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Hot Water Heating

Yahoo Message Number: 659
I'm looking for information/opinions of the plus/minus of the hot water systems that you have in your RV's. I've walked past some RV's and it sounds like there is a generator running and it is the heater. We want to make sure we get a quiet one on our next RV.
You can contact me privately if you like.

Al

Re: Hot Water Heating

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 660
All hot water heaters are fairly noisey when running on the LP gas due to the design of the system. The only quiet way to heat the water is when you switch to electric power, providing your coach has the dual way to heat water. Many times when we are dry camping i turn the hot water heater off before retiring for the night as it takes not time at all to bring the water up to temperature the first thing in the morning.

Re: Hot Water Heating

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 661
We have the diesel "boiler" and yes it does make noise. Unfortunately there is no place other that the rear of the coach --- under the bed room for the unit. It works great but you can hear it. Sure would be nice for sleeping if it could be moved up front. Fortunately we also have NewHeat --- electric pad under the tile -- it warms the entire coach until the exterior temp goes below the upper 30s, so we don't have to use the hydronic heat until it gets very cold. NewHeat under the tile is outstanding, we love.

best of luck. Den

Re: Hot Water Heating

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 662
".....and it sounds like there is a generator running and it is the heater......"

You heard a "hydronic heater" which heats the coach by heating the coolant in the radiator in a diesel burning boiler and circulates the coolant through heat exchangers inside the cabin. The hydronic heater is noisy outside the coach but not so bad inside.

Propane heaters are very noisy inside the coach. You can hardly watch television when a propane heater comes on if it is centrally located and inside the cabin. If it is in the basement it is not quite so bad.

The hot water heater uses propane and is not that noisy except when it first light up. The hot water heater also can be heated by 110 volt ac electric power.

I hope this helps. Jerry in NM.

Re: Hot Water Heating

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 663
Jerry, you should hear the noise of the hydronic heater when the exhaust and muffler is missing. Not to mention the gas drifting upward into the coach.
Can't run mine because of that situation and looking forward to getting back to the factory to get it corrected.

Re: Hot Water Heating

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 668
alsue.martens@... asked:

Quote
I'm looking for information/opinions of the > plus/minus of the hot

water systems that you have in your RV's. I've > walked past some RV's

and it sounds like there is a generator running and > it is the

heater. We want to make sure we get a quiet one on > our next RV.

You can contact me privately if you like.

Al,

we had a long discussion about that in the Diesel-RVs group here at Yahoo some time ago. There still is a file in the files section with an overview that resulted from compiling the information different users contributed to the discussion on hydronic heating systems which not only provide hot water but also heat the coach. Of course, you can also read the archives of that group but that overview is going to provide answers to your questions in less time.

Go to

"http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Diesel-RVs/files/Comparisons/" and click on "Heating Systems" to access that particular file.

I have a HydroHot system in my coach and would not want to be without one. It is very quiet, runs on diesel from the coach tank, or simply uses the heat generated from your engine to heat as much water as you need (until your tank ruins dry).

Regards,
Jeff

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Re: Hot Water Heating

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 669
Al, one of the reasons we purchased our 2001 Intrigue was because of the Hurricane Heating system. (we had an Allure) It is extremely quiet when compared to a standard propane system and makes sleeping a pleasure. But unfortunately we have been plagued by leaks in the system. Every trip requires that I check out our anti-freeze levels as I usually lose about a quart to a quart and a half (which almost puts it under the engine shut off sensor). I have double clamped all the joints and still smell antifreeze when driving. It's worse when the heat is on. But that's my problem, most of the group do not seem to be suffering with it. (any remarks group?) I just wish I had a dealer some where's near me where I could drop the rig off and get it fixed.

I'm curious, how many miles do we normally put on our motorhomes? I've really been traveling alot this year and have added almost 18,000 miles on a less than a year old coach. If your reading this, how about chipping in with your average mileage per year. I guess I'm normally around 12 - 14K. I'm really curious as to how higher mileage on a diesel pusher of the Country Coach Quality will effect the resale price.

Re: Hot Water Heating

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 670
"John Panzenhagen" johnpanz@...> wrote: the system. >>

John,

didn't you buy your coach new ? Maybe I'm confusing you with someone else. The leaking problem should be covered under warranty.

smell antifreeze when driving. It's worse when the heat is on. >>

I'm no expert on Country Coaches with the Hurricane system but it seems to me that you have a problem with your coolant system. Turning the heating system on may make the problem worse but when you smell antifreeze (which, by the way, is toxic and should not be inhaled) all the time when driving (and the engine, therefore, is running), you may have a different problem that is not directly attributable to the Hurricane.

could drop the rig off and get it fixed. >>

Where are you ?

motorhomes? >>

I'm just under 18,000 after 1-1/2 years of ownership.
I'm an occasional weekend traveler only. So, when I drive the RV, I drive it a lot, but most of my trips extend only over 2, or 3 days.

diesel pusher of the Country Coach Quality will effect the resale price. >>

Don't worry about it. If you do, let's say, 20,000 miles a year (which is a lot compared to most RV users), it would still take you about 2-1/2 years to just break that big diesel in that you have in the back of your coach. So, "used" buyers really only have a choice between buying a coach that has just been broken in and one that has not. While a gas engine in a large motorhome may need a rebuild around 75,000 miles, you may need a rebuild at around 250,000 miles. At the rate at which you're going, it would take you 12-1/2 years to get there (250,000/20,000).

