Replacement AC?

[Souljourner]

I’ve just discovered that the AC on my 2010 Palomino Expandable TT is only blowing cool air, not cold. I have someone interested in buying it, but believing they need to replace the AC will definitely impact negotiations. It’s a 13,500 BTU Dometic unit. Image attached.

My first question is - any ideas where to start looking to fix the issue, and what the issue might be? We prefer fans over AC and it has not been used in about 6 years.

My second question is - if not fixable where is the best place to buy a replacement? And if I go that route, how complicated is installation?

[MrMark52]

Get up on the roof and take the shroud off. Carry a water hose with you with a sprayer on the end.
Turn off power to the unit.
Blow out the condenser with the water. Be careful not to bend the fins. Blow the water in the opposite direction that the air is drawn into the coil. I hear Home Depot has coil cleaner which you can try using, but usually just plain water with a little pressure behind it is good enough.
Wash from top to bottom - and you should see dirt in the water as it flushes out.

[craigd853]

Originally Posted by Souljourner

I’ve just discovered that the AC on my 2010 Palomino Expandable TT is only blowing cool air, not cold. I have someone interested in buying it, but believing they need to replace the AC will definitely impact negotiations. It’s a 13,500 BTU Dometic unit. Image attached.

My first question is - any ideas where to start looking to fix the issue, and what the issue might be? We prefer fans over AC and it has not been used in about 6 years.

My second question is - if not fixable where is the best place to buy a replacement? And if I go that route, how complicated is installation?

Also take the inside vent off and look at the evaporator with a flash light. If you have never cleaned this it will be clogged with dirt across the fins. You can use a soft tooth brush and clean in one direction which will keep you from damaging the fins.

[Souljourner]

Originally Posted by MrMark52

Get up on the roof and take the shroud off. Carry a water hose with you with a sprayer on the end.
Turn off power to the unit.
Blow out the condenser with the water. Be careful not to bend the fins. Blow the water in the opposite direction that the air is drawn into the coil. I hear Home Depot has coil cleaner which you can try using, but usually just plain water with a little pressure behind it is good enough.
Wash from top to bottom - and you should see dirt in the water as it flushes out.

Thanks to both of you. It’s a beautiful day in New York and we’re ready to tackle both instructions.

Silly question - if we go into the roof and spray water into the unit - where does the water go?

[MrMark52]

Be careful to make sure you are directing all the water toward the condenser coils. Try not to direct any toward the metal enclosed cooling section.

All water should drain to the roof. You always want to be sure the mounting bolts for the unit, accessible from behind the inside grill assembly, are properly tightened (see you installation manual). Their being properly tightened insures the roof gasket is sealed to the roof which will prevent water coming into the coach.

[Souljourner]

Originally Posted by MrMark52

Be careful to make sure you are directing all the water toward the condenser coils. Try not to direct any toward the metal enclosed cooling section.

All water should drain to the roof. You always want to be sure the mounting bolts for the unit, accessible from behind the inside grill assembly, are properly tightened (see you installation manual). Their being properly tightened insures the roof gasket is sealed to the roof which will prevent water coming into the coach.

Thank you! The ladder is coming out now.

[Souljourner]

Update - sprayed water into unit from roof. No dirt. Went inside and took the cover off. Fins are also clean.

Anything else to check? What about the compressor? How do we check it? The compressor doesn’t seem to be coming on.

[craigd853]

Originally Posted by Souljourner

Update - sprayed water into unit from roof. No dirt. Went inside and took the cover off. Fins are also clean.

Anything else to check? What about the compressor? How do we check it? The compressor doesn’t seem to be coming on.

Good morning, if the compressor is not coming on and the fan is, underneath the shroud outside there is a capacitor for the compressor. CHeck to make sure it is good by checking to make sure it's not bulging or leaking, if so replace. If this looks fine and you have a volt meter you can check to make sure you have power going to compressor when turning a/c unit on. All or most a/c units have a pressure switch inline so that when the unit becomes low on refrigerant the compressor will not come on and burn the compressor up. Hope this helps

[Souljourner]

Originally Posted by craigd853

Good morning, if the compressor is not coming on and the fan is, underneath the shroud outside there is a capacitor for the compressor. CHeck to make sure it is good by checking to make sure it's not bulging or leaking, if so replace. If this looks fine and you have a volt meter you can check to make sure you have power going to compressor when turning a/c unit on. All or most a/c units have a pressure switch inline so that when the unit becomes low on refrigerant the compressor will not come on and burn the compressor up. Hope this helps

You’re the best! My husband is very mechanically inclined. Just doesn’t know about AC’s. Your suggestions, plus a couple of YouTube videos have been very helpful.

Buyers are coming back this morning. My husband is about to climb back up onto the roof with your instructions on his phone.

I see a new unit is pushing $1000. If we can get it to work that will be wonderful.

Thanks again!

[MrMark52]

Soul journey is right - disconnect power to the coach or switch off the A/aC unit breaker, climb up on the roof again, pop the shroud off - and on one side or the other is the electrical box which has a cover.
Open the electrical box and look inside for the mentioned components.
Also inspect for burned wiring or wiring that the insulation has changed color due to heat caused by poor crimped lig.