RV Air Conditioner Maintenance
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- čas přidán 6. 08. 2024
- Newer video on changing the AC foam gasket seal - www.loveyourrv.com/rv-air-con...
In this video, I clean and inspect my Keystone Cougar fifth wheel trailers Coleman Mach 3 air conditioner. Model AirXcel 48203A866
See Part one video - • RV AC Maintenance Part...
Disclaimer: I’m not a certified RV technician merely an RV owner. This post and video should not be taken as instructional. If you decide to do the things depicted in the video, do the research and be aware of all risks involved. I accept no liability, you have been warned. - Ray
First I TURNED OFF ALL POWER to the Air Conditioner by unhooking the AC power cable and disconnecting the 12-volt batteries.
I show how I clean both the evaporator and condenser coils and straighten bent fins on both. I then reseal the inside chamber with new aluminum ducting tape and clean the sponge input filter.
I also add some lubricant on the shaft of the fan motor and inspect the unit. I check for debris and clean the chassis. Finally, I test the system for optimal cooling temperature differential using an IR gun.
Products used in video:
Evaporator Coil Cleaner - amzn.to/2IbWRfA
Condenser Coil Cleaner - amzn.to/2IjCKrX
Bulls Eye Hose Nozzle - amzn.to/2wAJTCH
Supco Fin Combs - amzn.to/2rBboXW
Silver Foil Duct tape - amzn.to/2IfTr7z
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See Part One Video - czcams.com/video/sz79Kr_86PY/video.html
Newer video on changing the AC foam gasket seal - www.loveyourrv.com/rv-air-conditioner-maintenance-new-gasket-seal-clean-lube/
I live in and camp in the Mohave Desert which can be dusty! My coach has two Coleman Mach 10 Heat Pumps.
While in COOL mode, I get an abnormally large amount of dust and dirt building up on the Evaporator coil necessitating cleaning the evaporator 3 or more times each year. I clean the units interior air filter every two weeks. I don’t have any water leaks into the coach from the AC so I know the main 14” square gasket is good.
I believe the problem is that there isn’t a filter of other means to keep dirt from entering between the roof and the AC’s metal base plate at the two condensate drain holes.
A piece of open cell foam inserted under the metal base plate and on top of the roof under the drain holes would prevent dirt from being sucked into the area under the evaporator shroud. This foam would allow condensate to drain through it to the roof but would stop dust from getting into the evaporator coil fins.
Alternatively a small Duck Bill check valve inserted through the base plate evaporator drain holes would likely also work.
I plan to clean teh evaporator coil tomorrow and will try a small piece of the open cell foam inserted under each of the drain holes. Time will tell if this makes a significant difference.
I followed these steps to give my 1989 Holiday Rambler’s A/C new life. Time spent was about four hours including re-fastening the screens on the cover vents.
Oh! I'm definitely going to use these tips!! Mine is a bit different, but this will be most helpful! Thanks for all of your help!!
You are my RV maintenance spirit animal. I just spent the day on the roof logging some quality time with my boyfriend, Mr. Dicor, and was looking at my A/C unit wondering what the heck I need to do to it. Certainly something, but what? My dad was an auto and aircraft mechanic and could build or fix anything. In fact, we grew up camping in a trailer he built from scratch. He has been gone 20 years, but I am convinced he works thru other mechanics to get messages to me on occasion!
haha, cool!
I love watching Ray's videos. He always teaches me something I need to check on my RV. Or fix! I've used his videos to replace my RV black and gray water tank valves as well as check my AC like he shows above.
Thanks again Ray. Enjoy learning what needs to be done in the future. Your videos have been very helpful. Happy camping.
Very thorough explanation of rv ac maintenance, most RVers do not maintain their ac system, they just wait for it to break down, or become less effective before it gets any attention. Ray had the right idea, being proactive and getting on the roof and doing a little ac maintenance once or twice a year.
Thank you, Ray! Nice seeing Angie at the end; so sorry about her passing. Your CZcams tribute to her left me in tears. Even so, thank you for sharing it. :-)
Thanks, Neal. :)
Hey Ray. I use a weed pump sprayer to rinse the coils. Works pretty good especially where you don't have a hose. Great tips!
