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06-26-2022, 03:32 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Summerville
Posts: 37
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AC Unit Freezing Up
We have a 2018 Cougar 366RDS and the rear AC unit coil will freeze and the ice at the bottom of the condenser will prevent the water from draining properly causing some of the condensation moisture to drip onto the floor inside. Running fan on high all the time.
The coils are clean no dust or dirt on the coil. It puts out very cold air but freezing up.
What are your thoughts? Would they need to break into the system to charge it?
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06-26-2022, 03:44 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Upper Chesapeake Bay
Posts: 4,841
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dietzldub
We have a 2018 Cougar 366RDS and the rear AC unit coil will freeze and the ice at the bottom of the condenser will prevent the water from draining properly causing some of the condensation moisture to drip onto the floor inside. Running fan on high all the time.
The coils are clean no dust or dirt on the coil. It puts out very cold air but freezing up.
What are your thoughts? Would they need to break into the system to charge it?
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ac units usually freeze up for one of three things…. 1)low charge…2) restricted metering device ..(piston or txv)….or 3)….inadequate airflow…could be #3…blower motor or capacitor could be bad or failing or ductwork may be blocked or collapsed…maybe check for loose tape or something blocking the ductwork..or a very dirty air filter.
if you need to break open the system to charge it you’ll need someone with a vacuum pump before adding refrigerant…they make some really nice push connect fittings just like shark bite fittings for ac systems…i used some two weeks ago on a job that had a sprinkler system in a tiny equipment room
edit: residential ac systems freeze from one of three things (usually)…i keep forgetting we are talking rv air conditioners that operate under different parameters and have the supply and return so close to each other and sometimes are used well below temps that would be considered normal at home….also the freeze sensor is mostly not used on residential systems.
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2020 Cougar 315 RLS
2020 Ram 3500 6.7HO 4.10 Dually Aisin
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06-26-2022, 03:45 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,477
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Two things I can think of. 1. Temp set high 2. low freon (or what ever they call the stuff now). #2 means a leak and likely new A/C.
I have had my A/C freeze up when I have set the temp at 80F and low speed on the fan to keep things from getting too hot in my camper on very hot and humid days. Also make sure if you have a filter down below, it is clean.
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wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
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06-26-2022, 05:13 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Richmond
Posts: 339
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Make sure the freeze sensor is installed correctly. Mine was not installed and just left coiled up.
__________________
Lee
2019 Keystone Passport GT Ultra Lite 2520RL, 7000lb GVW,
2015 F150 5.0, XLT/FX4, 3.55 Tow, 7000lb GVWR, 1829lb payload, 36 gal tank,
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06-26-2022, 05:29 PM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,357
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hlh1
Make sure the freeze sensor is installed correctly. Mine was not installed and just left coiled up.
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This, and they can fall out.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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06-26-2022, 07:51 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Summerville
Posts: 37
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Thank you guys.
The filter is clean, double checked for any debris. All looked good as far as that.
What does the freezer sensor look like! I do remember seeing a probe type of thing sticking in the coil.
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06-27-2022, 02:54 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Richmond
Posts: 339
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dietzldub
Thank you guys.
The filter is clean, double checked for any debris. All looked good as far as that.
What does the freezer sensor look like! I do remember seeing a probe type of thing sticking in the coil.
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That's probably the freeze sensor. Mine's black and about 1/8" diameter.
__________________
Lee
2019 Keystone Passport GT Ultra Lite 2520RL, 7000lb GVW,
2015 F150 5.0, XLT/FX4, 3.55 Tow, 7000lb GVWR, 1829lb payload, 36 gal tank,
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06-27-2022, 05:18 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mountain Home, Idaho
Posts: 3,015
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The freeze sensor is typically just stick in between the evap coils .. usually dead center ..
Check the placement of your freeze sensor
Also you cannot recharge the RV coolant… at least not easily and most RV TECHS wouldn’t have the equipment to do so..
It is a sealed system with no charging port .. yes one can be added but I wouldn’t fool around with that approach
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2007 GMC Classic club cab 4x4 Duramax LBZ
2014 Alpine 3010 RE. 34 foot fifth wheel
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06-27-2022, 06:57 AM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,763
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Recharging a hermetically sealed cooling unit is a short term temporary solution. If the refidgerant charge is low that means only one thing, there's a leak. If you don't fix the leak then just adding refridgerant is like trying to carry water in a spaghetti strainer.
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Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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06-27-2022, 06:11 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Monument
Posts: 178
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flybouy
Recharging a hermetically sealed cooling unit is a short term temporary solution. If the refidgerant charge is low that means only one thing, there's a leak. If you don't fix the leak then just adding refridgerant is like trying to carry water in a spaghetti strainer.
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And, you can probably replace the unit for what it costs to do a proper repair job. Saddle valves are for punks and optimists.
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06-28-2022, 03:39 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Richmond
Posts: 339
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What refrigerant does our RV ACs use?
