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Hot water problem with Hurricane heater

Yahoo Message Number: 18226
Hello Country Coachers:

Last night my wife tried to take a shower and she couldn't get any hot water. The electric heating elements were on and the water would flow warm for about 30 seconds after the faucet was initially turned on.
The Hurricane unit itself feels warm. There are no fault codes except the one that shows "normal operation" (looks like a square "C"). I tried the burner, but it never even tried to ignite. With the water pump on, it seems like a steady flow of luke warm water, but from city water connection, it eventually flows cold. It seems like whatever item that is supposed to sense a hot water demand, is not working. If anyone has any ideas, we would sure appreciate it. Thanks

Larry, Debbie, Tiki and Tomi (Pugs) Retired USAF

2003 Allure #30856

Re: Hot water problem with Hurricane heater

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18228
Larry et al, I have had a great deal of experience with Hurricane heaters, and my current coach was mfgd pretty close to yours. First of all, these heaters will not, repeat will not, provide adequate hot water on electricity to take a shower. They will, however, provide plenty when on diesel--at least mine will. I keep my electricity to the Hurricane turned off at the breaker box in the bedroom ( two breakers). If you are turning on the hot water switch above the entrance door and the central heat control switch for the furnace, also above the door, and the heater still won't ignite, then you definitely have a problem. I have found the Hurricane people to be very helpful diagnosing problems over the phone. I had excellent experience with a fellow named Steve Elwell at hurricane tel no 1 800 993 4402. With my cell phone, he walked me through checking and problem solving right at the furnace.

By the way, you really need to turn off the Hurricane heater at the breaker box as it is on all the time, regardless of whether the hot water switch above the door is on or off. I learned this at a CCI rally when I had my coach checked to find out why the genset wouldn't carry both air conditioners. It was news to Doug Rutherford and Jim Cooley, both, and they were to try to come up with a fix but never did. Surely they corrected the problem with later coaches, but who knows?
There have been a couple of updates to the control board located on the forward wall of the heater compartment. You should take the screw off at the top, remove the cover and write down the numbers on the board before you call Hurricane so they will know if you have the latest update. If you don't, they will send you an updated board, and it is easy to install yourself.

I hope I haven't confused you.

Walt Rothermel
03Allure30811

Re: Hot water problem with Hurricane heater

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18232
Walt

Thanks for the reply. I've had my coach since November 2004 and one of the first systems I became familiar with was the Hurricane heater. I too have had great success Mr. Elwell, but thought it was Ken. They even sent me an updated board on their dime, then walked me through the installation. Yes we found out about the always-on electric heating elements. I initially couldn't figure out why the Hurricane unit felt warm even after I shut off the switches. After several phone calls to CC, we finally figured out that the CBs in the bedroom must be turned off too. Believe it or not, we can get by with the electric elements for showers and even heat which we have only tested to a low of 35F. I usually run the burner once a week to keep it excercised.

Today, I removed the side and top panels on the Hurricane unit. I could feel the hot hoses going in to what looked like the domestic hot water tank, but couldn't feel any hot water coming out. I banged on some water hose fittings, removed and reconnected some aquastat connectors and replaced a very corroded connector on the circulator pump. The circulator pump worked before I changed the connector, so I'm not sure the new connector fixed it. After I did all of this, the system started working again. I'm not sure what fixed it, but it works now! Hope it continues, but I wonder...
Again, thanks so-much for your reply. It's nice to know somone else that owns a Hurricane so we can compare notes.

Larry, 2003 Allure #30856

Re: Hot water problem with Hurricane heater

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18242
Larry

I had a 2003 Allure with the Hurricane Heater. My experience was the same as your regarding it's ability to provide heat electrically. We went full-timing to get away from 35 below temps let alone +35 degrees. We would go for months on end without starting the diesel. Both Hurricane and CC practically refused to believe that taking a shower is possible with it. They also had trouble believing that we could heat the coach down into the 30s with it. We took no special steps to do it and frankly didn't notice the difference as long as we had adequate power (50a). Finally in a discussion with Hurricane they told me that the unit is rated at 1.3gal/min producing hot water on electric continuously. It was a while ago so I am not sure of the .3 but I know it was over the 1. I expect that my youngest daughter would have a problem because of her desire to loll around in a fast running hot shower for long periods. I think that Hurricane only wants to advertise it at it's worst case scenario. I did have a problem with flame outs at first but that was solved once Hurricane settled on a good pump supplier. I have no idea of why CC did not put a switch in.
I traded the 2003 for a 2004 and it has the HydoHot. I have never had any problems with it but I would trade back to the Hurricane in a heartbeat. The Hurricane is a far more efficient burner producing almost no fumes and it is far quieter. The HydrHot has only one electric element but I must admit that I took delivery in Jan and never used the diesel until the following Nov. I outfitted the HydoHot with a small foreign car muffler that really pulls down the exhaust noise but there is no fix for the excessive smell.

Re: Hot water problem with Hurricane heater

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18243
Thanks Don! I always wondered about the Hydro hot. Makes me wonder about the smell, because I don't really have an oder with the Hurricane.

Larry 2003 Allure 30856

Quote from: Don Seager

Larry

I had a 2003 Allure with the Hurricane Heater. My experience was
the same as your regarding it's ability to provide heat electrically. We went full-timing to get away from 35 below temps let alone +35 degrees. We would go for months on end without starting the diesel. Both Hurricane and CC practically refused to believe that taking a shower is possible with it. They also had trouble believing that we could heat the coach down into the 30s with it. We took no special steps to do it and frankly didn't notice the difference as long as we had adequate power (50a). Finally in a discussion with Hurricane they told me that the unit is rated at
1.3gal/min producing hot water on electric continuously. It was a
while ago so I am not sure of the .3 but I know it was over the 1. I expect that my youngest daughter would have a problem because of her desire to loll around in a fast running hot shower for long periods.
I think that Hurricane only wants to advertise it at it's worst case scenario. I did have a problem with flame outs at first but that was solved once Hurricane settled on a good pump supplier. I have no idea of why CC did not put a switch in.

Quote
>

I traded the 2003 for a 2004 and it has the HydoHot. I have never
had any problems with it but I would trade back to the Hurricane in a heartbeat. The Hurricane is a far more efficient burner producing almost no fumes and it is far quieter. The HydrHot has only one electric element but I must admit that I took delivery in Jan and never used the diesel until the following Nov. I outfitted the HydoHot with a small foreign car muffler that really pulls down the exhaust noise but there is no fix for the excessive smell.
 

Re: Hot water problem with Hurricane heater

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18265
Yea! I know you don't you lucky dog you. Just joking.

Happy trails,

Don Seager

2004 Allure 31046