Continuous hot water and lasting warmth

Aqua-Hot's European project
Airxcel has appointed a product manager dedicated to managing Aqua-Hot in Europe: Christopher Latham.
Of Australian/British origin, Latham works from the company's European headquarters in Bassano del Grappa (VI), and is responsible for every aspect of the brand: how it is perceived by the market, the service network that supports it and the channels through which it is sold. How is Aqua-Hot's European plan taking shape?
Christopher Latham: It develops on three fronts at the same time.
The first is raising awareness: making sure people know what Aqua-Hot is and what it stands for.
The second is building a network of service partners across Europe, so that every sale is properly supported once the vehicle is on the road.
The third is market presence: relationships with distributors and vehicle manufacturers.

From Colorado to the European market
Tell us about Aqua-Hot. How did the brand come about?
CL: Aqua-Hot is a well-established brand within the Airxcel group, with around 40 years of history. It was born in Fort Lupton, Colorado, and in the United States it holds a very large share of the motorhome heating market, with systems covering practically every category of American recreational vehicle.
What makes it distinctive is the choice of hydronic heating rather than forced air. In the United States the brand is aimed above all at the premium segment, which has a long tradition of large-sized vehicles.

How different are the needs of motorhome users in Europe compared with those of American motorhome users?
CL: They are quite different, which is why we approached the European market not with a simple "translation" of an existing product, but with the intention of designing a solution from scratch, tailored to local needs, while drawing on the experience gained in America. Here the profile of those who travel is different, as are the vehicles.
American motorhomes are much larger and the way heating systems are integrated is also different.
The American market demands powerful heating that warms up quickly, a product to be run at full capacity until the desired temperature is reached. In Europe, on the other hand, vehicles are smaller and the priority is efficiency: people often travel far from hook-ups, keeping an eye on fuel and battery, and want the heat they pay for to stay inside the vehicle for as long as possible. This is why the old continent has largely turned to forced-air heating, powered by a diesel, gas or possibly electric burner. So Aqua-Hot has designed a product tailored to Europe.
CL: Exactly. In Europe the established standard is forced-air heating, so we started from there, with a model built for European vehicles. Alongside this we developed two other models that meet the other heating needs, based on the hydronic and hybrid technology that Aqua-Hot has refined over 40 years of activity. This is the part of the range that was missing in Europe.
There is a second factor that conditions heating design in Europe: space. When fitting out a van or building a compact motorhome, every gained centimeter counts. It is a matter of space economy: achieving a small footprint without sacrificing performance.
For those who build, footprint is not a detail, and neither is it for those who then live in the vehicle. Every liter that the heating system does not take up is a litre of storage, or a longer bed, or a larger water tank. We design our products precisely to give that space back.

Three systems, three types of comfort
Tell us about the range.
CL: We have three different product families.
Gen 1 is our forced-air heating system, available in diesel and LPG versions. It is the compact and fast option: the one you'd want when you arrive on the pitch in the cold, after sunset, to have the van warm within a few minutes.
Wave 40 is a hybrid between a hydronic system and a forced-air one, also available in both LPG and diesel. It is a solution that offers the best of both technologies: a rapid wave of warm air to bring the space up to temperature and then maintenance of that temperature through underfloor heating or heat exchangers on the hydronic side. In addition, the product guarantees continuous hot water. 100D is our exclusively hydronic model designed for Europe, currently available only with a diesel burner. It makes full use of the advantages of hydronic technology: continuous hot water and efficient, constant heating.

Let's stay on the subject of hot water: it is probably the most evident advantage for those who travel.
CL: That's right. With a conventional forced-air system you have a boiler, for example a ten-litre one. When the hot water runs out, you have to wait for it to heat up again. Anyone who finds themselves queuing for the second shower of the evening knows what I'm talking about.
With the hydronic system of Wave 40 hot water is continuous: as long as the main tank isn't empty, the water coming out of the tap is hot. For those interested, the data on pressure and temperature maintenance are published on our website.