__________________
Lee
2019 Keystone Passport GT Ultra Lite 2520RL, 7000lb GVW,
2015 F150 5.0, XLT/FX4, 3.55 Tow, 7000lb GVWR, 1829lb payload, 36 gal tank,
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06-28-2022, 04:32 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Upper Chesapeake Bay
Posts: 4,841
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Balvar24
And, you can probably replace the unit for what it costs to do a proper repair job. Saddle valves are for punks and optimists.
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saddle valves are junk for sure..but these new push connect fittings definitely work..i used a couple in a tight equipment room that had sprinklers in a townhouse community. I have been in the hvac industry since 1984.
__________________
2020 Cougar 315 RLS
2020 Ram 3500 6.7HO 4.10 Dually Aisin
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06-28-2022, 04:34 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Upper Chesapeake Bay
Posts: 4,841
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hlh1
What refrigerant does our RV ACs use?
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r410a is what replaced r22
__________________
2020 Cougar 315 RLS
2020 Ram 3500 6.7HO 4.10 Dually Aisin
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06-28-2022, 05:20 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Upper Chesapeake Bay
Posts: 4,841
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sometimes leaks are very easy to find…look for oil residue…if a unit is less then 5 years old then the leak could be from a copper line rubbing against the frame of the ac unit…in that case you can cut the piece out an put a push connect coupling in its place…you can buy small bottles of 410a and i think HF sells small vacuum pumps…weigh the 410a into the system if you want to be exact..but you can charge until the suction line flashes cold and be pretty close…i wouldn’t even try to charge a 10 or 15 year old unit but why not try and fix something with an easy to fix leak…me personally i’d just braze over the hole in the copper line but i have all the tools and knowledge to make repairs
__________________
2020 Cougar 315 RLS
2020 Ram 3500 6.7HO 4.10 Dually Aisin
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07-01-2022, 03:13 PM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Summerville
Posts: 37
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The freeze sensor is in there, however the ice never got as high as where the sensor was located. I moved it down some so it will be at the upper area where the ice was building up. Hope that didn’t hurt anything.
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07-01-2022, 03:16 PM
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#16
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Summerville
Posts: 37
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Thanks Jasin. I’m heading out of town for the weekend, when I get back I’ll open it up again and take another look for oil residue. Thank you
__________________
2018 Cougar FW 366RDS
2017 Ford F250 6.7
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07-03-2022, 07:55 AM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Wpg
Posts: 51
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dietzldub
We have a 2018 Cougar 366RDS and the rear AC unit coil will freeze and the ice at the bottom of the condenser will prevent the water from draining properly causing some of the condensation moisture to drip onto the floor inside. Running fan on high all the time.
The coils are clean no dust or dirt on the coil. It puts out very cold air but freezing up.
What are your thoughts? Would they need to break into the system to charge it?
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I have a 2019 Cougar 315RLS that had the same problem with the rear AC. Had it checked by the dealer's mobile repair several times with no luck.
The last guy to check it opened it up from the inside and applied some duct tape (proper foil type) and told me the intake air side and the output to the ducts wasn't sealed properly at the factory. After he was done it seemed a little better but still froze up.
So the following year I decided to check for myself, watched a few YouTube videos first, purchased the proper duct tape and sealed up the AC between the air intake and the air output as well as I could. The previous tech missed a lot!
Haven't had a problem since I did that, here is a YouTube video to give you an idea, mine was a Dometic and not the same as in the video but the idea is the same, hope this helps, good luck!
I did try to relocate the freeze sensor first but it didn't help.
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07-03-2022, 01:16 PM
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#18
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Summerville
Posts: 37
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bigrockk
I have a 2019 Cougar 315RLS that had the same problem with the rear AC. Had it checked by the dealer's mobile repair several times with no luck.
The last guy to check it opened it up from the inside and applied some duct tape (proper foil type) and told me the intake air side and the output to the ducts wasn't sealed properly at the factory. After he was done it seemed a little better but still froze up.
So the following year I decided to check for myself, watched a few YouTube videos first, purchased the proper duct tape and sealed up the AC between the air intake and the air output as well as I could. The previous tech missed a lot!
Haven't had a problem since I did that, here is a YouTube video to give you an idea, mine was a Dometic and not the same as in the video but the idea is the same, hope this helps, good luck!
I did try to relocate the freeze sensor first but it didn't help.
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That’s great info, thank you for sharing the video, and note about the freeze sensor. I’ll check it out when I get back home tomorrow. Hopefully I’ll see that’s a good possibility of being the problem.
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07-05-2022, 05:10 PM
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#19
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Summerville
Posts: 37
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Well the unit did some gaps from the warm side to the cold side. Here are some pics, you can see my finger tips in a couple of the pics. I did seal them off with some aluminum duct tape. It’s been running for about 90 minutes and doesn’t seem to be freezing up. It is very humid hear in eastern South Carolina.
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07-05-2022, 07:22 PM
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#20
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Summerville
Posts: 37
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Bigrock, thank you for sharing the video. It ran for a few hours tonight and no dripping it looks like it took care of it. It was totally dry.
It’s such a luxury having the RV in the back yard with a 50 amp pedestal to plug into. I ran power out to it about 2 years ago.
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