to die. Getting a replacement locally was not possible. I had to contact Country Coach to find one for me. Since it is not cold now we just capped off the place where the broken part went. In the three years we have owned the coach I have repaired the aqua hot maybe 6-7 times.

When it works it puts out lots of good furnace heat. HOWEVER, the 5 recirculation pumps run all the time. That means sleeping when aqua hot is running can be a problem. We avoid really cold places. So we just have a 30 buck electric heater and run that in the coach. As far as hot water the electric one that came with the aqua hot is plenty good for my wife and I. It has ten gallons so we don't run out.

Wow Bob: That sounds awful. One of the things I like about mine is that it DOES NOT run the recirculation pumps constantly. In fact my unit is far quieter than my previous RV's heat that ran on propane. I know I'm stating the obvious but maybe you should consider having a complete rebuild to include new a logic board and the plumbing. At least you'd know what you have plus a warranty.

Steve Ownby · 09-16-2012, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wardy

Wow Bob: That sounds awful. One of the things I like about mine is that it DOES NOT run the recirculation pumps constantly. In fact my unit is far quieter than my previous RV's heat that ran on propane. I know I'm stating the obvious but maybe you should consider having a complete rebuild to include new a logic board and the plumbing. At least you'd know what you have plus a warranty.

X2.

Find Roger Burke's forum on hydronic heat and give him a call. Your system is not working correctly and Roger is the most knowledgeable AH tech in the business. The pumps should not be running constantly. I have no idea what the air separator is. There is a fuel filter but I can't imagine how it would just break. It sounds like an unqualified person got this system screwed up before you bought it. On my coach the AH is seamless and trouble free. I leave the electric and diesel turned on 24/7/365 and it just operates in the background.