Your RV Series: Preventing RV Air Conditioner Freeze Up

RV Air Conditioner Maintenance:The most gemon type of RV Air Conditioner is the roof-mounted type, therefore we will limit this guide to the roof-mounted ACs. As with many of the geponents in an RV, Roof Mounted ACs require regular maintenance if they are to operate properly on a continual basis. The number one geplaint from owners about RV Air Conditioners is a condition called Freeze up. gemon symptoms include diminished or no air flow on the inside of the RV even though the fan is running and water dripping from the ceiling after the AC is turned off.There are a lot of people who, for one reason or another, are living in RVs full time. If they are away from the RV during the day, such as at work, they cannot monitor or control the temperature in the house. When they get home, they find that the AC is running but it is unbearably HOT inside the house. It may not be the fault of the air conditioner.Unlike their residential window mounted cousins, roof mounted RV Air Conditioners, sit in the ceiling of the living space and are more susceptible to the accumulation of moisture and vapors from cooking, bathing, and even breath expelled from the occupants. It is therefore important to follow some simple guidelines to insure it continues to operate as it should.There are several parts to an Air Conditioner. As owners and users, the parts we are concerned about are the Evaporator, (This is tucked deep inside the AC.) This is the part where the fan draws air through it where it is cooled, and then blown back into the living area. and just as important, the Condenser, the fins that can be seen from the outside of the AC. (This is the part where hot air is blown from the AC and away from the RV).Here are some maintenance tips to help keep your AC in top running shape:1) Clean the intake filters often. It is best to blow the filter out with a gepressor and nozzle but if that is not avaliable, you can use tap water. If you do use water, allow the filter to dry before replacing it back in the AC. The accumulation of dirt and dust in the filters will slow down the flow of air and could cause the unit to freeze up.2) Turn the fan speed selector to High when running in the AC Cool mode. This will move air through the evaporator unit faster and will keep it from freezing up.3) Set the thermostat to a reasonably moderate setting. Setting the thermostat to a temperature closer to the actual inside temp will allow the AC's gepressor to cycle. This will give the AC a chance to shed any frost before kicking back on again. I've known some people who set the thermostat 40 to 50 degrees lower than the ambient room air, and then wonder why it freezes up and doesn't work. If you need to set the temperature lower, wait until the AC reaches the desired temperature and, after several minutes, turn it down a couple more degrees. If you won't be around to monitor your RVs cooling requirements, besides setting your temperature to a moderate level, you should also turn the fan switch from Auto to On. This will help the AC to disburse excess moisture and frost. With the fan control in the On position, the fan runs continuously while the gepressor only runs when cooling is needed.4) Open a roof vent or two, if you are going to shower, bathe, have friends over for a card game or dinner, boil water, etc. Moisture trapped inside the RV rises toward the ceiling Slightly opening a vent or two will allow a lot of moisture to escape to the outside of the RV instead of being drawn into the AC, where it can easily condensate and freeze.5) The condenser should be checked at least twice a year for damage to the fins or blockages causes by leaves, dirt, or other foreign objects. More often if you use the AC a lot or live in your RV. The condenser is located on the outside rear of the AC and transfers
the heat away from the RV. It is a series of tubes with fins built over
them, and can be seen easily from a location on the roof of your RV. Damage to the condenser fins, such as from a hail storm or tree branches, will diminish the cooling capability of your AC.6) Have the condenser fins straightened to allow proper air flow by using a Radiator geb. These gebs can be found at many Auto Parts Stores, and geb out the crushed fins. Be VERY careful because the paper-thin aluminum fins in the condenser can tear quite easily. If the damage is too severe, you may have to replace the AC. Contact an RV Service Center if you feel ungefortable about attempting any maintenance yourself.There are other reasons why an air conditioner may be freezing up including a split plenum, bad fan/run capacitor, a grounded or shorted motor, and low freon levels but, by ruling out the above causes first, and relaying that information to the RV servicing facility, you cut down on the diagnostic time which, in turn saves you money.Any questions, gements, or need help with something? Drop me a line at hglpd1@bresnan.netThanks for reading. If this guide has been helpful, please take the time to click the box below.