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Topic: Ac struggling in over 100 degree temps (Read 535 times) previous topic - next topic

Ac struggling in over 100 degree temps

After having the Coach parked for the month in Phoneix, We drove her home on sunday to get ready for our Grand Canyon trip Memorial weekend. Cooling in Phoenix at night was no issue but after 12pm it would creep towards 80 degrees or so.. it was 106 in Phoenix.

I cleaned the filters to make sure it could breath.. while I had it open I looked at the coils(?) seen they were dirty so I planed to clean them when we make it home and I could grab a shop vac.

Looking up and holding the vacuum and the brush in that tiny space wasnt working so I decided to get on the roof and open both ac covers and clean them. I had paid for the coil cleaning last year but it looks like it was never done, or like most jobs any more it was half way done..

After cleaning they cooled better it seemed so we will see when I have to use in the dead of the heat to see if it helped but at this point I believe 1) it cant hurt and 2) it has to help as it felt like it cooled faster.

With the amount of dirt and grime I cleaned out I do not believe it was done properly in a long time.

Re: Ac struggling in over 100 degree temps

Reply #1 –
The "stuff" visible on the picture is a lot like what you will find on your U-line ice maker near the floor if you have furry pets.
Good time to clean any "radiator" inside before the blockage of heat dispersion gets to them.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Ac struggling in over 100 degree temps

Reply #2 –
I've taken the lower cover off and it looked fine, so I'm not going to pull the top until we get to Payson in a few weeks. In this heat, with the rear air on almost every day, I do clean the screens every couple of days. It's amazing what is in the air!
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Ac struggling in over 100 degree temps

Reply #3 –
Our last evaporator coil cleaning (from the uncovered coil on the roof) used spray cans of air conditioner cleaner from Lowes.  Also used a coil fin comb.  Since we never used our electric resistance heater mounted in front of our evap coil, we removed the heater.

Re: Ac struggling in over 100 degree temps

Reply #4 –
You should also make sure the condenser and evaporator blower wheel is clean. When the dirt collects on the fins it will change the fin pitch thus reduces the CFM flow. When I clean mine I had an 50 CFM improvement over the driver seat supply grill. I believe the previous owners never clean the evaporator side, they were that bad.
Steve
2001 U320 40' IF$ Build #5798
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Toad
2015 GMC Duramax HD2500 Toad
2014 Polaris RZR 1000
Litchfield Park, AZ- Soon to be Paulden, AZ
 

Re: Ac struggling in over 100 degree temps

Reply #5 –
The wheel was a little dirty, Next round Ill clean it.. I was up their for about 45 min and I am in the 2nd day of suffering with my back.. I used my on board compressor to blow everything out .. vair dbl pump with tank.. worked very well. I think it is working better, way better now.. we will see how it does on our way to the Grand Canyon next week in the heat of the day and report back.. but last night I ran it about 15 to 20 min with dash air then drove a couple miles to its parking spot and it was nice in the coach. No ice cold but a relative difference