You are a RV hero!! Love learning! I now will check my AC on roof out! Thanks for share. I thinking about using your rope tape to divert my water from AC. It drips at my steps when leveled! I am a weather buff...love your weather gauge on roof! Thanks again!
Ray, if everyone took as good care of their RVs the shops would go out of business!
You’ve taught me so much about the proper maintenance of an RV. I’ll be set when I get on the road.
why do you want the shops to go out of business? Its not the shops fault that there is FOMO mania hype connected to RVing...The shops were created to fill in the void, many cannot do their own work, only partial repairs...
Thank you for your step by step explanation of the cleaning process. Well done.
Ray, I must apologize for missing your comments concerning the motor soft starts, but as for your reply to my question,,,Oh that was brilliant! I missed that comment when I watched this video. I was really interested in the cleaning of the evaporator and guess I didn't pay close attention. Thanks Ray, you're the best!
No problem, the link was actually to a newer video I did just last month on replacing the AC gasket www.loveyourrv.com/rv-air-conditioner-maintenance-new-gasket-seal-clean-lube/
Seriously, thank you so much for this channel. I've been living in a fifth wheel for years now and I've just been letting it fall apart. I'm tired of my mistreating my home and want to start taking care of it. Your videos and blog have been amazing help and I couldn't be more grateful. Please keep making these videos.
You're welcome, thanks for watching. :)
Thanks for the great tutorial. I was so clueless how to clean the A/C unit!
EXCELLENT VIDEO, thank you so much. I have NOT ever cleaned mine (3rd season) I am guessing that is why it's not cooling very well. Bringing a bigger ladder up next weekend and I'll use your advice. Thanks again!!
I really enjoy your videos because of the clear, easy going directions, & steps you take. Your honesty and views toward different products you try is refreshing. There is way to much negativity on the CZcamss these days, so its nice to see not only your great and helpful videos, but also to be able to read through the comments on other peoples experiences/tip & tricks. You have a great community following, I would not change a thing/keep em' coming! Thanks again, and hope you have a great camping season!
Thank you! :) Cheers, Ray
Need to clean mine also. It is five years old . Keep up the great videos.
Great video! I'm a newbie RV tech and just completed my RVIA certificate. Everything you say is on point, articulate and easy to follow.
Thanks!
Ya he does a good job so many are a waste of time
Great job as always Ray... Enjoy your Summer 😎
Hey, Stop!!! You keep adding to my "Honey Do" list!! Seriously though, thank you for making this video. I will not feel so intimidated by the AC unit now. and tomorrow looks sunny!
I try to avoid the harsh chemicals especially around the roofs and any seals. The "combs" worked very well. Thanks for sharing the info Ray.
Always a good idea. Mine rig just got a nice bath. :)
Thanks for another quality video. This was solid information that I can use.
Keep On Truckin’
You do a great job with your videos Ray. Always informative and interesting. Thanks for the product tips.
Thank you. Nice to hear that. Cheers!
Nice job. I would rinse opposite the way the air normally flows when possible. It will do a better job of cleaning yet. That's just my opinion. Enjoy the summer.
Good job Ray! Going to check our filters tomorrow!
Thanks. Feels good to not have all the gunk in there. Cheers!
I've had our winnebago since new 2008, and i've never even taken a cover off. I noticed a leak this last weekend, and I'll bet it's that drain hole you pointed out. I'll be getting mine cleaned up now too. Thanks for the great video.
You're welcome. Happy cleaning. :) Cheers, Ray
Your video saved me again. The fan would not work and I was about to take it to a repair place. So I took the inside panel off and gave the fan a little push thinking that since I hadn’t used it since last sept, its Feb now,, That its just stuck. Sure enough it started up and now works! Problem solved for now! Thanks so much!
Awesome! :)
The VAST majority of AC failures is because people don't change filters and clean there coils. DIRT is what keeps AC guys in business.
need to know more on freoen for air conditioner how to fill
Very cool from Victoria it’s good to see a Canuck on here.
