Aqua Hot 450D

[rcieslak67]

Trying to winterize our 2009 Holiday Rambler Scepter today and was successful for all water lines with RV anti freeze running out of all faucets, hoses and drains for hot and cold side.

Never had an Aqua Hot system before, I have a 450D system and am not too sure if or how this system has a drain on it to drain the hot water side of the coil.

Anyone with suggestions or experience.

[sstgermain]

The manual basically says to hook up a line to the suction side of the water pump. Put the line in RV antifreeze . . . Turn on pump and open hot water faucet till U see pink.

 

It's in the manual which is also online.

[manholt]

Even  in freezing temps.  I don't do anything to the AH, I'm on 50A., and I leave the electric switch on...keeps the AH with hot water!

[sstgermain]

2 hours ago, manholt said:

Even  in freezing temps.  I don't do anything to the AH, I'm on 50A., and I leave the electric switch on...keeps the AH with hot water!

That being said you are in Texas and he is in Michigan. What would they do if they had a blizzard and power was out for a week. AquaHot would freeze or they would have to keep their generator running. I don't think your weather is as severe as up there.

[five]

I have very reliable power, so I put two trouble lights with 60 watt (old style) bulbs in the AH compartment.  This will be winter number eight with an AH and using this method...no problems yet.

[richard5933]

1 hour ago, FIVE said:

I have very reliable power, so I put two trouble lights with 60 watt (old style) bulbs in the AH compartment.  This will be winter number eight with an AH and using this method...no problems yet.

Winter number eight Michigan style or in the more southern states?

Once winter gets in full swing around here in Wisconsin, 120w of heat would never keep a bay warm enough to prevent freezing temps unless it was insulated like a sealed cooler.

Not sure what the reason would be to avoid running the pink anti-freeze through the fresh-water side of the AH as the manual instructs? If the rest of the plumbing is done that way already, seems like a no-brainer.

[manholt]

Sorry!  I missed the MI part. 

That said.  We get heavy freeze and big storms in TX. so, we got a 22KW Generator for backup at the ranch and 18KW at Beach house, both run on LP...250 gal. each!  Never can understand, why anyone who lives in extreme cold weather conditions, don't have the same!  

[manholt]

Jim S.

Your winterizing the heating coils and cold/hot water lines.  The glycol/iodized water in the system is good to -28 degrees.  Not a concern in TX.

[jleamont]

Aquahot doesn't recommend blowing out the fresh water circuit with air. We have the 100 series and I just draw RV antifreeze through the entire coach fresh water plumbing (not the tank) for winter storage. Not to be confused with the baseboard fluid used for interior heat. That only needs a PH check every so often and replaced as needed.

The nice thing with Aquahot, you can still use the heat from the system while its winterized should you need to.

[sstgermain]

Heating coils should be a 50:50 mix and not need winterization. Might want to just check with an antifreeze tester especially if you purchased used.Never know what someone else did.

[manholt]

The 50/50 is correct, but only good to -28, that is 28 below freezing F. 

Oasis, is a newer, more compact system, but still built on the same principal as AH and Wabasco.  They al50l use the 30-50% glycol/water mix.  50/50 is ideal, since Glycol is not a good conductor of heat, but water is!

[five]

22 hours ago, richard5933 said:

Winter number eight Michigan style or in the more southern states?

Once winter gets in full swing around here in Wisconsin, 120w of heat would never keep a bay warm enough to prevent freezing temps unless it was insulated like a sealed cooler.

Not sure what the reason would be to avoid running the pink anti-freeze through the fresh-water side of the AH as the manual instructs? If the rest of the plumbing is done that way already, seems like a no-brainer.

Last winter was down to single digits, no problem with two 60 watt bulbs in a well insulated basement bay.  As far as running the pink A/F through the fresh water side of the house....I don't do that.  I put similar pairs of 60 watt bulbs through out the coach, any where there is the possibility of water freezing.  Haven't run any "pink stuff" in years.

[eaglespirit]

23 hours ago, FIVE said:

Last winter was down to single digits, no problem with two 60 watt bulbs in a well insulated basement bay.  As far as running the pink A/F through the fresh water side of the house....I don't do that.  I put similar pairs of 60 watt bulbs through out the coach, any where there is the possibility of water freezing.  Haven't run any "pink stuff" in years.

I like your idea of the light bulbs in the bays. We have plugs in all the bays I think. I am not sure how well the bays are insulated. And, what about the water and black/gray tanks? We are needing to stay where the nights are below freezing for about two months-N/D. And need to have the water/sewer. Welcome any ideas anyone has for us. Our Class B was better insulated. Thanks and Happy Trails. Spirit Eagle 7002D

[five]

I drain the water and black/gray tanks for storage, the residue in there won't hurt anything.  The only problem I've had was when it was down in single digits the pull handles for the holding tanks froze.  I put a couple of lights there to thaw them out.  I do put a pair of 60 watt bulbs next to the water pump so it won't freeze.
 

