Aqua Hot is the sole source of heating (air and water) as there is no propane furnace or water heater, it being an all-electric RV. This is a conundrum to us... IF it is to be an ALL ELECTRIC RV, why does it use Aqua Hot, instead of a Propane furnace, as the Aqua Hot system is not sufficient to heat water or air when the weather is quite cold, using just electricity, and instead is supplemented by use of a DIESEL burner to aid the system. With the Burner (diesel-fueled) one is able to take looooong hot showers and provide heating, when the Heat Pump A/C is no longer able to keep up.
Well, at some point we discovered that the Aqua Hot system was actually leaking diesel fuel (from the Burner) that was running through the system and down the bottom of it unto the exhaust tailpipe (yes these RVs have 3 tailpipes, one for the engine, one for the generator, and one for the Aqua Hot system). So we contacted Amy at the REV factory service center. First she tried to help us. Then she turned around and told us that REV does not support AQUA HOT issues, as Aqua Hot insists on handling their own warranties. AND that ONLY AN AQUA HOT "Certified" Technician can work of an Aqua Hot system, otherwise it would invalidate their warranty. Where we live in Star Valley Ranch WY, there is only ONE Aqua-Hot "Certified" Technician (Snake River RV & Hitch) and he is located 95 miles away (each way). He is willing to travel to the RV, but charges $90.00 per hour for travel time, from the moment he leaves his shop, to the minute he returns. $90/hr x 1.5 hours (90 miles) = $135 each way, which equals $270 travel time, just to see if he has everything he needs on his truck (and needs to order no parts); otherwise, he will have to come back with another $270 travel charge to finish the repair. BY THE WAY, Aqua Hot will NOT cover his travel time, so we had to take the RV to him, on our dime, as Aqua Hot will not reimburse us for the fuel we have to use to take the RV to their "certified technician".
So at an added cost of $150 (95 miles x2 (round trip) at 6 gallons per mile = about 32 gallons at $4.69/gal) versus his travel time of approx. $270, we took our RV to his shop in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He worked on it for about an hour and determined that the diesel seemed to be coming through the motor through a sprayer. He tore the unit apart and removed the motor and surmised that the problem was that due to a faulty nozzle (or something else causing the leak through the nozzle). So, since he had already had the motor pulled out, and because we would need to give the system an yearly maintenance in another few months, we told him to go ahead and do the yearly maintenance, as to do it again in a few months we would be burdened with again having to find an Aqua Hot CERTIFIED technician
Given the problems that we have found to be true... that finding a 'certified' Aqua Hot technician may be difficult and would often cost the RV owner extra expense that Aqua Hot is not willing to reimburse the RV owner for, we opted to go ahead and give the Aqua Hot System the required yearly service, even though it would not be due for yet another 2-3 months.
BIG MISTAKE
Had we not thought ahead and tried to keep our RV well-maintained, given the difficulties imposed by AQUA HOT as to finding a workable technician, they would have covered the evaluation (and repair) under the warranty. But since we had the technician work another 3 hours on cleaning out and giving the system its upcoming 'yearly maintenance', and because these Aqua Hot 'certified' techs are NOT Aqua Hot employees, as there apparently aren't any service employees, we got screwed with also having to pay for the cost of the evaluation under warranty and had to pay for the repair as well, which according to Amy at REV, Aqua Hot is not willing to reimburse us for any warranty cost, even though such was created by their own requirement as to which technician had to be used, even when there was no other such technician available within a 200-mile radius, and not within 95 miles of our location. IF they want to limit the technician that needs to be used, and if that tech is 95 miles away, then they should either pay the tech's travel fee or cover the RV Owner's mileage expense to go to him.
Anything less is irresponsible and abusive.
