Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Dakota Slim on July 18, 2023, 07:57:52 pm

Title: Air conditioner cleaning?
Post by: Dakota Slim on July 18, 2023, 07:57:52 pm
Ah summertime. It has been as high as 123 here in AZ this summer and yesterday my rear ac started tripping the 20 amp breaker I'm plugged into. 
I need to get up on the roof and clean the evaporator and condenser coils. What is the best fast acting cleaner to use? These are the Coleman TSR units, and any other tips will be appreciated.
Title: Re: Air conditioner cleaning?
Post by: Paul GA on July 18, 2023, 08:45:29 pm
My travel trailer had Coleman units. Any coil cleaner will work. I got on the roof, took off the cover and air box, used an old license plate to cover the hole into the trailer, and used coil cleaner and a garden hose to rinse.
Title: Re: Air conditioner cleaning?
Post by: Geodmann on July 18, 2023, 08:54:28 pm
Nu Calgon is a brand that we use a lot in the HVAC industry.  Coil cleaners can be caustic.  I would use a lot of water to rinse and keep the water flowing so you don't get any staining or reaction with the roof and sides of the coach.  They make a foaming no rinse cleaner you can use for the evaporator coil.  I've never cleaned an RV rooftop AC so I don't know how cautious you have to be to keep water from getting into places you don't want it... like in the coach.
Title: Re: Air conditioner cleaning?
Post by: wolfe10 on July 19, 2023, 09:02:25 am
I suggest a regular evaporator cleaner from any box store. It is safe for aluminum and not harmful to you.

Oh, and a tooth brush for the fins (Never your own!).
Title: Re: Air conditioner cleaning?
Post by: Dakota Slim on July 19, 2023, 11:35:34 am
Thanks for the tips folks. Cleaning my AC units has been on my to-do list since last fall and I really should have handled it before now. Here is my 10 day forecast...
The Weather Channel (https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/adbe439300b1866b56f4da1d88c7e37598d2dfa0a86bc1c0cd9b7d7c0d3a3c52)
Title: Re: Air conditioner cleaning?
Post by: wolfe10 on July 19, 2023, 12:55:45 pm
Thanks for the tips folks. Cleaning my AC units has been on my to-do list since last fall and I really should have handled it before now. Here is my 10 day forecast...
The Weather Channel (https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/adbe439300b1866b56f4da1d88c7e37598d2dfa0a86bc1c0cd9b7d7c0d3a3c52)

And ours: Angel Fire, NM 10-Day Weather Forecast | Weather Underground (http://www.wunderground.com/forecast/us/nm/angel-fire/KNMANGEL57)
Title: Re: Air conditioner cleaning?
Post by: Dakota Slim on July 19, 2023, 01:06:12 pm
And ours: Angel Fire, NM 10-Day Weather Forecast | Weather Underground (http://www.wunderground.com/forecast/us/nm/angel-fire/KNMANGEL57)
Wow. I envy those temperatures but I'm looking at the national radar and can't imagine how you will be getting rained on for the next 10 days. What were the last 10 days like?
Current Radar (Intellicast) | Radar Maps | Weather Underground (https://www.wunderground.com/maps/radar/current)
Title: Re: Air conditioner cleaning?
Post by: craneman on July 19, 2023, 01:07:00 pm
Ours
https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/96f2e97f3bcf1b5b6d996b041d6f3ac14c6bb4dcd495a650149d9c2aba23bdab
Title: Re: Air conditioner cleaning?
Post by: wolfe10 on July 19, 2023, 01:08:27 pm
Wow. I envy those temperatures but I'm looking at the national radar and can't imagine how you will be getting rained on for the next 10 days. What were the last 10 days like?
Current Radar (Intellicast) | Radar Maps | Weather Underground (https://www.wunderground.com/maps/radar/current)

We are about to start (at least historically) the Monsoon season where it is common to have afternoon showers.  Everything up here is green from rain in the spring.  Last few weeks have been dry-- again, normal for this area.
Title: Re: Air conditioner cleaning?
Post by: Dakota Slim on July 19, 2023, 01:53:30 pm
Ours
The Weather Channel (https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/96f2e97f3bcf1b5b6d996b041d6f3ac14c6bb4dcd495a650149d9c2aba23bdab)
Nice. Craneman, do you do any fishing up there?
Title: Re: Air conditioner cleaning?
Post by: craneman on July 19, 2023, 06:01:17 pm
Not here, non resident licenses in OR. or Wa. cost more than the fish are worth. As soon as we get back in Cal. i will try to beat the one I caught in early June.
Title: Re: Air conditioner cleaning?
Post by: Lt403 on July 19, 2023, 06:51:00 pm
Don't forget to clean the blower fan inside the coach. Just like fans in your home, they get dirty too.