Aqua Hot Service Question

[Bill Jourdain]

I recently took my 2002 Monterey to Lee Smith in Chattanooga for Aqua Hot service (among other items).  I have always been pleased with Lee Smith's RV service center and have never been disappointed with their work, professionalism and cost.  This is the first time I have asked them to service my Aqua Hot system.  After performing the other service items on my list, they called to let me know that they were having a difficult time figuring out how to access the Aqua Hot unit as they stated it is so tightly built in to the compartment they could not figure out how to open the unit's access panel without doing major disassembly of the coach's compartment.  They therefore did not complete the service.

I've owned this coach for a few years and have had the Aqua Hot serviced in Florida one other time and was not told this was a problem.  I would appreciate anyone with experience with the 2002 year Beavers, and particularly the Monterey, providing me some guidance about this issue.  I am not one who would perform this service myself, so I must rely on a service center.  I find it somewhat hard to believe that the Aqua Hot would have been mounted in the coach such that disassembly of the compartment was necessary before routine service on the Aqua Hot could be performed, but in looking over the unit in the compartment I do not see a quick and easy way to access the interior of the unit.

I appreciate any guidance anyone can provide.

[Dennis Crawford]

Bill,
I am not sure what their problem is.  On my 2005 Monterey the Aqua Hot is mounted in the first bay on the passenger side. There screws that hold the access panel in place. There are two holes (probably with rubber plugs) on lower edge of the bay. Remove these plugs and you can get a screwdriver in to remove sdcrews.

Dennis

[Stan Simpson]

After you remove the screws as Dennis instructs, at the bottom of the bay, (you will have to get down and look under the lip to see the rubber or plastic plugs) there are two more on top of the casing. Take them off as well. After all 4 are removed, by pushing the the front panel upwards, the piano hinge will open the unit. All of the routine maintenance can be done after that cover is removed.

Stan

[Lee Welbanks]

Could it be that this shop can not spell Aqua-Hot or how to service one, so they came up with this story? Find somebody that knows what they are doing. Any tech with half a brain can figure out how to get the panel off for service.

[Keith Moffett Co-Admin]

Bill
Aparently the 2005 model Aqua Hot is different than ours.  We have no plastic plugs or piano hinges.  I simply use a 3 inch long phillips screwdriver and loosen two screws or so and the top half of the front pops out.  Two more and the bottom half pops out leaving the entire front end of the Aqua Hot accessable.

Keith

[Orman Claxton]

Bill
Let me say one thing regarding acess to your system, No big deal!
Run! , Don't walk away from that service center, They DO NOT know how to work on Aqua-Hot,
Please feel free to call me

[Orman Claxton]

Bill
They are not an Aqua-Hot Authorized Service
Please feel free to call me

[Bill Jourdain]

Thanks for all of the comments.  I sure wish there was an authorized Aqua Hot service center close to me in NW Georgia; however, the closest is at least a two hour drive straight through the heart of Atlanta traffic!  Orman - Any thoughts and advice would be appreciated.  

[Steve Huber]

Bill,
If you are looking  for annual maint service, you can probably delay it until you get close to an authorized service center.
Steve

[Lee Welbanks]

You would be better off waiting until you get close to a auth service center then have these clowns try and do anything with your unit. I downloaded the manual, ordered all the parts and pieces, gauges etc and service mine myself.