By the time we got back to our campsite in Star Valley Ranch, the 'supposedly repaired' Aqua Hot system worked for about 12 hours, then broke down again. The second time it broke it was no longer leaking fuel, because it would just not even run at all. It still worked under the ELECTRIC system, but not with the BURNER. So, you guessed it... We had to take it back to the "certified" technician, at another $150 extra unreimbursed fuel expense. What was the problem with it now? A blown 20amp glass fuse, which I could have replaced myself, except that Aqua Hot will void the warranty, IF anyone (other than a 'certified technician. But because one needs an Aqua Hot "certified" technician, the RV owner has to bear the extra expenses to get to one. They did cover the cost of replacing the $1 fuse, but NOT our expense of $150 to have to take the RV to him. The tech in Idaho Falls wanted to replace the motor for a new one (and had one available to do so) BUT AQUA HOT did not authorize it.
Wouldn't it be wonderful IF that was the end of it?
Unfortunately, it wasn't. Two days after we got back to our site in Star Valley Ranch RV Resort, after the fuse was replaced by the Aqua Hot Tech, we noticed the Aqua Hot System was again leaking fuel through it AGAIN (not as much as it was before, but definitely leaking diesel through it, falling on the tailpipe and smoking... though shortly thereafter the Burner stopped working AGAIN altogether. Given that already having made two 95-mile trips to try to fix our Aqua Hot under warranty, and only accomplished to have to pay to see a technician, and he NOT having fixed the issue... there was no way we would make a third trip to Salt River RV & Hitch. What's that saying? Fool me once, shame on you; shame me twice, shame on me.
So there we were with NW Wyoming weather getting colder and colder. The single 'Heat Pump' A/C would only work down to about 40 degrees F, but the nightly temperatures were dipping to the high 20s. So we had to only use the "ELECTRIC" phase of Aqua Hot, which does not heat all that much, and we had to supplement ourselves with 4 other electric heaters throughout the RV. This is CRAZY for a $630,000 RV. Had REV disclosed that Aqua Hot was NOT covered under their warranty and that we could not count on any help from REV, we would not have bought this RV. Thank you FLEETWOOD and AQUA HOT. If we knew then what we know now, we would NOT have purchased a FLEETWOOD or ANY RV with AQUA HOT. Come to think of it the safest bet would probably have been a late model (2015-1019) USED RV with +/- 50,000 miles, with PROPANE cooking, heating, etc.
We had to leave Wyoming early to get away from the cooling weather. Thankfully we had taken a year-long lease of a site at Sunkissed Village RV Resort in Summerfield FL (next to The Villages), which started October 1, 2023, so as soon as we got there we could hook up to electric, on our lot and given the FL weather, wouldn't have the same need for 'heating'.
We still needed to find a way to have our Aqua Hot fixed, and fixed under the warranty. WHY should we have to pay anyone to fix our Aqua Hot, when the RV is brand new and is not even a year old yet. Having been made to pay $300 in fuel charges and not being reimbursed even $100 of our first warranty service, is a shameful quality of both FLEETWOOD and AQUA HOT.
BEWARE IF YOU BUY A NEW FLEETWOOD PRODUCT
You have now been advised of the low quality of their product and their warranty. IF you get screwed by them, don't complain. You asked for it.
We fully understand that some parts of a warranty are the responsibility of the manufacturer. Therefore, when you buy a truck and there is a problem with a tire, it won't be Ford that has to replace it, it will probably be Michelin or Goodyear (as tare on the vehicle). However, it was a Ford DEALER that sold it, so one should be able to take it to the dealership and have them replace it. They will send the bad tire back to the tire manufacturer (or Ford) and put on a new tire for the owner. That is what generates CONSUMER CONFIDENCE. That is what REV and Aqua Hot both lack.
There is NO LONGER ANY CONSUMER CONFIDENCE when you buy an RV, and for sure NOT if it is a FLEETWOOD product, which only has AQUA HOT on ALL of its ALL ELECTRIC RVs.
