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Topic: Three good reasons to keep your roof A/Cs covered off season (Read 1288 times) previous topic - next topic

Three good reasons to keep your roof A/Cs covered off season

Hi all,

Today I learned three good reasons to keep your roof A/Cs covered when the coach is going to sit any length of time:

1. Wasps
2. Mud Daubers
3. Squirrels

My friend and I went up on the roof today and pulled the roof A/C covers for a detailed inspection and cleaning. Found a couple of small wasp nests, two old mud dauber nests, and... looks like squirrels were living in both units. The front cover was completely filled with nesting material. The rear unit, not so much. The covers were badly embrittled and were cracking and crumbling in spots. The inevitable effect of UV over time.

It was pretty obvious that it has been a LONG time since these units got any attention. First photo shows the evaporator of the front unit. Rear was the same. The front unit didn't have any filters; the rear were filthy.

The next two photos show how squirrels had chewed the wiring within the control box area - right through all the conductors in one case. The last photo is what surprised me. The squirrel had actually been chewing on the condensor coil. Unbelievable.  :o

I could spend a lot of time straightening fins, cleaning out the filth, redoing the damaged wiring, but I get the sense it wouldn't be long before they failed outright. Given these units are 20 years old, and have this many issues, I've elected to ditch them and start fresh.

So, there's Coleman, Dometic, DuoTherm, Carrier, and Penguin. Anyone of those any better than the other, or are they like home appliances, all made by one factory with different brand names on them? Would appreciate any guidance anyone could offer. In the meantime I'll start looking at specs and warranties.

Steve
1991 U225 Grand Villa

Re: Three good reasons to keep your roof A/Cs covered off season

Reply #1 –
Air conditioners are not the only thing mud-daubers like.  A few years ago my air horn would not work because of the mud inside the horns.  An air horn is much easier to clean out than an air conditioner.  I am going to do as you suggested next winter.
Alan Dodson
1991 U280 GV 36'

Re: Three good reasons to keep your roof A/Cs covered off season

Reply #2 –
Found mud dauber nests everywhere. And wasps - which were still occupied. Found evidence of squirrels in the battery bay, engine bay, and now in the A/C units. This coach had been sitting awhile; not driven much over a two year period, before I bought it. Getting the old girl in shape, though.

Going to check the air horns next.  ;)  Thanks.

Steve

1991 U225 Grand Villa

Re: Three good reasons to keep your roof A/Cs covered off season

Reply #3 –
So I decided to go with the Coleman Mach III Plus as a replacement for the roof air units. Shopped for some time; the best deal I found was on ebay - 13.5K BTU unit, with heat strip and ceiling assy (ie complete unit)  for $520 plus $99 shipping. Ordered two on Monday; shipped from Tennessee and arrived in Delware on Thursday via Fed Ex freight. He has many other AC units as well
 
A link in case anyone else is interested -->  COLEMAN 13500 btu RV CAMPER AIR CONDITIONER HEAT/COOL | eBay

The only downside is the new ceiling units have a smaller footprint than the original units, but I found that to be the case in all the different models I looked at.

Steve
1991 U225 Grand Villa

Re: Three good reasons to keep your roof A/Cs covered off season

Reply #4 –
next project for you: vinyl ceiling center strip replacement.  Remember the Polyshades antique walnut if you go with wood (assuming you have the typical walnut interior).
Dwayne Keith
1992 U240
3116/MD3060

Re: Three good reasons to keep your roof A/Cs covered off season

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Dwayne –
next project for you: vinyl ceiling center strip replacement.  Remember the Polyshades antique walnut if you go with wood (assuming you have the typical walnut interior).

Yup.  ;D I think of your work every time I look at my ceiling.

I actually bought some rough walnut from a hardwood supplier nearby, as I need to make some trim for a workstation I'm building (replacing the recliner and pull-out table). Also pulled the icemaker (nasty smelly thing it was); am adding a door trimmed with walnut on which I'll hang a trash can inside. (the one thing I've been asking myself - where to put a trash can?)

Bought enough walnut to do the center strips as well. Going to route a cove into the sides, and fit LED light strips into the center, front to back. That will eliminate the hallway flourescent lights, at least. Big fan of Watco danish oil for finishing. Going to use that on the new wood, as well as applying a couple of coats to the existing panels and cabinets to spruce them up.

Still need to get the old foam out from under the headliner, and re-secure it, first. Not looking forward to that job. A friend gave me the number of a wizard trim guy he knows. Will see what he might want to do the job, with me as helper.

No end of projects. Limited amount of time and funds. Keeping busy.  :)

Steve
1991 U225 Grand Villa

Re: Three good reasons to keep your roof A/Cs covered off season

Reply #6 –
Mine had let go too but I just  bought some tan plastic screw covers with the snap closed lid at Lowes and just used them all over the ceiling to resecure the headliner rather than getting into that mess.  It now has a pillowed look and for a few dollars in hardware looks OK.  I replaced all the vinyl covered buttons over the cab and used the same plastic screw covers so it all matches.  But fixing it right is better.  I think if I were going to take it all down I might go back up with the stuff that is commonly used today rather than vinyl headliner.  Look up Brett Wolfe's TV replacement on the renovations section and see the nice ceiling in his coach and you'll see what I mean.
Dwayne Keith
1992 U240
3116/MD3060

Re: Three good reasons to keep your roof A/Cs covered off season

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Dwayne –
I think if I were going to take it all down I might go back up with the stuff that is commonly used today rather than vinyl headliner.  Look up Brett Wolfe's TV replacement on the renovations section and see the nice ceiling in his coach and you'll see what I mean.

Thanks Dwayne. Wasn't planning to take it all down - was hoping I could fix it with the cabinets in place. If I have to take the cabinets out, I may as well look into redoing it all. I'll check out Brett's stuff.

Steve
1991 U225 Grand Villa
 

Re: Three good reasons to keep your roof A/Cs covered off season

Reply #8 –
Changed out the rear roof air yesterday. That was an adventure... we used a ladder tied to the roof rail, hauling the unit strapped to a pallet up the ladder with a rope. That actually worked out ok, in the absence of a forklift. Lowering the old one from the roof the same way was more of a nuisance. We decided that when we do the front roof air we're just going to throw it off the roof into the grass.  :)

Found the pan had rusted through several areas, under the evaporator, condenser and control box. You could not see that from above - had to remove the unit and turn it over. Guessing that the rust developed from condensate, not rain entry, but I could be wrong. After 20 years, several with no maintenance, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised.

New AC unit is smaller and lighter, both above and below. Definitely looks like a new headliner is in the works.

Steve
1991 U225 Grand Villa