A/C Cleaning

[oemtech]

Does your roof A/C units smell when you start using them? Maybe they don't cool as good as they use to? Well, maybe you need to clean the Evaporator. Shame on me.... I waited almost 5 years So what are we looking at...

Before Cleaning


After Cleaning

[D in Davie]

Good Job Oemtech. I'll bite, what did you use and how did you do it.
Denis

[oemtech]

I used "VOOM", a stiff parts brush and water in a spray bottle. Just spray the cleaner on the coils and let it set for a few minutes. Using the brush just brush up/down and rinse with spray bottle and repeat as necessary. I put an old towel down below the evaporator so I didn't get water in the air ducts. Just be careful as the coil fins are very fragile.. Just use lots of water to rinse so you don't plug up the drains.

Note - you can use any cleaner you want.. But, remember you will smell that cleaner for a few days after cleaning.

Lastly don't forget to clean your 8 filters inside the coach.

[oemtech]

Although the outside air was only about 75 or 80 degrees my supply air was 38 degrees at the vent right under the A/C unit and 42 degrees at the end vent when test with infra red themometer.

[RVDude]

Though obvious, it probably begs emphasis to use not TOO stiff a brush! You don't want to bend the fins or puncture the tubes or rough things up too much. Bent fins can be realigned using a tool like below or careful nudges with a Popsicle stick type tool.

There are also foaming, non-acid, and even etching type cleaners/brighteners (commercial availability only typically) which most likely will be way too caustic and far too messy/smelly to use on our rooftop units. Only needed if you have a really major mess up there. As OEM said, you'll smell the cleaner for days, best to use something like VOOM or Simple Green type cleaners. The residual cleanup of these household cleaners is far easier.

[D in Davie]

Thanks, that good advice. I'm new to the Class A and did not know about those circle filters until you just told me. Thanks, I'll get on it.
Denis

[oemtech]

Denis,

Check the diameter of your filters... the older ones were just a small and would get partially suck up into the vent. Newmar started to make new ones that were the size of the grill. I bought 2 sets... one set is installed while the other set gets washed and dried. I rotate then every month.

[RetiredSKP]

To prevent filter from being sucked in, buy grill screens like this from Wal-Mart

Cut circles out of grill screen to match filter

Assemble filter onto plastic grill piece tabs and place grill screen circle on top of filter.

Snap into place.

RetiredSKP

[oldpa]

When using Voom to clean the evaporator should it be used full strength or cut with water?

[oemtech]

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldpa When using Voom to clean the evaporator should it be used full strength or cut with water?

I find that 5:1 solution is pretty good for almost all my cleaning requirements.

[golden]

Dale,

It looks like you have another photo facility!

My biggest problem with my basement A/C is that it doesn't cool enough on very hot days. I called Coleman and they said to check to make sure the venting from the condensor that goes upward into the coach had not become disconnected. Unfortunately, I can't see or reach up that high so will have to find an A/C tech to check it out for me.

Last year I had to cover the compressor grille with some "see-through" filters because the cottonwood cotton was flying around like crazy in SW CO. Also, I'll check but I'm pretty sure that my MH doesn't have any filters other than the one under the bed (standard residential filter).

Denny

[MikeandClaudia]

Something I have wondered about:

The return air comes in through the filters and through the duct, then into the A/C. After a number of years shouldn't the ducts and A/C on the "intake" side need to be cleaned?

How?

We have been full-timing for five years and I bet there is a great deal of fine dust built up somewhere.

Any ideas?

[Route 66]

The easiest way to clean the filters, is to put them in a fine washables bag and toss them in the washer.

Take them out of the bag and into the dryer they go for short time.

[MikeandClaudia]

I clean the filters and the plastic grills monthly.

My question is about the ducts and the "intake" portion of the A/C. Shouldn't they be cleaned? How? Thanks!