General Boards > Sources for Suppliers, Parts and Maintenance Materials
Hydro Hot Service
Louis Williams:
I have had my Hydro Hot serviced by Alliance Coach in Wildwood, FL without problems. They are currently a Monaco & Holiday Rambler dealer. This was previously the eastern Monaco Service Center. They are one of our sponsors. Telephone # 352-330-3800. This facility is located 5 miles east of I-75 on State Route 44 in Wildwood whics ic about 25 miles south or Ocala.
Bill Sprague:
--- Quote from: Bill Jourdain ---Thanks for all of the helpful advice and comments. While I am fairly handy with some things, this is not one of them. I will track down the nearest authorized service center and head that way.
I am curious about winterization of this system, especially based on Bill's response. The Hydro Hot manual really does not suggest anything other than the standard water system winterization. What steps are required to properly winterize a Hydro Hot system?
Thanks.
Bill
--- End quote ---
Bill
The problem is with three methods that don't work. In other RVs it can be done by (1) complete draining or (2) blowing out the system with compressed air. Those won't get the water out of the low points on the heat exchange coils. If you (3) plug in and leave the electric element on, it will protect against freezing but not if the element fails or the power goes out -- like happens in a winter storm.
The only way you can be 100% sure with a Aqua/Hydro Hot equipped motorhome is to pump the system full of pink RV water system antifreeze. To get everything, including the washer/dryer, mine takes slightly over 4 gallons.
Of course the best way is to winter in Arizona.
Bill (the other one)
Edward Buker:
Bill,
I'm not sure if this is exactly the same for a Hydro Hot as it is for an Aqua Hot which I have. The burners do not share the same technology, but in general, you can tell a lot about these units and when a service might be needed by the exhaust. How much smoke is apparent, should be none except maybe a puff at start up, if it ignites immediately and never misfires, and cuts off as it is supposed to, and if it sounds smooth and even as a tuned burner should. An hour meter would also be a big help here given many owners do not put many hours on these units. When they say a yearly service that could mean 500hrs for one unit and 50hrs for another. Mine does not get many hours, maybe 50 a year, and I will probably go three years between burner service unless there is a sign of exhaust smoke or a misfire issue.
From what I have seen I would not service by interval if there was a way to do it by hours. I would also opt for more hours on my unit if it was running well and wait until I had an expert service person is handy to do the job. Many of these units come out running worse after a service when a true expert who works on these units all the time is not available.
I have been exercising my burner once a month whether I am camping or not which helps keep it functioning well. There is speculation that the oil at the nozzle orfice can dry out and the residue can then partially block the orfice and can also affect the pattern of the burner which dictates how well it maintains its tolerances to the ignition electrodes. The flow at the nozzle provides a major component of the fuel air ratio so it needs to be clean. These are some of the smallest orfice sizes in the industry so keeping the fuel and the nozzle orfice clean is a requirement.
I do think things that run a bit have an advantage here.... I do my own service on the burner and it is not overly difficult on the Aqua Hot side of things and I think the Hydro Hot might be even easier yet.
Later Ed
Bill Jourdain:
Thanks, Ed. I'm not sure when this system was last serviced, but in the three weeks I've owned the coach I've tested it and noticed several misfires and a lot of black smoke when it finally ignites. It therefore appears that it is due for service before I use it much more.
Thanks.
Bill
Bill Sprague:
--- Quote from: Edward Buker ---......The burners do not share the same technology.....
--- End quote ---
I think they are the same. Based on a couple of AquaHot sponsored rally seminars and conversations with AquaHot techs, the systems were primarily the same except for a couple of things. First, the HydroHot has a smaller coolant tank that makes it a little harder to get both coach heat and hot water at the same time. So, they have a circuit that makes it one or the other. That circuit can be "jumpered" and, unless it is winter in the arctic, works pretty well doing both. Second, the HydroHot is not likely to have an extra pump installed to warm a cold engine, but it can be added if you live in arctic climates.
There was a design change to both somewhere around 2004 that changed the boiler such that non toxic coolant needed to be used.
There was also a name change. Originally the HydroHot and AquaHot were made by Vehicle Systems. They apparently didn't have all the rights to that name that they needed. So they changed the company name to AquaHot and started differentiating the smaller models from the larger models by calling them all AquaHots, but with different model numbers.
Bill
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