In our new area of Florida there is supposed to be a MOBILE AQUA HOT 'Certified' Tech (POTGO Mobile RV Repair, 42725 West Altoona Rd, Altoona FL 32702 (610) 679-9115, potgorv@gmail..com). Supposedly there are also Aqua Hot service centers in Ocala and Leesburg (within 18 miles of our location); however, we hesitate to take the RV to yet another location, as our previous two trips to do so have been useless and only cost us additional expense. We hope we can get either AQUA HOT or REV to assist us in getting our AQUA HOT fixed finally and completely, without having to continue to move our RV to someone else, which then ends not fixing the issue. That and often they have to keep the RV there but have no facilities for us to stay in our RV while they work on it or order any parts needed.
So POTGO came out the first time and said that there was nothing wrong, because the burner was firing up. However, after he left we noticed that though it fires up, and generates heat, it does not heat the water at all.
So POTGO came by a second time and tore open the system, finding several issues. He said he needed to order some parts but that 1) Aqua Hot needs to authorized them, then2) he can have them sent to him (which could take 7 - 30 days.) So we sent a nasty gram to Aqua Hot and got a response right away stating that the parts were authorized and would be sent the next day. So now we are awaiting his getting the parts and then he can get it to fire up again and check for what else is broken on it to know what to fix. At least he seems to know what he is doing.
We have recently had a very negative experience with both FLEETWOOD RV product confidence, and the AQUA HOT HEATING and WATER HEATING systems, this being a product of ALL-ELECTRIC RVs, which like EVs (cars) has only proved itself unrealistic.
Before you buy a FLEETWOOD or other ALL ELECTRIC RV, you'll want to know what warranty you can count on, and which is implied, but NOT supported, and how the Aqua Hot Service may cripple you and leave you on your own, even if you have a brand new RV, even when the same is still under a new vehicle warranty (such as ours is.)
IF you link to our webpage and the post is not yet up, check back again. It has taken a bit longer to put this post up, as we just lost our dog and are prepping to travel South to get out of WY before winter sets in.
We bought and took delivery of our RV on 12/28/2023. Luckily for the dealer (Motor Home Specialist) the Aqua Hot did not present a problem at that time, because IF it had there was no way that they could have fixed it there, because they don't have an Aqua Hot 'certified' technician. That's right... AQUA HOT maintains a separate warranty from REV's (Fleetwood's) and insist that no one other than an Aqua Hot 'certified' technician, and if it is worked on by anyone else (no matter how good they are), Aqua Hot would not cover any repair, as the warranty would be immediately cancelled. Such was the response we got from Amy Zimmerman, at the Fleetwood (REV) New Vehicle Warranty Service Center in Decatur, Indiana, when just four months after taking delivery of our brand new 2023 Fleetwood Discovery LXE 44B diesel pusher, as $628K motorhome.
When we called Aqua Hot Technical Support for the nearest Aqua Hot 'certified' technician, we were informed that there were absolutely NONE within 95 miles from our location. They offered that there were four (4) techs in Idaho Falls, ID. We started calling each, only to find out that three (3) of the four (4) were in fact Aqua Hot dealers, IF you wanted to BUY a system, but were NOT AUTHORIZED to work on the systems they sell, because they did not have a 'certified' tech. Only one (1) in Idaho Falls (and within a 100 mile radius of Idaho Falls) was eligible to work on an Aqua Hot RV heating system. He was willing to travel (be mobile) but he would charge a $95 per hour rate (from the time he leaves his house/shop, until the time he gets back. Since we were 95 miles away from him, it would take him 1.5 hours each way, so that's a 3 hour RT travel charge, which at $95/hr equals $285 (just for travel time), which Aqua Hot refuses to pay for. So the customer HAS TO take their RV to the Aqua Hot required technician, which is 95 miles away, because they don't have any other technician nearer, and even after doing so they refuse to repay the RV owner for the warranty work, which the technician requires to be paid for. FOLKS, that is just criminal.
So IF you buy an RV that is ALL ELECTRIC, it will be sure to have a heating system from either AQUA HOT/HYDRA HOT or OASIS, and they apparently (according to Aqua Hot and REV/Fleetwood) won't disclose it when they sell you the RV, but will disassociate themselves from the responsibility of their ONE YEAR COMPREHENSIVE WARRANTY. That too is criminal and irresponsible from REV.