Thanks Ray, great job as always. I need to get up and clean mine as soon as I rehab from my total knee replacement... ouch. 😫
Yeah, tough job with bad knees for sure, get well soon. Cheers! Ray
thank you so much for this video. i just bought a popup and i need to do this to mine.
At first I thought this was a b.s. video, but when I saw the results of the work ,I decided to do the same to both of my two ac. Keep up all the good work.
Thanks for doing these video's it is helpful, it's good for my learning style.
Thank you for making this helpful video and demonstrating how to clean.
You're welcome :)
I use that on our central air conditioner here in Alberta! We have cottonwood fuzz that likes to get into the condenser units!
thanks for the maintenance tips, keep them coming...
I can’t tell you how grateful I am for this. Thank you so much!!!
Glad it was of help. I recently did another video on changing the seal. The old AC is still chugging along well. :) www.loveyourrv.com/rv-air-conditioner-maintenance-new-gasket-seal-clean-lube/
Great video, I learned a lot. Thanks for posting it.
I had an inch gap at the bottom of my diverted from blower to return and my cold blown air was being sucked up to evaporate side therefore no air in back ducts. Used reflexic window material taped in and walla big difference.
Thank you from Bellingham WA. You showed me everything I needed to know . Thank you neighbor to the North! :)
Glad it was helpful!
Great info and tips, thanks Ray!
Thank you very informative .....well thought out and appreciated thank you
You learn something new each day! I had no idea there were combs for straightening out aluminum fins!! When you mentioned “straightening them” I imagined a tiny needle nose plier process Hahahaha!! Very nice overview of A/C maintenance!! Thanks!
Lauri
Thanks Ray. Really great info an very informative video.
Great informative video Ray! Have a nice Summer in BC.
Your videos have helped tremendously as we just got the weboost Drive 4G X RV signal booster. We haven’t gotten around using it away from city areas so we’ll be interested to find out how it works in suburban areas.
Andrea and I start our Adventure July 1 and our first big stopover will be thru the Maine coast (lobster shacks everywhere) north to PEI for a month or two.
Mark Ballard
Thanks, looking forward to it. That sounds like a great trip. We loved PEI when we visited back in summer 2011. Beautiful reddish pink beaches. Happy Travels! Ray
Ray, as usual, good video. Enjoy your Summer.
Thank you, will do. :)
One way to tell if your AC is healthy is to measure the amps it draws. I installed a permanent volt/amp meter in my 5th wheel because I am on a 20 amp circuit currently and do not want to overload the breaker. The AC normally draws a maximum of 15 amps on a hot day. Last summer it began pulling 17 amps. I found the coils clogged by dirt and leaves. Cleaned them and straightened the fins as you did and the AC went back to pulling 15 or less amps. Overheating the compressor will greatly shorten its life or even kill it. Good idea to check and clean the AC every spring before running it.
Interesting tip. thanks. I have a surge protector with a voltage and amperage readout. I'll give it a look.
At my previous location there were no trees. I am now parked under a large tree. I didn't think about leaves getting into the AC. I do now!
Thank you for the data about air-conditioning.Very informative. Thank you. Carolyn and Colin Hogarth
You're welcome, Cheers! Ray :)
@@LoveYourRV \7\7\7
Great video. Thanks for posting it.
Thank you for sharing very professional video with easy instructions!!!
Thanks Ray appreciate product review.
Victoria BC. I went to UVic there back in the late 70s. Got say, you don't really need AC there. I'm watching this because I now live in Las Vegas area. 115 today. AC unit blowing overheateed breakers in trailer. Compressor quits. Then after a shutdown will restart. Could be low voltage on grid because no issues when running generator. But hey, not designed for this right. Will try your clean job to see if makes a difference. Cheers.
Yikes! That's way too hot! We are supposed to hit 90F here in Campbell River by next weekend and I thought that was hot. Normally it should be low 70s this time of year. But early June was mostly mid 50s so I guess it evens out. All the best, Ray
@@LoveYourRV Yep. My sister still lives in Victoria. If its 90 there then both she and her husband will be "dying". For there 90 is hot. Thanks for your reply.
