Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-13-2011, 07:55 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 196
Does engine coolant heat the hot water tank?

I noticed while reading the manual on the hot water tank of our new Georgetown that the tank may have a "loop" of pipe running through it which would allow the engine coolant to heat the hot water tank while traveling. Does anyone know if this is the case with the Georgetown units?

Mike
MikeA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2011, 08:12 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 517
Send a message via Skype™ to scubieman
Yes, if your setup for it. I can't remember what it is called but it is a feature.
__________________
2009 Dodge Ram Mega Cab 2500 6.7 cummins
2011 Forest River Cherokee 28BHKS

scubieman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2011, 09:22 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Regina, Saskatchewan
Posts: 310
This is called MotorAide, and I have had it on many motorhomes...the coolant from the engine is routed through the hot water heater and it heats the water in the tank..when you reach your destination, you have hot water immediatley. It is a nice feature and as far as I know none of the Georgetown units have it.
polkatronron is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2011, 09:38 AM   #4
CLASS "A" Senior Member
 
cfsoistman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Upperco, Maryland
Posts: 3,136
Must be something new they're offering. I don't see it on the website under the Options for the Georgetown Units.
__________________

2007 Georgetown 370TS
aka - RAYNMKR

Driver: Charlie
Navigator: Sheri
cfsoistman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2011, 10:22 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 517
Send a message via Skype™ to scubieman
I could be wrong.
__________________
2009 Dodge Ram Mega Cab 2500 6.7 cummins
2011 Forest River Cherokee 28BHKS

scubieman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2011, 10:38 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
M109Rrider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Chesapeake, Va
Posts: 938
I think I'd elect not to have that option. You'd be heating your potable water with a poisonous liquid.
__________________
Jason and Billie
2018 F-250, 6.2L
2011 Prime Time Crusader 320RLT
"PT Crew Member Since 11/2010"
M109Rrider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2011, 11:17 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Regina, Saskatchewan
Posts: 310
No you are not, it works like a heat exchanger and is perfectly safe. I am still alive and I have had this feature for years on other units. The water heater has the loop in it but Forest River does not run the lines to hook it up...guess that saves a couple of bucks...
polkatronron is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2011, 12:00 PM   #8
Moderator Emeritus
 
MtnGuy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
Posts: 9,280
Quote:
Originally Posted by M109Rrider View Post
I think I'd elect not to have that option. You'd be heating your potable water with a poisonous liquid.
I don't have a horse in this race, but I have to agree with M109Rider on that. 1 little pin hole or bad fitting could contaminate your hot water supply. Hopefully someone could smell the antifreeze if that happened and take action before washing your dishes or taking a shower, but it just doesn't seem like a good idea.
__________________

Chap , DW Joy, and Fur Baby Sango
2017 F350 Lariat CCSB, SRW, 4x4, 6.7 PS
2017 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
MtnGuy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2011, 02:02 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
M109Rrider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Chesapeake, Va
Posts: 938
After almost 20 years in the Navy I am unduly familiar with how a heat exchanger works. If it's a straight coolant to potable water heat exchanger it's not worth the liability to me. If it's common and well liked by MC owners then have at. It just struck me odd and goes against everything I've been taught as a shipboard engineer. Honestly I'm amazed it's even legal.
__________________
Jason and Billie
2018 F-250, 6.2L
2011 Prime Time Crusader 320RLT
"PT Crew Member Since 11/2010"
M109Rrider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2011, 08:16 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Regina, Saskatchewan
Posts: 310
Not possible. The way the heaters are built there is no way for antifreeze to enter the acutal water supply......remember alum. does not rust and the antifreeze travels in and out in it's own tube. Your chances of an auto accident or winning the lottery are much better than dying from your water heater contaminated with anti freeze.. if it was available, I would pay to have it. Remember, it is a heat exchanger technology, not a direct insertion of anti freeze into the water heater.
polkatronron is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2011, 09:11 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 196
I was thinking that if the lines were there I might use them to add an axillary heater for the coach. I am hoping to use the Georgetown for ski weekends and thought that it would help me conserve propane while traveling in the winter using the axillary heater while moving instead of the furnace. I did a similar thing in a van I owned in the early 80's. I won't be able to do it any event until the winter is over. There seems to be no easy way to see the back of the water heater and I don't really care to be crawling around underneath the unit in the snow.

BTW there are several systems in the motorhome carrying poisonous materials. The ammonia in the fridge is particularly lethal.

Mike
MikeA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2011, 09:40 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Regina, Saskatchewan
Posts: 310
Exactly Mike. I have had the aux heaters in the past and they work well. Forest River does not run the lines as far as I know but it is easy to put a T in the line coming from the rad and then running it to a heater..then back to the rad .Good luck...and you are correct, the ammonia or carbon monoxide from the furnace would do you in long before a little anti freeze on your corn flakes...LOL...
polkatronron is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2011, 10:19 AM   #13
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: The Villages, FL
Posts: 27
comment

it was standard on Winnebago products; don't know about current use.
levendoski is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:55 AM.