O'Connor RV
RV A/C Maintenance
Story & photo courtesy of O'Connor RV
Before you head to hotter climates and away from your favourite mechanic, it is a good idea to remember these maintenance tips for keeping your air conditioner going. Don’t be the people who have to head to the nearest shopping mall just to cool off. Listed below are some steps you can take to ensure that your roof AC has a fair shot of keeping you cool.
1. Clean the AC filters every 2 to 4 weeks depending on how often you are running it. If you don’t follow this schedule chances are that you will get a dirty filter and significantly reduce the cooling capacity and efficiency of your AC. The roof AC will have to work harder, use more power, which will cost you more money and shorten the lifespan of the unit.
To clean the filters, it is first necessary to remove them from the ceiling air return grill that houses the air filter. This is done by removing the screws that secure the air conditioner filter grill from the ceiling unit. Once the grill is removed, inspect the ceiling unit with a flashlight and wipe clean any dirty surfaces with a paper towel. Next remove the filter from the grill and wash it with water with a gentle spray from your sprayer hose to remove any accumulated lint or dirt from the filter. If your filter is made of foam (which most are) simply shake it gently but vigorously to remove the excess water and let it air dry for about 30 minutes or until it is dry to the touch.
2. While the filter is removed take a look at the condenser coils. If dirt or debris has accumulated you can use a vacuum with a soft bristle attachment to gently remove the dust and dirt. Spray coil cleaners are also available – read the directions on the can carefully before using.
3. Once everything is nice and clean, put the filter back into the grill and screw the grill back into the ceiling unit. Be careful to put the screws back in their original positions – no one needs any holes in their new padded ceiling.
If your filter is beyond cleaning, replacement ones can be purchased from most RV Service Centres. You should likely carry an extra filter on board the RV just in case yours becomes worn or deteriorated filters when you are far from any service centre.
4. If you are nimble and not scared of heights, go on the roof of your RV to clean the outside condenser coils on your AC. Remove the cover on the air conditioner (this will include a lot of screws) and use some compressed air to blow out any dust or debris that may have gotten into the condenser coils. Blow the air away from the coils. Once everything looks good, replace the cover gently. This process should be repeated at least once a year.
Once you have completed this routine maintenance, you should be ready to set out for the warmest of locales. If you have done all of the above but still experience cooling problems, you should take your RV in to have a certified RV technician check out the AC for you.
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