Pilote boiler not producing hot water: what's going on?

Pilote has been building reliable motorhomes for years, but even there the hot water supply can fail. Depending on the model and year of manufacture, there is a Truma Combi (combination of heating and boiler on gas and/or 230V), an Alde system (heats water via central heating fluid, often in the more expensive integral models) or a separate Truma boiler (electric or gas). Each system has its own typical faults.

Common causes per system

• Truma Combi: no gas, empty or frozen gas bottle, faulty ignition, or the 230V heating element is broken. Also check that the boiler is filled and that the fuse in the motorhome has not blown.
• Alde: the central heating boiler must be on and the circulation pump must be running. Sometimes there is air in the system or the hot water temperature is set too low.
• Separate Truma boiler: often electric, so check the power supply and the element. On gas models, the pilot light or ignition may be dirty.

Check yourself before going to a garage

First see if cold water comes out of the hot water tap. If not, the boiler may be empty or a shut-off valve may be closed. Then check the power source: gas bottle open and not empty, 230V connected and fuses okay. On a Truma Combi, a tilted safety valve can block things; that valve is often near the boiler and must be upright. For more background, see our general explanation about boilers without hot water.

A repair can range from a few tens of pounds for a new valve or fuse to several hundred pounds for a new heating element or gas valve. On an older appliance, this can add up, and sometimes it is no longer economically viable.