Forum Discussion

yves1956's avatar
yves1956
Explorer
Jan 08, 2014

Rv Air Conditionner

I have an Holiday Rambler Admiral SE 2003, this week water was leaking inside from the air conditionner(top roof) (Dometic Duo-Therm)
Does somebody know what is the problem?

Thanks

yves1956
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    This week, I assume you were not using the A/C.. Thus it's the roof seal... Or the covers are broken (not likely)

    IF you were using it,, Then it could be dirty intake filters (Hot air return) inside the RV.. IT could also be improper leveling of the rv.. But again only if it's in use.
  • trop-a-cal wrote:
    You may be able to stop flow with a snugging of the four corner bolts under the plastic intake shield. Then the outside unit may have plugged weep holes due to leaves plugging them. Normally the condensation drips on the outside evaporation tray then weeps out. If you are in freezing weather that evaporation tray may have become an ice tray thus making the still warm water go into the RV by over flowing the tray to a point where it goes into the ventilation chamber. That can only be solved by warmer weather or melting with a hair dryer or a loop of heat wire that is used for roofs. Sometimes called heat tape. Try the snugging first, but do not torque it tight as that flattens the gasket between the roof and A/C unit causing no space for the weep holes to drain down off the roof as it is designed to do, along with evaporating in warm weather.


    Good Post, OK, WHY would you be operating the AC in FREEZING weather???????????????????? Doug
  • A re-install is what you need. It is pretty easy to do. Usually just a few screws, electric wires, and a bit of strength. Then re-seat/re-seal.
  • When is it leaking?

    When running and water is dripping out of ceiling grill
    OR anytime and it's raining outside?

    There is no caulking used...........or shouldn't be ever!!

    There is a roof gasket that seals the roof opening.
    If the 4 corner bolts are loose water can leak inside.
    IF you snug up to much on bolts then gasket can be over compressed/warped and water can leak inside.
    Roof gasket is 1" thick when new and should be compressed to only about 1/2 of thickness.

    To access the 4 corner hold down bolts you have to remove the complete ceiling grill.
    Then just snug up on the bolts slightly.

    If evap coil drip pan drain holes are blocked (either debris or from over compressed roof gasket) condensation will get carried over via fan blower into discharge plenum and drip out of ceiling grill when A/C unit shuts down.

  • key word here is snugging the bolts, do not tighten so much that you ruin the gasket under the AC.
  • When ours did this same thing it was simply debris in the drain. Cleaned the drain and all ok.
  • You may be able to stop flow with a snugging of the four corner bolts under the plastic intake shield. Then the outside unit may have plugged weep holes due to leaves plugging them. Normally the condensation drips on the outside evaporation tray then weeps out. If you are in freezing weather that evaporation tray may have become an ice tray thus making the still warm water go into the RV by over flowing the tray to a point where it goes into the ventilation chamber. That can only be solved by warmer weather or melting with a hair dryer or a loop of heat wire that is used for roofs. Sometimes called heat tape. Try the snugging first, but do not torque it tight as that flattens the gasket between the roof and A/C unit causing no space for the weep holes to drain down off the roof as it is designed to do, along with evaporating in warm weather.
  • Typically, it is the failure of the seal between the base of the air conditioning unit and the roof of your coach. The only good way to repair it is to lift the AC unit up, clean the old sealant off and reinstall.

    You don't want water to get between the roof and your ceiling.