Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > MOTORHOME FORUMS > MH-General Discussions & Problems
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 07-21-2012, 07:51 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Steverino's Avatar
 
Forest River Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Central PA
Posts: 734
Water dripping from A/C ceiling return grille

Hi all,

I just installed a new rooftop air unit (Coleman Mach 15). All was going reasonably well until today, when I decided to run the air while giving the inside of the rig a thorough cleaning.

After running it for maybe an hour or two, I discovered quite a lot of condensation dripping from the main ceiling return grille (this is a ducted rig). I took the grille and sheetmetal cover off and found that there was a lot of sweat accumulated on the metal surfaces of the A/C unit, and also on the tubular metal framework that Jayco uses to reinforce that part of the ceiling opening.

I'm guessing this isn't exactly normal, but I'm not really sure what one does about it, and I don't see anything obviously wrong. Does anyone else have this problem? There is "normal" condensate dripping steadily off the roof exterior (as you would expect), so I don't think its a case of the regular condensate getting into the interior. I think it's only sweat generated from the inside / bottom surfaces of the A/C unit.

Any thoughts?

Thanks very much!
__________________
Steve & Carol
2014 Forest River Georgetown 351DS pushed by 2014 Jeep Wrangler (JKUR) 6-speed
Steverino is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 07-21-2012, 08:00 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
nightriderrv's Avatar
 
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: May 2012
Location: NC
Posts: 1,682
While you were cleaning were you going in and out of the unit often like to carry stuff in to the house if so a lot of humid air was coming in and it will sweat at the return until the A/C removes all the humid air out of the unit.
__________________
Mark Anderson - Nebo NC - western NC - RV Restoration tech - 9 Doggies - Outdoors person
1990 33ft Wilderness Cimarron 33X
nightriderrv is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2012, 05:29 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
topdownman's Avatar


 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 1,489
Sounds like you have some sort of outside air coming in where it shouldn't. Make sure the seal between the cold air return isn't pulling in outside air.
__________________
Mark Anderson - FMCA 351514 - NRVIA Certified Level 2 Inspector
Louisville, KY
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH
2006 Jeep Commander
topdownman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2012, 05:43 AM   #4
Community Administrator
 
CLIFFTALL's Avatar


 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 53,432
Blog Entries: 1
A clogged drain hole or a bad ( poorly installed ) gasket will cause the situation you describe.
__________________


Cliff,Tallulah and Buddy ( 1999-2012 )
CLIFFTALL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2012, 10:29 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Steverino's Avatar
 
Forest River Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Central PA
Posts: 734
Thanks for all of the suggestions... I went back up on the roof today and pulled off the shroud as well as the sheetmetal over the evaporator core. Everything looked fine and the drain holes for the plastic evaporator pan (onto the roof) had water drips, so I think they're working okay. I re-smooshed some of the "dumgum" in a couple of places and also added some additional aluminum duct tape in a couple of spots where I thought outside air might get in.

I really wonder if it wasn't caused mostly (as nightrider said above) by coming and going, as well as some additional dampness from my cleaning activities. I'm going to run the unit for a few hours today and see what develops.

Thanks again!
__________________
Steve & Carol
2014 Forest River Georgetown 351DS pushed by 2014 Jeep Wrangler (JKUR) 6-speed
Steverino is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2012, 12:14 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
wa8yxm's Avatar
 
Damon Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
On my coach the Carrier Air Vs will drip into the house via the intake vent/filters if the front of the coach is not high enough.. Try raising the front 1-2 inches and see if that helps.

Water is SUPPOSED to run out the back of the tray, not the front. But water runs DOWNHILL. even on Mystery Mountain.
__________________
Home is where I park it!
wa8yxm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2012, 01:57 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Steverino's Avatar
 
Forest River Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Central PA
Posts: 734
Quote:
Originally Posted by wa8yxm View Post
On my coach the Carrier Air Vs will drip into the house via the intake vent/filters if the front of the coach is not high enough.. Try raising the front 1-2 inches and see if that helps.

Water is SUPPOSED to run out the back of the tray, not the front. But water runs DOWNHILL. even on Mystery Mountain.
Thanks - I just checked and it was slightly nose-down. Will level out & try again.

Another observation: it seems that all of the water is on the blower side, not the return side. Some appears as beads of condensation on the metal and white foam up near the fan. I'm also wondering if the fan is actually pulling condensation off of the evaporator core and through into the blower side. I'm trying running the fan on low to see if that makes much difference.
__________________
Steve & Carol
2014 Forest River Georgetown 351DS pushed by 2014 Jeep Wrangler (JKUR) 6-speed
Steverino is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2012, 06:21 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
wa8yxm's Avatar
 
Damon Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
Yes the fan (Blower) will pull condensate through the coils, I mean it's approaching tornado velocities up there. Not a problem designed that way, Keep fan on high.

With the nose down water can overflow the front lip of the drip tray.
__________________
Home is where I park it!
wa8yxm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2012, 07:50 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
rvguy40's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 185
It's most likely high humidity from the door opening and closing. I experienced this very same thing last week... got 4 drops formed on the ceiling package from running in and out and shampooing carpet, etc. And I've had a rash of calls wanting on site rv service for the same thing.
__________________
1997 National Seabreeze 133 Limited
1993 Mazda Miata
2005 Basset Hound, "Fred"
rvguy40 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
ceiling, water



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:31 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.