Rooftop ac coolant recharge

You can buy a new unit for around $500 and install it yourself. The hardest part was getting on the roof. I left mine in the box and slid it up a 13 foot ladder.

By the time you get all the work done you may as well pop on a new unit and have a warranty.

Although do check the ducting and the interior plenum divider in addition to a good cleaning if needed.

A replacement roof AC unit cost me $1000 installed by mobile RV repair service. Get repair estimates including all parts and labor and compare.

Tonijim wrote:
Our 2010 Class C rooftop ac unit is operating just marginally. I've been told that they are "sealed units" and to recharge their freon coolant is tough. Who has had this work done and what has been the experience?

Thanks, Jim

An air conditioning unit doesn't consume freon in a sense like an engine consumes oil. If the freon is low it has a leak. Like a refrigerator at home, access ports may have to be installed/soldered into the lines to install gauges to determine the problem. If you can access the roof and remove the cover look for any spots/connections that may have an oily residue. Oil leakage occurs with freon leakage. Start calling around and see what mechanics charge to diagnose and repair. Also look for any defects in the coils where a limb or something bent the fins. Many times coils leak from the tubes . As JD said, inspect other items first.

You are just guessing that the drop in performance is due to low coolant.
That may not be the case at all.

Maybe you should be asking for recommendations for a good vehicle A/C shop in your area......because I think this really requires a professional diagnosis.

Even if the coolant IS low, you need to find the leak and fix it or it's just a waste of time and money.

They don't leak down all that often.
Before you assume it needs refrigerant:

Are the Coils clean? The Condenser coil on the rear of the unit is easy. The Evaporator is under a sheet metal cover on the front of the unit.

Is the Filter clean?

If it's Ducted, are you sure there isn't a problem in the ducting? Likely where the A/C is installed.

Are you running it on High Fan, reducing the chance of the Evaporator Coil frosting over? If your unit is Ducted, a Freeze Sensor will detect that and stop the compressor from further cooling till it's satisfied the coil isn't freezing. If it's not ducted, freeze over will reduce, probably stop, cooling.