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Using Air Conditioners During Storage

All,
We store our Foretravel in an enclosed garage hooked up to 50amps. I am considering setting the thermostats between 85 to 90 and turn on air conditioners 1 and 4. We live about 30 minutes from where we store the coach. Is there a risk in running the air conditioners in an enclosed garage? Any and all suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks,
Reese

Re: Using Air Conditioners During Storage

Reply #1 –
If an enclosed area with little insulation in the roof, you can really hard-time the A/C if the condenser is located in, say a `120 degrees F plus environment.

If temps at the roof level are not unreasonable, only need to make provisions for dealing with the condensate-- assuming you don't what the condensate on the floor/around the tires.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Using Air Conditioners During Storage

Reply #2 –
Reese:  I never turn on my AC in storage even though the temps inside of building get to 95.  I have put large floor fan or two to move air around and under the coach.  I turn off my aux air compressor and 12 volt switch when in storage.  I put on trickle charger on the cranking batteries and plug into a 30 amp plug.  This keeps the house batteries charged.  Open the fridge doors a small amount.  I  keep just enough fresh water in the tank to get water if needed.  Twice a year before storage I will put Hydrogen Peroxide down the drains and put small amount into fresh water hose before adding fresh water.  Then drain the fresh water and fill when ready to go.       
Dan & Shirley Stansel
2002 U295 4020 AGDS Build#6054
Towing Buick Enclave & M &  G Braking
Emerald Bay, Lake Palestine, Texas
MC# 16650

Re: Using Air Conditioners During Storage

Reply #3 –
The risk in every enclosed storage place, is if the house battery drops low enough to autostart the generator, one may have to buy a new motorhome if enough diesel exhaust gets into every space inside the motorhome.  It would not be the first time a motorhome was damaged.  Autostart must be turned OFF if coach is stored inside.  This applies even if coach is plugged in, as many things can trip a breaker or local power may go out.  One could run a hose from gen exhaust pipe to the outside as a safeguard, assuming the outside pipe stays outside.  And Aquahot and propane furnace & hot water must be kept off, too.

Re: Using Air Conditioners During Storage

Reply #4 –
Reese, I do not put my AC on until the night before we leave. I would not leave it on. In the new barn I am building, I am putting in an AC unit as well as heat for the whole garage. 
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Using Air Conditioners During Storage

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Barry & Cindy –
The risk in every enclosed storage place, is if the house battery drops low enough to autostart the generator, one may have to buy a new motorhome if enough diesel exhaust gets into every space inside the motorhome.  It would not be the first time a motorhome was damaged.  Autostart must be turned OFF if coach is stored inside.  This applies even if coach is plugged in, as many things can trip a breaker or local power may go out.  One could run a hose from gen exhaust pipe to the outside as a safeguard, assuming the outside pipe stays outside.  And Aquahot and propane furnace & hot water must be kept off, too.

Pull the fuse for the Automatic Generator Start or otherwise disable it, so no auto generator start.

But while in storage, I just use a 30 pint house-type dehumidifier set to 50%.  Set it on the kitchen counter draining into the kitchen sink.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Using Air Conditioners During Storage

Reply #6 –
Shouldn't the other drains be closed so the water in the other traps isn't depleted?
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: Using Air Conditioners During Storage

Reply #7 –
Quote from: nitehawk –
Shouldn't the other drains be closed so the water in the other traps isn't depleted?

Good idea if storing unattended for long periods of time.  But I just pour a cup of water in each sink/P trap and toilet every 10 days or so.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Using Air Conditioners During Storage

Reply #8 –
Thanks, Brett. Now we have two alternatives.

Anybody else? Maybe pouring a few drops of cooking oil into each drain to retard evaporation?
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: Using Air Conditioners During Storage

Reply #9 –
Quote from: nitehawk –
Thanks, Brett. Now we have two alternatives.

Anybody else? Maybe pouring a few drops of cooking oil into each drain to retard evaporation?

That would retard evaporation, but likely have mold growing at the water/oil interface.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Using Air Conditioners During Storage

Reply #10 –
I just turn on a bit of water and leave it at that and flush the toilet that I filled up pretty full. It has worked for 14 years so far.  A dehumidifier is a good idea but I would just get the one that drains into a bucket and then use that water to fill the drains every week and just dump it outside the rest of the days. It is one of the reasons I am putting climate control into the next building that I am starting now. 
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Using Air Conditioners During Storage

Reply #11 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
That would retard evaporation, but likely have mold growing at the water/oil interface.

We have had great luck at the S&B using mineral oil for toilets and drains.  No detectable evaporation and no mold, unlike prior years when our neighbors would flush toilets and run sinks once a month - then we had mold.  Steve pours enough into the toilets to see that a continuous film is present.

Mineral oil is sold in the "gastrointestinal products" section of the pharmacy department or drug store.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Using Air Conditioners During Storage

Reply #12 –
All,
I appreciate the advice and suggestions regarding my question.

Reese

Re: Using Air Conditioners During Storage

Reply #13 –
Reese,

How do you like your IH45 so far?
Previous coach - 2007 Phenix 45'

Re: Using Air Conditioners During Storage

Reply #14 –
We like the interior and floor plan. Not impressed with the ride or handling. On the PDI FOT missed a broken air conditioner dash switch and the Silverleaf system crashing every time the dim light was touched. Having flashbacks regarding the service that we received on our 04 U320.

Reese