Country Coach Owners Forum

Country Coach Restoration, Repair & Parts Forums => Country Coach Archive => Topic started by: Jack on May 28, 2010, 10:22:03 am

Title: Air Conditioner condensate
Post by: Jack on May 28, 2010, 10:22:03 am
Yahoo Message Number: 59822 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/59822)
On my 2003 Intrigue, with two heat pump/air conditioners, I recently had a water drip onto my bed during a rain storm in Oregon. I put plastic sheeting over the unit for the evening, then fixed it the next day. A crack had developed in the cover, so I fiberglassed the back side of it, firmed up the ceiling mounting bolts, and all was well.
We have had a cool year here in North Texas until recently, so yesterday I cranked up the air conditioner. Worked fine, once the long delay for the brain to decide to turn it on. I thought I heard a drip inside the unit after it cut off, so pulled the little plastic grille and filter pad down, and I could feel water on either the frame bottom or coach top, could not tell which - my hand was wedged up over and under lots of stuff in there. Condensate is supposed to (and does) drain down a tube and onto the ground. The "T" fitting and hoses for the condensate run did not seem to have a leak,
I do not see any evidence of water on the roof outside or the interior of the roof/ceiling/insulation, but my worry is it might migrate without being evident until I have a real problem.
Could general cooling of the whole mechanism cause enough condensation to cause a puddle 1/4 inch deep outside the drain system, or do I need to start looking for leaks in something? Might it be helpful to rig a drain to channel the water if a leak in some component cannot be found?

Thank goodness for the brain power on this forum.

Jack Nichols

2003 Intrigue 11527
Title: Re: Air Conditioner condensate
Post by: Larry F on May 28, 2010, 04:16:57 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 59825 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/59825)
I had this same problem in 2005 with my 2003 Allure. The final outcome was the dealer changed the drip pans under his warranty. Dometic had a bad run on my type AC (Model #630215-321) that had cracked drip pans. In the interim, before I finally had it fixed, I placed those high fiber rags up there where you felt the condensation. They had to be changed daily, sometimes twice. Dometic's standard warranty fix for this problem was to replace the ACs. But since I was the second owner, I didn't qualify. Dometic told me they didn't sell just the drip pans, but the dealer was able to get them somehow. Since I complained about this problem when I bought the unit, it was documented and the dealer stepped up to the plate eight months after purchase. Good luck

Larry, 03 Allure, 30856
Title: Re: Air Conditioner condensate
Post by: Jack Nichols on May 28, 2010, 08:52:13 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 59831 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/59831)
Thanks, Larry - sorry you had the same problem, but I am glad a known fix is available.
I might just use one AC at a time, to let it dry out well, and try to fiberglass the pan. It can't be that big a deal. Or.........? I do get a lot of condensate through the designated tubing, onto the ground, so the system is at least partially working as designed. We will have some great weather for the next few days, so I know what I will be doing.

I doubt the AC maker will honor a fix at this late date on my 2003.

Thanks for the guidance. I will report back.

Jack Nichols, 2003 Intrigue 11527