Milage and resale value are things owners of gasoline-powered coaches may worry about. For diesel-owners, it is not a big consideration.

Many happy miles !
Jeff

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Re: Hot Water Heating

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 674
John,

It sounds as if the antifreeze is being lost in the front dash area. That would explain the antifreeze smell. There are hydronic fluid hoses that go to an HVAC unit mounted in front of the passenger seat. Remove that panel and look in the dash area for signs of leaking.

The smell of antifreeze inside the coach cannot be attributed to the Hurricane heater. If you smell it other places than the dash, check the various heat exchangers in the bedroom and/or galley. The warmed hydronic fluid is run through the heat exchanger. A fan blows over the warmed coils to deliver warm air inside the coach. There is not any outside air circulated for these heat exchangers. They just pull in air from inside the coach and recirculate it.
Whatever you do, find the problem ASAP. You don't want antifreeze puddling anywhere inside your coach, or outside of it either. It's not good for animals or our water systems.
Remember; To know that we know what we know, and that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge.

Re: Hot Water Heating

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 675
Thanks for the reply Jeff, yes I did buy it new but repair places in NJ are just not too plentifull. I bought it at Lazy Days in Fla because the nearest other CC dealer was in Ohio. Had it in for warranty on that problem about three times and then we had the service bulletin which corrected quite a bit of the smell. One of the group emailed me with some info regarding the overflow tank that I am going to try out and I'm going to be wrapping the hoses in the water heater compartment which seems to be the source of the odor. He feels that it is the smell of the hoses. Thanks for the comments on the mileage, I was curious what other CC owners do.

Best regards
John

Re: Hot Water Heating

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 677
"John Panzenhagen" wrote:

Quote
Thanks for the reply Jeff, yes I did buy it new but > repair places in

NJ are just not too plentifull.
I'm not sure if "DeWalt RV" in Easton, PA which is across the bridge from Jersey, works on hydronic systems but I'd give them a call. I have had my coach there twice for repairs now and they have done a great job. You can get an EVENING appointment there which helpe me tremendously with my busy schedule.
Regards,
Jeff

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Re: Hot Water Heating

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 680
Thanks Jeff, I'll remember that. Easton is only about an hour and a quarter from my home. Got only one reply on mileage, I know people are reading this, how many miles do you put on in a year?

Re: Hot Water Heating

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 682
Hey John,

Long time no communicate. We do around 20 to 22 thousand miles each year.
Our 2000 Intrigue, picked up in Jan 2000 has 40,200 on it now and we have a New Jersey trip, two central Florida trips and possibly a Dallas trip to do yet this year. That will bring it up to around 48,000 and subtracting the near 3,500 the cowboys put on it from Oregon to Lazy Days that's right at the top of our norm. September 11th cost us an aborted Orlando trip however and that would have reduced the total by 2,200 or so. Then we hang it up in early December until about mid January when we will be off to Phoenix for another year of "hard work".

Hope everything is well with you and yours and that everyone is getting over your recent bereavement. How's the coach running?

May see you on the road someday,

Peter

Britanniainc.com

Phone: 1-800-274-5245
Fax: 1-219-483-3653

Re: Hot Water Heating

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 684
Hi Peter, good to hear from you too. Thanks for the info on the mileage, I just got a little concerned when the odometer crested 21,000 in less than 8 months but then I guess that's what I bought it for. We really enjoy traveling and since I'm an artist, I enjoy getting around the country.

The motorhome is behaving as always, lots of debugging and an occasional break. Right now we're waiting on getting the dash air repaired and a new monitor camera and then a concerted effort on getting this anti-freeze situation worked out.
Two short trips to PA this fall and then it goes to bed for November and December. Then we're off and playing again getting away from the NJ Winter. Probably Arizona where we can take our jeep out in the hills and play.

Happy Camping
John
 

Re: Hot Water Heating

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 688
"John Panzenhagen" johnpanz@...> wrote: about an hour and a quarter from my home. Got only one reply on mileage, I know people are reading this, how many miles do you put on in a year? >>

About 10,000/year. I'm short this year because I saved vacation time to go RVing in the U.S. with folks I expected from Europe. They wanted to arrive on Sept. 11 ... and were refused entry into the U.S. when our international borders were closed. So, they flew back. We want to try again next year. I still plan to go to NY and VA this year. So, I may get close to 10K after all.

The average mileage for RVs in the States is 5,000 miles per year. Of course, this includes all types of RVs, not just motorhomes. Many folks use their trailer for a once-a-year vacation. I tend to think that people who spend big bucks on motorhomes drive more and use their coaches more than once a year.

Regards,
Jeff

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