So you have been WARNED. IF you buy a new ALL ELECTRIC RV (and that is the way they all are made nowadays) you are sure to have to deal with Aqua Hot to repair it when it breaks. Also, IF it is a FLEETWOOD (REV) don't think you can count on the RV's own Warranty, because you can't. The first thing they'll tell you (as they told us) is that you can pay for the repair if it is an Aqua Hot certified technician and that then you'll be reimbursed... BUT YOU WON'T BE.... UNLESS it is a TIFFIN Motorhome.
We have talked to other RV'ers who have had brand new Tiffin motorhomes, and they were told by TIFFIN to just find ANY technician that can fix an Aqua Hot system, and that TIFFIN will reimburse them for it. Here in The Villages, Florida, NEXT LEVEL RV, LLC (352) 274-8008, nextlevelrv@yahoo.com is a reputable and knowledgeable MOBILE RV TECH, although they are NOT an Aqua Hot 'certified' technician, they were able to fix the two Tiffin RVs' Aqua Hot systems, and the owners were paid for the repairs by TIFFIN, directly.... UNLIKE by REV (Fleetwood), which can't be counted on for anything. However, IF you want an Aqua Hot 'certified' technician, who is mobile and only charges $100 for a 'mobile' service charge, his name is Todd Paolini, whose business name is POTGO (Paolini On The GO), from Altoona FL, Cel. (610) 679-9115. This one is listed on the Aqua Hot website under authorized service.
Sunday, November 26, 2023 - POTGO called that he had FINALLY received the part from Aqua Hot and would come by on Monday to install it, to see IF that takes care of the problem, but that IF NOT, at least he would be able to make other tests to find out what else is failing. He warned us that IF NOT, then he would have to order another part, as Aqua Hot won't just replace the whole unit to afford the owner peace of mind, but rather will only authorize ONE PART AT A TIME, even though that imposes a much longer repair time since each part ordered takes 2 weeks to a month to get to the tech. Further, the mobile tech has to travel from his location to the site of the RV, which implies lost time to him as well as added fuel costs. So he charges a $100 Service Fee. AQUA HOT, will compensate him for the work he does (under their supervision and part by part); however, Aqua Hot refuses to compensate him for his travel charge... therefore he has to get it from the customer, or he will not be 'mobile; and the customer would have to take the RV to his location, EACH and EVERY TIME that yet another part arrives to be installed. SO, though AQUA HOT AND REV say they have a comprehensive ONE (1) YEAR WARRANTY, in all actuality, they don't. REV shifts the responsibility to Aqua HOT and their own warranty is designed for everything else, other than the owner's peace of mind with their BRAND NEW $600,000 RV. When even their own techs say that they would never buy an RV with an Aqua Hot heating system, it's a referral that should be taken seriously and abided by. Otherwise, an owner really has no claim when they get screwed, because they screwed themselves. Unfortunately, hindsight is 20/20. Ha d we known then, what we know now, we would NEVER have trusted REV or Aqua Hot.
So, now we are on hold AGAIN, waiting for yet another part, because now the Aqua Hot BURNER does fire up, yet the water does not heat to more than 99.5 degrees. The fluid that heats the coils in the system is actually 45 degrees BELOW what the computer says it is, so it will never get hotter.
IF YOUR HOT WATER STOPS COMING OUT THROUGH YOUR FAUCETS, TRY THIS!
So then we called REV, as it was no longer an issue with Aqua Hot. Shane, the REV Owner Relations Tech told us to check the Hot & Cold water handles on the Utility Bay outside shower, to make sure that they are FULLY CLOSED. We didn't understand HOW that could have any bearing on whether the inside faucets would be able to get hot water or not, but we checked.
Lo and behold, they were both fully open, so we closed them and then re-checked the water inside the kitchen sink, half bath, main bath and shower.... SCALDING HOT water. WOW!!! Can you believe that such a simple, stupid change could fix the problem, We can't either, but it did, and we are so glad to finally having continuous hot water that we can depend on, especially with company coming from Wyoming in January.
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