Thank you for this video. I learned a lot. :)
Great video. Keep up the good work.
You should have pulled the Shroud off the condenser. The bulk of the crud that builds up will be between the condenser and the fan. Love the video Keep It Coming.
Thanks. Didn't look very dirty at all in there so decided to get it best I could through the fan opening. Cheers! Ray
Great helpful video. TY very much! Good job!
Thanks for the tips Ray! Always learning new things on your channel, thanks for sharing - Shane
Great Video thanks for sharing.
Thanks a lot for the video!
Angie, has a super hard life on the road I see...LOL. Great video.
hah, she sure has it rough!
Thanks. :)
This is a very, very helpful video! Thank you!
You're very welcome!
Great info, as usual.
I like the idea 4 the gutter that you made. It would be good if you could actually make a gutter out of a wire that you had to run anyway.
I literally fixed my own AC by watching this video thanks!!
Glad it helped!
This video was very helpful so keep up the great work.👍
Thank you for the video. Blessings to you.
Great video, thanks for producing
No probs, thanks for watching.
I'm new to this RV Living moreso an RV TeRRibLe Experience. While teaching myself 'DIY EVERYTHING' by watching countless videos. Cause on-site RV Techs are DELUSIONAL!
Anyway, I've watched countless videos with this being the ONLY video that looks just like my AC Unit and VENTS. Great step by step walk-through and tips throughout. I'll be purchasing that coil comb today. 👍
Although, you skipped right past the 1 part I've been looking for and that's which way are the inside vent covers to go back on properly? As I think the vents were on wrong when purchasing this 42FooT HeLL TrAP!
Anywho, I appreciate your informative video👍.
Stay save in your travels.
I was going to do it wrong. Now I know what I need to do. THANK YOU👍
Glad to help
Excellent! Very informative and put together well ...ty!
Thank you for sharing! This is incredibly helpful! :)
You're welcome. :)
I did just as you explained. Everything was real clean. The trouble came when I started to put the evaperator cover back together. The piece of sheet metal with no screw holes, a lip full length where does t go? I have been looking on line for 2 days to no avail. You show the piece on your roof before you put yous together . Wish you had shown where it goes. Thanks Marge
Maye check out part one video, where it's not full disassembled - czcams.com/video/sz79Kr_86PY/video.html
Oldie but goody Ray!!
I had a thought, watching your video I was thinking maybe using a Shop-Vac to suck the foam out of the evaporator coil after it's absorbed into the dirt and released the the mud on the coil fins use the vacuum cleaner to suck the moisture out of the fins and not have the muddy mess inside the rig.
NOTE, the chemical sprayed on the coils needs to be pretty harsh in order to break the oily film on the fins to be able to dissipate the heat from inside the rig. Makes it work more efficient.
Thanks again Ray.
Thank you! Feel a lot more confident now!
You're welcome. :) Good to hear. I also published this video recently that may also be of help - www.loveyourrv.com/rv-air-conditioner-maintenance-new-gasket-seal-clean-lube/ Cheers, Ray
I use my 1 gallon tank sprayer to rinse and my mini shop vac to suck up the water.
Always appreciate the tips and how to's Ray! Nice work as always, and you can't miss getting Angie in the videos. 😎😋
Great video! Thanks for the info.
I actually work around giant intercoolers with fins just like thag im familiar with fin combs i actually wash those coolers with a 3000 psi diesel pressure washer its dificult to dent those fins unless you hit them with something or bugs hit them at high rates of speed
awesome job as usual Ray. Just video I needed to find
Cool, glad it helped!
Great video explained well and simple thanks
Very much enjoy your content Ray! Would be great if you'd restart content again. 6 yr old reply from me, I know lol
Thanks Ray
I just took my heat pumps off the roof, soak them with simple green and spray them down with a regular water hose. As long as you don’t spray sideways across the fins, they will be fine. Let everything air dry. Reinstall with new 14x14 gaskets and you’re done!
