We bought a 34' '96 Newmar Dutchstar last week. Everything seems peachy so far except that the ac isn't blowing cold air. It's room temperature. I don't have a CLUE who to call about it. A regular house AC guy? Or take it to an auto shop? The seller suggested I get a freon charge in it. Is this normal?
Thanks in advance for any answers you guys can give me.
If the AC unit is original (12 years old), then it would be cost efficient to just replace it if the problem is lost Freon or a defective compressor. To answer you original question (Who to take it too) take it to a RV service Shop. Home AC people do not usually repair RV AC units. Doug
You don't say if the compressor is running or not. If you run it on fan, and then turn it to cool, and you get no indication that the compressor is trying to start, you probably have an electrical problem that would probably be worth fixing. If the compressor starts and runs, and you get no cooliing, you have lost the charge (or the compressor is not pumping at all), probably not worth fixing. If there is a leak in a 12 year old unit, the cost of repair is high, chance of annother leak good, and you just spent a lot of money on an old ready to die AC; save your money on the repair, get a new high efficiency unit.
Where to get repairs: I guess an RV shop, although there is almost no difference other than physical layout between a rooftop RV unit and a standard home window unit.
If you are at all handy buy a new one and swap it out yourself you will be money ahead. After your sure you set the thermostat right and it is calling for cooling.
Dean
95 CC Magna Jeep GC
(Vietnam Vets may be eligible for medical care and disability compensation. Contact the VA if you have prostate cancer or type 2 diabetes.)
Well, before you do anything else, I would "AT LEAST," have someone manually close the compressor relay and make sure it's not simply a module problem.
I've had AC unit problems, and both times I asked Chris Bryant, a "regular" here in this forum, about the issue. Both times he immediately told me exactly what was wrong with the unit, simply from the problem description. (but you may need to diagnose the problem a bit to give him or some other technician, at least something to work with)
You might find a good technician at an RV dealer, but ask around. I asked my RV salesman who was the best RV technician in the city. Each time, I asked someone who actually had a specific preference, I kept getting that same name. That's what I'd try to do.
Try to ask people who at times, absolutely want an "issue" to go away. In other words, an RV salesman of any tenure, has his "peeps" list. He has people he knows can solve nearly any issue, and that person may not necessarily work for that dealer.
Problem is finding a good tech that knows A/C and RV's. You can add refrigerant, but you first have to install a couple of schrader valves as the system is like a window unit and is hermetically sealed. Once you pierce the sytem to solder in the vlaves, you need to purge it with notrogen when soldering and then use a vacuum pump to evacuate the system and dehydrate the system. Now you are ready toadd refrigerant (Freon is a trade brand by Dupont).
Any decent home A/C tech should be able to trouble shoot the unit and see what it needs...it just a window unit setting on the roof.
ken
KE5DFR
Vintage 1979 Silver Streak Supreme Rocket toted by a 2002 F350, crewcab dually, 7.3L,4.10 axle,SCMT. Travel with two miniature Schnauzers and one African Gray parrot. Practicing for retirement!
Thanks guys. I am decent at handywork, and feel confident I coul dreplace the unit myself. But, I will play around with it some more and make sure it's not user error, and check to make sure the compressor is coming on. The guy that had it before me lived in Delaware, which I'm pretty sure they didn't need to use the A/C much. He may not have known.. I dunno. I do know I'm in Tulsa and it gets flippin' hot and humid. If I DO have to replace it, would you guys say a single 15k BTU unit would be sufficient?
You said you are 'handy', I replaced mine about 2 years ago. First if you have a single AC unit, yes get a 15K unit. Then if you have a big tree you can drive under (or make an A-frame out of 2 x 4s) connect a hoist to it, disconnect the old AC, put straps under it, connect them to the hoist, lift the AC off the roof, drive the MH out from under, lower the old one to the ground, swap out with new one, hoist into air, drive MH back under and lower it on the roof, reconnect and DONE! Took me longer making an A-frame then swapping the old/new one out.
Rob & Kathy
97 Southwind
2004 Honda CR-V
Good Sam Member since 1992
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