AC Condensation Dripping Into RV, HELP!!!!!

[Qstaar17]

I'm hoping one of you smart people can give me some advice. Background: I'm in a 1998 Fleetwood Pace Arrow, Class A. 2 Dometic Mach AC Units (RVP). The forward unit is dripping condensation through the AC filter onto the carpet inside the RV. I have already removed the drip pan, cleaned it out and seen the water running off the side of the RV. It's fine for a while then it happens again. I'm tired of taking it apart to make sure the drip pan weep holes are clear. I'm doing this over and over again. I believe this is all you can do, just wanted to know if anyone else has ideas. Thanks in advance.

[Skip426]

I'd think your in need of a new gasket between the roof and the A/C unit ; or the mount bolts of the A/C unit are loose , and the gasket isn't properly held down .

Check your roof unit installation manual for torque specs and possible gasket part numbers.

[joshjack]

Originally Posted by Qstaar17

I'm hoping one of you smart people can give me some advice. Background: I'm in a 1998 Fleetwood Pace Arrow, Class A. 2 Dometic Mach AC Units (RVP). The forward unit is dripping condensation through the AC filter onto the carpet inside the RV. I have already removed the drip pan, cleaned it out and seen the water running off the side of the RV. It's fine for a while then it happens again. I'm tired of taking it apart to make sure the drip pan weep holes are clear. I'm doing this over and over again. I believe this is all you can do, just wanted to know if anyone else has ideas. Thanks in advance.

Is it SUPPOSED to drain off the side? Many have a condensate drain line that is meant to be primary path to drain and those clog up easily over the years.

[gnvrvin]

Originally Posted by joshjack

Is it SUPPOSED to drain off the side? Many have a condensate drain line that is meant to be primary path to drain and those clog up easily over the years.

X2. If you do have a drain line low pressure air should clear it

[8.3Oilbuner]

Hi Qstaar17; By any chance are you talking about water dripping inside due to rain on the roof, or water dripping inside while running the A/C? When in Florida in 2010 was up in the panhandle and the humidity was almost 90%. I had the fan in the auto position on the thermostat and we had Dometic Penguin units. After running the A/C for a while water started dripping out of unit onto the floor. Asked my brother in law who was traveling with us in his RV and he had the same thing happening to him. He went and read the instructions for the Dometic and it was mentioned that in high humid areas that water/ humidity, could accumulate on the evaporator, freeze and then thaw fast enough for water to drip from the A/C unit. The instructions were run the fan on high to stop the water dripping. Did just that. Took the thermostat off auto for the fan and set the fan on HIGH. It worked. No more drip. Apparently you need more air volume moving across the evaporator to stop the water from dripping from the unit. Just thought I would share what worked for us. Good luck!

[TXiceman]

Check the following....
Is the evaporator coil clean and the pan clean? When were the units cleaned?
Check the evaporator pan drain hole.
Remove the inside air diffuser and tighten each of the 4 hold down bolts 1/2 to 1 full turn and no more. You do not want to over compress the gasket.

If it still leaks water in, you will need to remove the unit and thoroughly clean it. When re-installing, use a new gasket and tighten per the manufacturer's instructions, but to not compress the gasket more than 1/2 of its original thickness. DO NOT use any caulk on the A/C gasket. It has a sticky side, and this goes against the unit to hold it in place while positioning the unit.

Ken

[Ray,IN]

Hold on; IMO the first thing to do is inspect the return air plenum/ chilled air duct divider to insure it is not leaking chilled air into the return air plenum. This causes condensation in the return air area, which then drips back inside the RV. This procedure is designed to happen within the roof-top unit where there are drains to handle the water.


As to drain lines on the roof, I doubt your year coach came with A/C drain lines in the roof.

[Qstaar17]

Originally Posted by Skip426

I'd think your in need of a new gasket between the roof and the A/C unit ; or the mount bolts of the A/C unit are loose , and the gasket isn't properly held down .

Check your roof unit installation manual for torque specs and possible gasket part numbers.

It’s AC condensation. Rain water doesn’t get in but I’m willing to try everything. I will do as you said thanks.

[Qstaar17]

Originally Posted by joshjack

Is it SUPPOSED to drain off the side? Many have a condensate drain line that is meant to be primary path to drain and those clog up easily over the years.