Ray simple green applied through a small pump up bug sprayer is highly recommended that’s what a lot of the commercial air conditioner repair man use in the Phoenix area and we have a few air-conditioners in the Phoenix area. Thanks for the video👍👊😎
I've heard that from a few folks that say they use it and it works well. I'm a little hesitant as I know that Simple Green can corrode aluminum if left on it too long. It's in the companies FAQs and I've heard stories of it eating aluminum wheels.
so give it a good rinse,like you did, done.
Looks like Simple Green makes its own coil cleaner. :) simplegreen.com/industrial/products/foaming-coil-cleaner-aerosol/
I prefer the purple cleaner. Basically the same except it has an added ingredient or something. That's what I buy for the shop as well. It works really good removing grease, and any hydraulic oil that may have leaked on the equipment. In the field. Nothing beats a good hot water preasure wash at the shop. But they are not making money sitting there..lol
Thanks for another good video Ray!
Thanks, the AC has been working great since. Cheers, Ray
Thank u for teaching us
Thanks for the info!
A wet/dry shop vac with a soft brush will do a great job of sucking out those coils as well as the squirrel cage fan,
Good video !
Thanks for the tips
I have to regularly use toothbrush bristles to force grease into the shaft bearing of the motor you refer to. The right thing to do is replace the motor. However I have just got into the routine of doing this about every two months. The motor lets me know if it needs it sooner by a certain noise from the slop of the worn bearing. I have been doing this for two years so I will continue to do so until it no longer works. Standard "high temp" grease will only last about a month but true high temp grease gives me a full 2 months. Used to be STP but I don't believe it is sold anymore under that brand. Coastal I believe now. Anyhow it had a temp rating of 550 instead of 400.
Interesting ,thanks for the tip!
I retire May 31 and my sticks and bricks unit crapped out today. Welcome to less money and more expenses!
Oh well let's power on and see the next adventure.
eXcellent video, TY!
Back in the day we used to always vacuum the fins to extract the debris and use a soft horsehair paint brush OR a fin straightener on the stubborn stuff. In school we were taught to never use a water spray as that forces the debris into the fins. Why does no one vacuum anymore?
The fins on this evaporator are so thin that they bend really really easy and the older the unit gets the more brittle they become. The stuff on the evaporator fins was really glommed on there, wasn't going to sweep off. The condenser fins seemed much stronger.
I agree with a soaking and vacuum . As on a car radiator, if you must use a hose , you usually reverse flush from the way the dirt was introduce on the coil. In this case it was sucking in ,so it should be pushed back out the way it came in.
Don't underestimate the importance of checking to see how well your AC duct system is sealed. We found ours to be extremely leaky as a result of shoddy factory installation workmanship with gaps in duct insulation and the foil tape seals everywhere. Check not only your blower/return unit but also all of your duct taps and vent covers. A couple of hours of redoing joints with HVAC tape doubled the air flow from our vents. It turns out we were blowing a lot of air conditioned air into the void between our ceiling and roof! Ours is a Coleman TT which is one of the many brands owned by Thor. I would expect to find some shoddy workmanship somewhere in your RV regardless of your brand.
Good tip, it was one of the first things I did when the rig was new, dropped all the vent covers and checked. Most looked good but a couple places needed more tape. Cheers, Ray
Hi Thanks for the Video ! Can you tell me why someone would put a "hard start" capacitor on their a/c , I am new at this , thank you !
It helps the AC start a little more smoothly and with a lower initial current draw. When starting the AC units compressor needs to kick on and it can take a surge of amperage to do that. The hard start capacitor stores energy and can release it at the start-up stage, thus reducing the amperage draw from the power input to the RV.
Why is that helpful? It can reduce the chances of blowing breakers when running the AC and multiple other devices in the rig, especially in hot weather. There is less strain on the AC parts helping lengthen life.
Many people use them to help a generator start up the AC unit, where before the generator would go into shutdown mode not able to power the initial surge current needed to fire up the compressor.
Some RV AC units already have a hard start capacitor and other don't.
Another device that is often used but much more expensive is a soft starter. www.microair.net/products/easystart-364-3-ton-single-phase-soft-starter-for-air-conditioners Cheers, Ray