Loose AC, is this common?

Happened to me at about 12 months of ownership of new RV. Not again in the next 5 years.

Could have leaked to a point that the structure has rotted. Big time problem!

Hey enblethen--if the roof is sagging around the AC, then what?

I always liked this simplified diagram showing the roof gasket location.

I check mine every time I inspect the air conditioner filter...

Bumpy roads that causes vibrations of the air conditioner unit really does a number on how tight these units stay. I think the spec is to depress the 14-inch square gasket maybe 1/4-inch all around the hole by tightening the four long screws..

Once when the RV is about 6 months old, and then about every other year is fine.

When the RV was new, it probably was not tightened down properly. Then after a year of the A/C weight compressing the gasket, then it became loose - if loose enough to let the bolts vibrate even looser perhaps.

You don't want the bolts tight - but you do need them snug. To tight, and the gasket is compressed so much it will not last a long time.

I have not tightened my bolts in about 4 years, still no leaks. You probably will not need to tighten them much after about 4 years old, the gasket is compressed most of the way, and will not further compress.

You can remove the inside cover, and see the bolt heads. Use a 9/16" socket, or a nut driver to tighten them. At the same time, clean the inside air filter about once a year. Also change the smoke detector battery if you like at the same time.

Fred.

2dogtravellin wrote:
We were getting some water leaking around our AC unit when it rained last week, so I brought the RV in to get it looked at. They told me that the bolts around the AC were so loose that we were lucky the whole thing didn't tear off the roof.

Is this a common thing? Is it something we should check regularly? I had no idea.

Yep and service as Bud points out ... I just had this problem last week as well. Rear A/C was put in 7/12 and began leaking in the Florida rain. Tightened up the 4 bolts and BAM - problem solved.

BE CAREFUL - do NOT over tighten the bolts - SNUG is good

Yes, the gasket compresses. It should be checked at least once a year maybe twice depending on age.
The gasket should also be replaced every couple of years. Verify by trying to tighten bolts. When they reach the end of the threads, the gasket needs to be replaced.
Check your roof with straight edge to insure it is not sagging around the AC unit.