A/C Replacement

[416Rigby]

Hello all,
I am looking into the idea of changing out my 13K A/C with a 15K.
If I do that, would I need to replace the ceiling assembly or will the current one work/fit with the new A/C unit?

Thank you in advance for your comments..

Jason

[TakingThe5th]

Don't forget that your awning can sometimes help as well if it can be set up to effectively shade one side.

Remember too that cold air drops like a rock, so heavy in-and-out traffic will hurt. Try standing outside the door, fold up the stairs momentarily so you can get close, then open that door - it's amazing.

I also discovered that part of my basement area was cooler then I would expect. Cold air was dropping down through a hole into the basement. Sealing that hole helped a lot. Look low inside for any significant signs of leakage.

[cdlaine]

I chased my tail on this very issue. Ended up purchasing a
second non-ducted low profile unit over the bedroom. Nap time
is now chilly. 😉

Charles

[valhalla360]

416Rigby wrote:

I don't think you could manage this system any better than I.
Even running the a/c through the night has no long lasting affects once the temps are 80 and above.
Everything looks better on paper... but usually does not reflect the real world results.

Sounds like something wrong with your air/con then. It really should be in the upper 80's close maybe even into 90's before it struggles, especially if you manage it by closing off unused areas. We are a little smaller but if we close off an area, we are good into the mid 90's before it starts to lose the battle.

I might consider having the tech check out the existing unit before replacing. It might be a simple fix.

[416Rigby]

TakingThe5th wrote:
We have a ducted 15k in the living room and a 13K unducted in the bedroom. If possible I run the living room at night and the bedroom during the day. Much quieter that way.

You might want to just add another unit and run one or the other, since you will already have 2 A/Cs

My old 5er had one 13.5K unit that also did not keep up and I got a good result by adding solar film to the windows.

Solar film tinting on the windows.. Thank you, that sounds like its worth looking into. We typically keep the windows closed and blinds down, vents closed and covered. Solar film tint would probably be a good addition.

[416Rigby]

valhalla360 wrote:

416Rigby wrote:
Thank you all.
The current a/c cannot keep up when temps go North of 80?.
Two a/c units would not work as it is not at 50amp sysyem.
I have read that a 15k a/c can handle temps of 100? while keeping the trailer around 75?

If 80 is the upper limit with 13.5, the 10% increase in output might keep you good to 82.

You will likely better off managing your system better:
- Cool it way down in the morning and keep it running. If you let it get hot inside, it's harder for the unit to bring it back down.
- Consider closing off the vents to the bedroom during the day so all the cold air is pumped into a smaller area.
- Obviously, keep the outside door closed as much as possible.
- Try to get a shady site.

If you do go thru with it, let us know how it works out but if you are going to pay that much, the extra cost of wiring in a 2nd unit and being sure it will keep it cooler, just makes a lot more sense to me.

I don't think you could manage this system any better than I.
Even running the a/c through the night has no long lasting affects once the temps are 80 and above.
Everything looks better on paper... but usually does not reflect the real world results.

[TakingThe5th]

We have a ducted 15k in the living room and a 13K unducted in the bedroom. If possible I run the living room at night and the bedroom during the day. Much quieter that way.

You might want to just add another unit and run one or the other, since you will already have 2 A/Cs

My old 5er had one 13.5K unit that also did not keep up and I got a good result by adding solar film to the windows.

[valhalla360]

416Rigby wrote:
Thank you all.
The current a/c cannot keep up when temps go North of 80?.
Two a/c units would not work as it is not at 50amp sysyem.
I have read that a 15k a/c can handle temps of 100? while keeping the trailer around 75?

If 80 is the upper limit with 13.5, the 10% increase in output might keep you good to 82.

You will likely better off managing your system better:
- Cool it way down in the morning and keep it running. If you let it get hot inside, it's harder for the unit to bring it back down.
- Consider closing off the vents to the bedroom during the day so all the cold air is pumped into a smaller area.
- Obviously, keep the outside door closed as much as possible.
- Try to get a shady site.

If you do go thru with it, let us know how it works out but if you are going to pay that much, the extra cost of wiring in a 2nd unit and being sure it will keep it cooler, just makes a lot more sense to me.

[AK49er]

Rigby or Rem. ?

[416Rigby]

Trackrig wrote:
To the OP - When it gets hot this summer post a follow-up letting us know if the larger unit made a noticeable difference please.

Bill

Providing I get this done this year, I will report back on how it works.

Thank you.

[416Rigby]

CampingN.C. wrote:
Although not a 5th wheel our travel trailer is 32ft and has two slides. It has a 15K unit a does fine at the beach for two weeks in the summer. Last year most of our trip was around 100 degrees.
There have been people on here that have added a 2nd unit on a 30 amp trailer. I believe they were plugging in the 2nd at the pedestal.

Thanks.
Our trailer has two slides as well. That makes for some very large open space and this 13k just can't handle it.

[Trackrig]

To the OP - When it gets hot this summer post a follow-up letting us know if the larger unit made a noticeable difference please.

Bill

[CampingN_C_]

Although not a 5th wheel our travel trailer is 32ft and has two slides. It has a 15K unit a does fine at the beach for two weeks in the summer. Last year most of our trip was around 100 degrees.
There have been people on here that have added a 2nd unit on a 30 amp trailer. I believe they were plugging in the 2nd at the pedestal.

[416Rigby]

Thank you all.
The current a/c cannot keep up when temps go North of 80?.
Two a/c units would not work as it is not at 50amp sysyem.
I have read that a 15k a/c can handle temps of 100? while keeping the trailer around 75?

[TucsonJim]

jerem0621 wrote:
I would spend the money on installing a second AC over the king pin area. Typically this is the master bedroom. I would leave the 13.5k where it is until it needed replaced.

IMHO

Thanks!

Jeremiah

This is what we did with our FW. It made a huge difference on hot/humid days.

Jim