[manholt]

Lois.

What make & model do you have?

[eaglespirit]

5 hours ago, manholt said:

Lois.

What make & model do you have?

We have a Jayco Class A Firenza 33ft. We will be living in the RV for Nov/Dec so do need to have water, etc.

 

[wildebill308]

On 9/14/2018 at 5:23 AM, manholt said:

The 50/50 is correct, but only good to -28, that is 28 below freezing F. 

No Carl -28 is 28 degrees below -0-, 28 is 4 degrees below freezing or you could say -28 is 60 degrees below freezing or dang cold.😉 

Bill

[manholt]

Oops!  My bad...that's what happens, after 3 weeks of living in a C degree country!  

[wayne77590]

For Aqua Hot only use boiler antifreeze. it is different from antifreeze in composition:

Aqua Hot Boiler Antifreeze

Also there are two different colors, pink and lime(yellowish) green. Do not mix them,

[sstgermain]

1 hour ago, wayne77590 said:

For Aqua Hot only use boiler antifreeze. it is different from antifreeze in composition:

Aqua Hot Boiler Antifreeze

Also there are two different colors, pink and lime(yellowish) green. Do not mix them,

The boiler antifreeze is for the boiler part of the Aquahot. You can use regular RV antifreeze in the domestic hot water section when you winterize.

[wayne77590]

Yes, just don't want anyone to think that automotive antifreeze can  be used anywhere but there.

I sometimes get confused on topic!😹

[jleamont]

Aquahot uses two different boiler fluids.

The pink with the attachment listed above and Regular automotive antifreeze (ethylene glycol based) (older models), but both go into the interior heating loops, not the fresh water systems. 

[sstgermain]

1 hour ago, jleamont said:

Aquahot uses two different boiler fluids.

The pink with the attachment listed above and Regular automotive antifreeze (ethylene glycol based) (older models), but both go into the interior heating loops, not the fresh water systems. 

Yes but he OP is asking how does he winterize the domestic hot water portion of the Aqua Hot. For that he can run regular pink RV winterization antifreeze through that loop.

 

If he has a 50:50 mix in the boiler/heat loop he needs to do nothing.

If it is not 50:50 he would need to add the Aquahot Boiler andifreeze in either pink or yellowish depending on what is there now.

[jleamont]

2 hours ago, sstgermain said:

Yes but he OP is asking how does he winterize the domestic hot water portion of the Aqua Hot. For that he can run regular pink RV winterization antifreeze through that loop.

 

If he has a 50:50 mix in the boiler/heat loop he needs to do nothing.

If it is not 50:50 he would need to add the Aquahot Boiler andifreeze in either pink or yellowish depending on what is there now.

Not exactly, annually you need to check the PH if equipped with Automotive Antifreeze (Ethylene Glycol), in the interior heating loop, if the PH deteriorates so will the boiler system. 

Aquahot "Boiler" fluid is pink. If its any other color they will need to call Aquahot and figure out what it is and what's supposed to be in the heat loop, if incorrect fluid it should be flushed and replaced. NOT ALL Aquahot's come with Boiler fluid, some utilize regular Prestone automotive antifreeze, if not sure,,,.,.,.,again call Aquahot. That could be an expensive guess/mistake.

FLUIDS;

Aquahot Boiler fluid; utilized in later model units, fluid is in the sealed closed heating circuit loop

Prestone Antifreeze;  utilized in early model units, fluid is in the sealed closed heating circuit loop (greenish yellow in color). I used the Prestone name as that was the factory fill on my coaches system. Routine PH and corrosion testing is required, so is flushing of the product once the product deteriorates.

RV antifreeze (NON TOXIC); Utilized in the fresh water system when freeze protection of the fresh water circuit is needed. This can be drawn into the system depending on coach make and model fairly easily.

This post got off course but NEEDED clarification for the OP before something terribly expensive happens or they poison their fresh water loop. 

 

Aqua-Hot Technical Questions

Aqua-Hot Technical service department
Phone: 800-685-4298 

[sstgermain]

You are not correct. Stop giving mis-information.

From the AQUA HOT web site

Aqua-Hot heating systems use either the Camco (pink color) or the Century (green color) brand products. The color your system has depends on the coach manufacturer and the model year of your motorhome.

What Brands Of Boiler Antifreeze Are Recommended For Aqua-Hot Heating Systems?

Aqua-Hot heating systems typically use either the Camco (pink color) or the Century (green color) brand products. The color your system has depends on the coach manufacturer and the model year of your motorhome. TIP: Don't mix colors in your Aqua-Hot system. Mixing pink and green boiler antifreeze produces a brown color that maybe confused with corrosion, creating unnecessary service expense.

I'm not gonna argue with you.

Nuff said.