It’s important to know how to troubleshoot and fix your RV’s air conditioner (AC) if you’re out in the wilderness. It will not only save you money and inconvenience, but you may also find it difficult to find an engineer who can fix it when you are miles away from the locality.
It’s a fact that we click the switch and then simply expect the AC to work in warm weather condition.
But what happens when the RV AC does not blow cold air, or just fail to function at all?
Read on to find how you can solve this problem yourself…
All rooftop air conditioner has two main systems, the sealed refrigeration system, and the air handling system. We need to look at these to solve the problem.
In some sealed system the R-22 refrigerant is used which do not have charge port and hence not serviceable. But there are other components that are external which may have a problem as a result of which AC is blowing hot air. These components are serviceable and can be fixed.
So you need to check them as below one by one to eliminate the problem.
Step 1: Check the voltage before anything else
Like all electrical appliance, the air conditioner needs an adequate power supply to operate. If the voltage flow is 110 volts a.c. or less, then you will have a problem with the AC and it will not perform effectively.
So the first step before any other check is to see that voltage is fine. Then the next step is…
Step 2: Check whether the compressor is coming on
If the compressor is not functiong, it is most likely an issue with the controlling system i.e. the thermostat.
Here’s how to replace RV Ac thermostat
Step 3: Check the Airflow of the unit.
If the compressor is coming on, then you need to look into the airflow of the unit.
Check whether the condenser coil is blocked by dirt. Dry leaves or spiderwebs can collect in the condenser fins, so first make sure the fins are clean. If it is blocked it will not be able to give off enough heat to the outside air.
The video below shows how to clean RV AC condenser
Next check if the internal air filter is clogged.
Source: rvingwithmarkpolk.files.wordpress.com
If the AC has been running continuously, ensure the filters are cleaned at least once a week. This can be cleaned with plain soap and water. But if it is years old you may consider replacing it with a new one.
Also, ensure you clean the evaporator and blower motor fins.
Step 4: Check for Air Leaks
In most rooftop RV AC both the supply air and the return air are very close to each other. If it is not well sealed from each other the cold supply air can recirculate into the return side resulting in the evaporator coil to freeze up. And of course, the cold air goes to waste.
To find whether this is the problem, simply put your hand on the return air duct. If you find cold air coming out from it, the problem needs to be fixed. You can use weather seal foam to fill the gap and cover the duct opening with foil tape.
Step 5: Keep the direct sun off the RV
Generally, RV Acs do not have good insulation. So if the weather is very hot, the heat that the RV gathers is likely to be greater than the heat the AC pumps out.
Carefree-701509-Black-Awning-ZipBlocker
If this is the case, the easy solution is to use RV awning like this or this! Bottomline, keep your RV off direct sun heat.
Knowing all the steps above you can easily identify and fix why the AC was not blowing cold air. So do not let it be an inconvenience next time if you face the problem.
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