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01-21-2017, 10:15 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Folsom, CA
Posts: 48
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Air Condition rain water leak or normal?
We have a new to us 2011 32v Fleetwood Southwind motorhome. During a very very heavy rain storm I notice 15 drips coming through the roof AC unit screen/vent - and ultimately water traveled up/in the roof interior to a ceiling light and 5 drips came out. Is this normal that an AC may take in some water during a VERY Heavy storm ( never any leaks otherwise ) or could it be a roof AC seal or ??
I paid $150 for a roof seal leak test a month or two prior - no issues.
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2011 Southwind 32 vs
Workhorse w22
Headline Entertainer FMCA Rally 3/2019
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01-21-2017, 10:30 AM
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: indio california
Posts: 963
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TweetThisRV
We have a new to us 2011 32v Fleetwood Southwind motorhome. During a very very heavy rain storm I notice 15 drips coming through the roof AC unit screen/vent - and ultimately water traveled up/in the roof interior to a ceiling light and 5 drips came out. Is this normal that an AC may take in some water during a VERY Heavy storm ( never any leaks otherwise ) or could it be a roof AC seal or ??
I paid $150 for a roof seal leak test a month or two prior - no issues.
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on cheaper non ducted roof ac units the ac is mounted with 4 with bolts through the ceiling and sealed with a gasket.Assuming the gasket is still ok these 4 bolts need to be tightened up as they tend to slack over time
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01-21-2017, 04:19 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Folsom, CA
Posts: 48
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Thanks - are those for bolts on the roof side or the 4 screws I see from inside the RV?
__________________
2011 Southwind 32 vs
Workhorse w22
Headline Entertainer FMCA Rally 3/2019
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01-21-2017, 04:39 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 26,643
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Roof A/C Units (ducted and non-ducted) are secured to roof via 4 hold down bolts
Remove the ceiling grille cover to access the bolts ---one in each corner.
They need to be tightened evenly....use an 'X' pattern.
BUT they should only be SNUG.
If you have a 1/4" drive INCH torque wrench then you can tighten them to 40 INCH Pounds (NOT FOOT Pounds----INCH Pounds)
So........SNUG
That means finger tight then just a 1/4 turn with a wrench
Roof gasket is 1" thick when new and gets compressed to 1/2" when bots are properly SNUG.
Over tightening with squish roof gasket causing distortion and leaks
Hopefully with only the slight dripping during heavy rains just snugging up on the hold down bolts will seal it.
Also if gasket gets compressed too much the Evap Coil drip pan drain holes can get blocked due to A/C pan being to close to roof line
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Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor
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01-21-2017, 04:46 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Plantation, Fl
Posts: 1,874
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TweetThisRV
Thanks - are those for bolts on the roof side or the 4 screws I see from inside the RV?
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You tighten the air conditioner hold down bolts from inside the RV. The 4 bolts you see on your ceiling, assuming you have a ducted unit, are the screws that hold up your grill. If you remove them you will see the four bolts that secure your AC unit to the roof. They are not supposed to be all that tight, but snug. Atwood in this link says they should only be 4.4 # pounds.
http://www.atwoodmobile.com/manuals/...2016_Rev_9.pdf
Oops - didn't see Old Biscuit's reply when I typed mine.
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2024 Jayco Redhawk 26 M (OCCC challenged)
2017 RWD F 150 with a drive shaft disconnect
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01-22-2017, 07:58 AM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,519
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No, it is not normal for water to drip in, no matter how hard it rains. However, I would not be too sure that the leak is around the a/c itself - it could be coming in anywhere and running along the ceiling. Just because you saw it first at the a/c opening does not mean it started there.
By all means check those 4 a/c mounting bots, but don't get fixated there. Or the associated gasket. Could be a roof vent, antenna mount, plumbing vent, or any other seam or opening through the roof.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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01-22-2017, 03:53 PM
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#7
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Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,578
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer
No, it is not normal for water to drip in, no matter how hard it rains. However, I would not be too sure that the leak is around the a/c itself - it could be coming in anywhere and running along the ceiling. Just because you saw it first at the a/c opening does not mean it started there.
By all means check those 4 a/c mounting bots, but don't get fixated there. Or the associated gasket. Could be a roof vent, antenna mount, plumbing vent, or any other seam or opening through the roof.
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What Gary said!
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
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01-22-2017, 04:01 PM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: indio california
Posts: 963
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TweetThisRV
Thanks - are those for bolts on the roof side or the 4 screws I see from inside the RV?
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the four you see from inside. tighten those up and as long as the gasket never got damaged while installed it will most likely fix the leak
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01-23-2017, 05:06 AM
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#9
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Community Moderator
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Central, Arkansas
Posts: 11,202
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit
Roof A/C Units (ducted and non-ducted) are secured to roof via 4 hold down bolts
Remove the ceiling grille cover to access the bolts ---one in each corner.
They need to be tightened evenly....use an 'X' pattern.
BUT they should only be SNUG.
If you have a 1/4" drive INCH torque wrench then you can tighten them to 40 INCH Pounds (NOT FOOT Pounds----INCH Pounds)
So........SNUG
That means finger tight then just a 1/4 turn with a wrench
Roof gasket is 1" thick when new and gets compressed to 1/2" when bots are properly SNUG.
Over tightening with squish roof gasket causing distortion and leaks
Hopefully with only the slight dripping during heavy rains just snugging up on the hold down bolts will seal it.
Also if gasket gets compressed too much the Evap Coil drip pan drain holes can get blocked due to A/C pan being to close to roof line
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Going by this I think the problem could possibly be that whoever sealed your roof could have overtightened those bolts. Keep that in mind also.
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2004 Beaver Monterey Laguna IV
Cummins ISC 350HP Allison 3000 6 speed
2020 Chevy Equinox Premier 2.0t 9 speed AWD
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