Community Forums

sdesha · 09-09-2020, 07:02 AM

Greetings,

I have a question and u may have asked this before, there is a fire burning outside not close to my coach at all and the smoke smell is coming into the coach from. The ac vents....is that normal and if so, I will deal with it, if not normal, what can be done?

Thanks

Suzzanne
2014 Entegra Cornstone 45k
2015 Jeep Cherokee

Skip426 · 09-09-2020, 09:11 AM

Some dash A/C systems will shut down the dash vent in Max A/C ( Recirc )and hold them closed off . Other systems will gradually reopen ( as mine do , allowing dust in when parked in the desert), and you have to close off the fresh air intake . Mine's above the gen set , and I use foil tape to close it off.

EDIT: Yellow arrow is from another use of the photo showing the housing drain tube.

Ljwt330 · 09-09-2020, 10:07 AM

Skip426 has answered your question if the A/C in question is the dash unit.

However, I first read your post as the issue was with the HOUSE A/C vents, so clarification is needed. If the issue is with the house A/C, then you do have a problem as all air that circulates through the outlet vents enters the system from inside the coach. Even basement units should have a return air duct inside the coach that feeds in air to be conditioned and sent into the outlet vents.

schad · 09-09-2020, 10:14 AM

We bought a HEPA air purifier, something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/LEVOIT-Filtra...1DC5AC4Z4TXDVJ

Works like a champ. Ever since we got that purifier, we only notice smoke in the coach when we've been going in and out (e.g. to walk the dogs). Obviously that big entry door is going to let in a lot of smoke. But even then, within a minute or two it's gone.

Put it somewhere in the open, and keep an A/C fan running even if the A/C itself is off to keep circulating air through the coach. On ours, the lowest speed setting gets the job done and is nearly silent. We stow it under the dinette seats for travel days.

FYI order filters in advance. Thanks to Covid, HEPA filters are in short supply and you may have to wait weeks or months to get replacements.

Nowabeachbum · 09-09-2020, 11:59 AM

Everyone has given good info. Let me just add, never run your dash air in anything but max air. Until 2019, Entegra did not put an outside filter on. As a matter of fact, sealing up the holes like Skip has is a great idea!

sdesha · 09-09-2020, 04:44 PM

Clarification,
The smoke smell was coming form the house ac's, when I called Entegra, they td me that outside air is coming in the coach from somewhere, I have no idea where the outside air may be coming in.

The only place I can think of is the bedroom slide on the passenger side, it isn't flush on the side closet to the master bath.

I am going to have to have all the slides adjusted.

Suzzanne
2014 cornerstone 45k
2015 Jeep Cherokee

Mwoodofd · 09-09-2020, 04:52 PM

You can inspect your slide seals when parked with the slides out to make sure they are reversing and laying flat on the slide sides and bottom in the "sealed" position. Sometimes mine do not get completely flat, and I use the exterior shade rod to make sure the seals are in the correct open position.

Your 3 AC's have a seal on the bottom to keep them air tight, and water out, so if you are not leaking any water through your A/C vents, then those are not the issue.

garysfb · 09-10-2020, 04:01 PM

So if I'm reading this right the house A/C's are using only inside air (like recirc on the dash unit)? Learned something new today!

photraveller · 09-10-2020, 06:23 PM

Our Aspire has never been good at keeping campfire smoke or wildfire smoke out of the coach.

So like you I'm not sure if that's normal, but in our case, we couldn't really find any one place where it seemed like the smoke was coming in from,

Steve

Ljwt330 · 09-10-2020, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garysfb

So if I'm reading this right the house A/C's are using only inside air (like recirc on the dash unit)? Learned something new today!

Yes, that is correct.

Just to be clear, are you experiencing visible smoke emanating from the vents, a smoke smell, or an overall hazy atmosphere inside the coach like when something has burned on the stove?

DSL417 · 09-10-2020, 08:32 PM

FWIW, I was driving across Vermont back roads..lots of up and dow. I was using a little too much air brakes and not enough engine brakes. Things got to smoking. Thought it was the dash air going bad. Stopped, found the smoke coming from the front and the wheel well. Determined likely brakes smoking. Engaged engine brake, no more issues...lesson learned.