Guest Post: RV AIR CONDITIONING

TECH TALK: RV AIR CONDITIONING By: Fred Smith

This was recently seen at https://www.lazydays.com/page/tech-talk-rv-air-conditioning

Lazydays RV Supercenter in Seffner FL was a longtime dealer of the Country Coach brand. They also are a good East Coast option for service work yet today on your Country Coach motorhomes.

MAINTAINING YOUR RV AIR CONDITIONING UNIT

It’s summer, which means RVers everywhere are trying to tame the gods of heat and humidity with the divine invention of RV air conditioning. Here are a few tips to keep your RV air conditioning system in shape through the sweltering summer months.

How an Air Conditioner Works: The Simple Explanation - An air conditioner essentially sucks air through its intake and extracts heat from it by running the air through an evaporator. The cold air that remains is distributed through the vents and cools the interior of your coach. The most important aspect of a well-running AC system is airflow. Maintaining proper airflow in your RV’s air conditioning system is crucial to ensure that your unit runs as it should.

Filters-Keeping your interior filters clean is a great first step toward maintaining airflow. You can replace your filters when they get dirty, or you can clean your filters and save the expense of buying new ones. To clean your interior AC filter, remove the filter, wash it with water, shake out the debris and reinstall it. A clean filter allows air to flow.

Roof Units - Your outside unit can accumulate dust, dirt and leaves that can inhibit airflow. It’s always a good idea to keep the unit clean so air can flow through it properly.

To clean your roof unit, you must first remove its housing. Then take a hose and wash the condensing unit by running water over the coils. The coils will dry naturally when you restart your AC unit. There is no need to use a spray nozzle or attack the coils with any kind of pressurized water, since this can potentially collapse the fins and reduce airflow. If you happen to collapse your unit’s fins, you can buy a fin comb at most auto parts retailers and use the comb to brush the fins back to their proper place.

Know When to Call a Pro - You got into the RVing lifestyle to have fun, not to deal with the intricacies of malfunctioning air conditioning systems. (Leave that to the technicians.) While it’s great to have a do-it-yourself attitude with your RV, understand that the inner workings of your AC system are complicated and best repaired by a certified RV technician. Remember that airflow is the most important aspect of a well-running AC system. If your coach is still uncomfortably warm after you’ve performed the tasks we’ve discussed in this article, call a professional RV service center and have your system checked out by a qualified technician.    Have Fun and Stay Cool!

MORE TIPS

What is a Thermistor? - A thermistor is an electronic sensor that reads air temperature and sends a signal back to your AC unit, letting it know how hot or cold the interior of your coach is. Your RV likely has several of these devices placed around the coach. Be aware that thermistors are sometimes aesthetically located in odd places, like inside cabinets or near light fixtures, which can lead to inaccurate temperature readings. Running fans inside your coach is a good idea. Fans promote airflow and help thermistors achieve more accurate readings, since flowing air is easier to gauge than dormant air.

Did You Know? -On average, a central AC unit in an RV can produce air that is 20-25 degrees cooler than the temperature of the air before the unit is turned on. So if it is 90 degrees in the coach when you turn the AC unit on, your RV should be able to produce air that is 65-70 degrees in temperature. By comparison, the AC unit in your RV’s dashboard can produce air that is 15-20 degrees colder than the temperature of the air when the unit is turned on.

Condensing Cleaner Caution - You should NOT use condensing cleaner on your AC unit, as it can corrode the clear coat on your RV and ultimately damage your coach’s paint. When certified technicians professionally clean a condensing unit, they will use condensing cleaner. However, they will remove the entire unit from the roof when they do this so the condensing cleaner does not damage the RV’s clear coat or paint.