I wonder about this drain line but it has a drip pan with holes on each side and the water comes out the holes to the side of the RV when functioning properly. Thanks for responding.

[Qstaar17]

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

Hold on; IMO the first thing to do is inspect the return air plenum/ chilled air duct divider to insure it is not leaking chilled air into the return air plenum. This causes condensation in the return air area, which then drips back inside the RV. This procedure is designed to happen within the roof-top unit where there are drains to handle the water.


As to drain lines on the roof, I doubt your year coach came with A/C drain lines in the roof.

Right all I have is a drip pan and the water runs off the roof to the ground. I will educate myself on this return air plenum. To see if this is the problem. Thanks for responding.

[Qstaar17]

Originally Posted by TXiceman

Check the following....
Is the evaporator coil clean and the pan clean? When were the units cleaned?
Check the evaporator pan drain hole.
Remove the inside air diffuser and tighten each of the 4 hold down bolts 1/2 to 1 full turn and no more. You do not want to over compress the gasket.

If it still leaks water in, you will need to remove the unit and thoroughly clean it. When re-installing, use a new gasket and tighten per the manufacturer's instructions, but to not compress the gasket more than 1/2 of its original thickness. DO NOT use any caulk on the A/C gasket. It has a sticky side, and this goes against the unit to hold it in place while positioning the unit.

Ken

I cleaned the coil recently with spray cleaner. The drip pan has been cleaned multiple times, this is the only thing I know to do. Can the gasket allow condensation into the rv or does it just keep the rain out? I was under the understanding that it keeps the rain out. I did replace it but had to tear one corner to get it on because I can find where the wires go but not where the cord that looks like a plug goes in order to pull it. So I can’t keep the integrity of the 14-14 gasket unless I trace the cord into the RV. ThankYou for your detailed response.

[znt1186]

We had an issue with ours doing the same thing when using the heat pump setting. Found out that the pan had holes in it. Sealed the pan and it does not leak now. You might have a look at the pan itself.

[TXiceman]

Originally Posted by Qstaar17

Can the gasket allow condensation into the rv or does it just keep the rain out? I was under the understanding that it keeps the rain out. I did replace it but had to tear one corner to get it on because I can find where the wires go but not where the cord that looks like a plug goes in order to pull it. So I can’t keep the integrity of the 14-14 gasket unless I trace the cord into the RV. ThankYou for your detailed response.

If the gasket is bad, it can let the water that drains onto the roof leak back into the RV.

In order to replace a gasket, you will need to disconnect the wires to lift the unit off. What brand A/C do you have? On ours, you take off two wing nuts that secure the control board and then unplug the unit from the control board. Let the control board hang down. You also need to remove the freeze-stat that is sticking into the evaporator coil fins.

But you never cut the 14" x 14" gasket to shirt cut removing the unit.

Here is video to remove a Coleman A/C unit. You can also find videos on Dometic and others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1tKMi6r0aw

Ken

[dfuelman]

Originally Posted by 8.3Oilbuner

Hi Qstaar17; By any chance are you talking about water dripping inside due to rain on the roof, or water dripping inside while running the A/C? When in Florida in 2010 was up in the panhandle and the humidity was almost 90%. I had the fan in the auto position on the thermostat and we had Dometic Penguin units. After running the A/C for a while water started dripping out of unit onto the floor. Asked my brother in law who was traveling with us in his RV and he had the same thing happening to him. He went and read the instructions for the Dometic and it was mentioned that in high humid areas that water/ humidity, could accumulate on the evaporator, freeze and then thaw fast enough for water to drip from the A/C unit. The instructions were run the fan on high to stop the water dripping. Did just that. Took the thermostat off auto for the fan and set the fan on HIGH. It worked. No more drip. Apparently you need more air volume moving across the evaporator to stop the water from dripping from the unit. Just thought I would share what worked for us. Good luck!

This is GREAT info! I had the very problem just over a year ago. We were camping in NC and it was raining and humidity was through the roof when suddenly water started dripping from A/C unit. Checked everything, cleaned drains and could find nothing wrong. I always run fans in Auto, so I will take note and in the future, turn them up on HIGH during periods of high humidity.

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