How to improve your AC performance

[Cate&Rob]

The recent weather in Florida has caused us to use our AC more than in the past quite a while. It didn't seem to have the performance it did last summer in Canada. So, I'm thinking, maybe the humidity ? or maybe I need to add this to the warranty service list ?

Then, KICKNBACK asked for dimensions on the 303 AC filter . . . oh yeah . . . these things have filters. So I took out the filter to measure it . . . (and I am kind of embarrassed to admit this) I was amazed at how plugged it was . . . washed it thoroughly . . . AC works much better now .

So, if your AC performance seems to be lacking, there could be an easy fix for this !

Rob

 

[Scott and Jan]

Thanks for the tip Rob. Most of us Floridians know that we have to clean the filter regularly. But it's amazing how the simple stuff can befuddle us sometimes, keeps us humble I guess.

 

[offtohavasu]

I hear ya Rob. I had to change out the filter on my house A/C unit this winter because there have been a few days we had to use the A/C over this WINTER.

 

[SkiSmuggs]

While in 105 temps in Albuquerque, I was desperate to get the fiver cooler. While cleaning the filter for the first time in 2 years I discovered a vent in the AC itself that opened directly into the living room. Life was better after that and we closed that vent as bed time approached to push more air to the BR.

 

[Brent M]

Always good to hear the reminders.

 

[Cate&Rob]

AC filter maintenance . . .
This is 5 days in a high pollen Florida State Park !
It even caught a few Mosquitos for us .



Rob

 

[sentinel]

This conversation about AC's raises another question. I'm curious to hear from other owners, especially in the south, whether they went with one AC, or opted for the second AC. Is two necessary if you're going to be doing most of your camping down south?

 

[TucsonJim]

Sentinel - We purchased our 337 in March of last year, but at that time we bought it with one AC. We took off on a long trip in the summer, and wound up in New Orleans and Houston in August! Yikes! During the day, we shut off all the vents in the bedroom and bathroom, and were just barely able to tolerate the temperature and humidity in the living room. During the heat of the day, the temperature in the living room was around 82-85 with the one AC running full blast. We bought a fan at Walmart to help. At night, we open the vents in the bedroom and we'd be able to sleep okay. When we got home, we had the second AC installed. Now instead of taking hours for our coach to cool down when we set up camp, it takes about 30 minutes to pull the temperature down to a comfortable level. The only drawback to a front AC is the height. We had the low profile AC installed, so we run down the road at 12',10" now.

 

[Brent M]

This conversation about AC's raises another question. I'm curious to hear from other owners, especially in the south, whether they went with one AC, or opted for the second AC. Is two necessary if you're going to be doing most of your camping down south?

2d AC a must for us. We haven't taken possession of our 303 yet, but in our Cameo, we had two ACs and in 95F+, one AC wasn't nearly enough. Extremely hot in the RV. Also, there was no shade from trees. It was a 30A spot at our favorite local campground. Couldn't get 50A. Next year, at 50A site with partial shade and two ACs running, we still couldn't cook inside during the day or go in and out often without the coach warming up. 98F+ temps that time. In our Cameo, the BR AC wasn't ducted however and we have high humidity in central Arkansas. Savannah, Georgia was similar two years ago in August. In NH, once, we hit mid-90s with shade and I don't remember that one being uncomfortable.

 

[Justaguy]

We bought our 337 in January 2014 and got a lot of feedback from our friends about getting a 2nd AC. We took their advice and we a VERY glad we did as we live in humid Texas. But, if I were to do it again, I would make sure to get the low profile AC over the bedroom. We did not and our rig is very high with a standard dimension Atwood AC in front. At 13.5 ft, I cringe going under bridges as I hope whoever was doin' the measuerin' of the bridges that day was not in a foul mood and just guessed. Just fyi, Atwood does not make a low profile AC. You have to go with another brand.

 

[Cate&Rob]

Hi Sentinel,

As mentioned, how fast you need cool down after set-up and how much shade you have make big differences. We have the one standard, rear mounted, but ducted AC. We can adjust ducts to force most of the cold air to the bedroom at night.

If we have some shade and get the AC going when the temp reaches mid-70s, we can hold mid-70s with outside temps to the low 90s. If we have been towing and arrive at a site with no shade and interior temp in the high 80s . . . it sure would be nice to have the second unit !

We haven't experienced 100+ with this RV, so can't comment on that. I would think if you were living with this regularly, two ACs would be recommended.

For our "snowbird" use, one AC seems fine.
And . . . back to where this thread started . . . a regularly cleaned filter has a huge positive affect on AC performance.

Rob

 

[Paul & Deb]

We had our front A/C installed by the dealer before we took possession. I didn't realize or think should order a low profile and now wish I had. It's not really a big problem out west but I suspect as you travel to areas of the country that were built longer ago the bridge height may be a problem. Regardless, I tried my last 5th wheel with only 1 A/C and said I would never do that again. I posted on the GD FB page this picture. We are in Death Valley as I type and it is about 90 degrees today. The inside of the trailer with both A/Cs on is 69 degrees.

This is what we got home to yesterday:

 

[Cate&Rob]

Speaking of cleaning to improve AC performance . . .
Just discovered that there is "outside" cleaning to do too (more Florida State Park tree bits)


Rob

 

[droidguru]

We weren't sure either so we just negotiated it into the price when we bought it, ended up about 50% off according to the guys at the shop. We haven't had an opportunity to use either yet since we took delivery in Oct 2014. Still piece of mind is great, if one ever fails we can still sleep with the other on full and a few well placed fans.

 

[LA5ver]

We have the second A/C. Both are Dometic. The bedroom A/C is low profile. With a factory installation, the Thermostat is installed. I have been told that when the dealer installs the A/C they do not install the wall mounted thermostat.

 

[Paul & Deb]

Our B/R A/C is a Dometic installed by the dealer. Unfortunately it is not low profile but it is ducted into the entire system and does have a wall mount thermostat.

Our main cabin unit is an Atwood, low profile, Whisper Quiet. Man this thing is the quietest RV A/C unit I have ever experienced. I wish I had ordered the same unit for the B/R! Our B/R unit was a negotiated inclusion so I would have had to ask specifically and probably paid more but if I had known the differences, I would have without blinking an eye.

 

[Canyonlight]

Rob's posting on this item reminded me to share an observation we noticed last summer. As cold air sinks and I assume drops through the opening under the hutch and/or through the furnace vents to the basement/storage area, when the side baggage doors are left open, cold air was being lost making the air conditioner work longer and harder. When we closed the side storage doors (even as it got warmer) the air shut off and cycled less and our 303 stayed comfortable even with hot (90s) and humid air.

Dan

 

[offtohavasu]

Good point Dan!

 

[Ciaran1]

We spent 5 days in Florida during our shake down. Temps only reached the mid 80s but we experienced very heavy rains and high humidity on the Gulf. The Atwood unit really struggled to remove the humidity. We are having the second A/C installed next week (low profile). Found the thermostat wire behind the bedroom light switch, so it will have the wall thermostat. IMO the second A/C is a must if you travel in warm/hot areas especially high humidity areas.

 

[offtohavasu]

When we order out M-Class, I'm leaning heavily towards 3 units.