And in terms of everyday comfort, is hydronic heating or forced-air heating better?
CL: Hydronic heating can be slower to bring a space up to temperature. In return, however, it offers more constant temperatures and does not dehumidify the spaces. Forced air, on the other hand, draws moisture out of the air, which in terms of comfort can be a problem.
Then there is the advantage of thermal inertia. A radiator stays warm for longer; underfloor heating continues to radiate heat even after the system has switched off. It may take a little longer to reach the desired temperature, but the heat lasts longer, and a warm floor changes the perception of a small space more than almost anything else.

On Wave 40 do you have to choose one mode or the other, or can the two be combined?
CL: On Wave 40 they can be combined and alternated: forced air and hydronic can work together. 100D, on the other hand, is an exclusively hydronic system and Gen 1 exclusively forced-air.

And the controls?
CL: Wave 40 and 100D, our two higher-end models, have a control interface with a touchscreen. Soon an app will also be available, which will allow the system to be managed remotely, conveniently from your smartphone.
There are also automatic programming functions to set the time the heating comes on, maintain a given temperature during given time slots, or bring the space up to temperature and then maintain it. It is used more or less like the system at home: on waking, the vehicle can already be warm, instead of having to get up to switch the heating on.
Each model also includes an electric heating element as standard, which allows the system to operate in electric mode when connected to the charging station. And the range as a whole is designed for European vehicles (compact vans, motorhomes and caravans), that is, precisely those vehicles in which footprint and efficiency matter most.

A note for the professionals reading us: Aqua-Hot also offers an advantage in terms of installation and product integration. Can you tell us more?
CL: Exactly. We use an open standard protocol, with no proprietary system behind it, so converters and integrators can manage our heating from their own system or their own touchscreen.
Gen 1 and Wave 40 are available in both diesel and LPG, so the heating system adapts to the fuel chosen for the vehicle, instead of imposing it. And since hydronic loosens the constraint of short ducting imposed by forced air, designers have more freedom in choosing where to place the technical compartment and how to organise the living space. Quick guide: which Aqua-Hot for which need?
Let's make a quick guide to choosing the heating. Let's start with those who travel: how would you guide someone looking for one?
CL: I'd start from what is really needed on board.
If you need rapid heat in a compact space, the choice is Gen 1. Forced-air operation, with a diesel or LPG burner, compact and fast to warm up.
If you need continuous hot water, the answer is Wave 40 and 100D. Hydronic guarantees hot water as long as there is water in the tank.
If you're looking for a stable, always comfortable temperature, without dehumidifying the spaces, the right model is 100D. Hydronic operation, no dehumidification, heat that persists even after the system switches off.

If you have to heat a large vehicle, or several spaces distant from one another, it's advisable to opt for 100D. With forced air, if the vent is far from the burner the air loses much of its heat along the ducting. Hydronic, on the other hand, handles distances and multiple zones far more efficiently.
If you want to automate climate management, without too much manual intervention, any of the three systems is fine. They all have a timer and thermostat: just set the desired temperature and the time slots, and the system does the rest by itself.

If you want the best of forced air and hydronic, the solution is Wave 40. Forced air brings the vehicle up to temperature in rapid time and hydronic maintains it for a long time. In addition, the product guarantees continuous hot water.

And for dealers, converters and manufacturers?

CL: The logic of choice is the same, only the questions to ask change. If you're working on a compact conversion, with little space available, the choice is Gen 1. If the technical compartment is far from the living area, it's better to opt for 100D or Wave 40. If you use your own control system, Wave 40 and 100D integrate thanks to the open protocol. And if you work across several vehicle categories, the entire range offers diesel and LPG fuelling, a single supplier and a single service network behind it.

Where to find Airxcel Europe this autumn
Caravan Salon Düsseldorf – from 28 August to 6 September 2026, Messe Düsseldorf. The world's largest trade fair dedicated to motorhomes and caravans, with the opening day reserved for trade visitors.

Salone del Camper, Parma – from 12 to 20 September 2026, Fiere di Parma. The leading Italian show in the sector and the second in Europe for attendance, as well as a home fixture for a brand headquartered in Italy.

Four decades of experience in hydronic heating, now at the service of the European market. The complete datasheets for Gen 1, Wave 40 and 100D – outputs, pressure and temperature maintenance, fuelling options and installation details – are available on the Airxcel Europe website.