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Air conditioner leaking

Yahoo Message Number: 5577
2000 Intrigue #11104. Our last time out we had water dripping from our rear air unit onto the bed. Not a great deal but two little drips that did make the bed wet. The rear AC also seemed to be cycling on and off way to often. The front AC ran fine but when we left and started down the road we had a small amount of water come into the coach through the main vent onto the carpet. We were in extremely humid weather and since we have only had the coach for about a month I wondered if we were experiencing normal situations.

Re: Air conditioner leaking

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5583
Hi Intrigue 11104,

I just had the covers off the roof A/Cs.
Even removed the cover off the evaporator coil section for inspection.
Added extra screws during the resecuring especially at the front end.
Two possibilities for internal leaking of the condensate:
1. The drain on the right forward portion is plugged - it empties downward onto the roof. Mine is an Allure - I don't know if Intriques have an internal hose drain. If so, use compressed air to clear it out.
2. The seals around the evaporator compartment area are leaking -
remote possibility.
Fred Kovol

Re: Air conditioner leaking

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5596
If it's anything like mine (99 Intrigue) the condition is normal. I experienced condensation coming from the cooling coils and dripping directly down onto the bed in the rear of my coach. It only happens when we leave the rear air on for an extended period of time and we are in a humid climate.
We also get the normal run off from the condensation tube on top of the coach. I don't think the Intrigue has an internal drain system for condensation, but outlets the water onto the roof as a way of taking care of normal condensation.
As a safety measure, we always put a folded towel on the bed when using the rear air for any period of time. Sort of like camping out, huh?
By the way, the first time it happened, the wife wanted to stop at Albertsons for some Depends, but I had to convince her it was the A/C, not me! Not yet!

Larry
Intrigue
10762

Re: Air conditioner leaking

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5610
I think the driping is normal in humid weather. Right now we are Florida (rain every day) at Lazy Days and I asked them about this and was told the only solution is to keep your door closed as much as possible. We also run the fan all the time at night in the bed room and that keep away the driping. The more air you move thru the units the less driping you have. You should also make sure your drip hoses are open.
We find that our units drip a lot when we move from one site to another, so I try to raise the temp about half an hour before we leave and run the acs on fan only. That helps dry out the units before starting to move.

Bill G. 2001 Magna #5998

Re: Air conditioner leaking

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5612
I have lived in Florida all my life and know what the humid conditions can contribute to. I had the same dripping problem when we first purchased our coach last year. Even though many told me the dripping was the norm, I found it unacceptable. I began looking at the way the A/C units are mounted on the roof with only a foam compression seal as a gasket to keep the weather and water out.
After looking closer I discovered that the four mount bolts that are accessable from inside were all loose and the gasket was not compressed evenly. I called Country Coach and Dometic and both confirmed the proper installation of the gasket. The gasket is about one-inch thick. All four mount bolts should be tightened evenly until the gasket compresses to 50% or about 1/2" in thickness. After doing this, all my leaks stopped. Occasionally, I may see on the front unit a droplet of moisture on the A/C register. But, no more wet bed and no more having to put towels on the bed.
The A/C unit has a very low vibration when it is operating. So, I am not surprised at the mount bolts loosening up over time. Also, the gaskets will not stay pliable and last forever. The dometic rep says about five to seven years should be the norm. After that the gasket stays compressed and the it begins to leak. Gaskets should not be compressed more than the 1/2" requirement.

Hope this offers a solution to your leaks.

Jim Hughes

Jacksonville, FL
2000 Allure #30511

Quote from: pinchuscc
2000 Intrigue #11104. Our last time out we had water dripping from > our rear air unit onto the bed. Not a great deal but two little

drips

Quote
that did make the bed wet. The rear AC also seemed to be cycling on > and off way to often. The front AC ran fine but when we left and > started down the road we had a small amount of water come into the > coach through the main vent onto the carpet. We were in extremely > humid weather and since we have only had the coach for about a

month I

Re: Air conditioner leaking

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5616
Hi Jim,

Thanks for the good investigative information on leaking A/Cs.
I plan on lifting the units up and adding a generous amount of RTV silicon rubber to the gasket area to prolong the gasket life.
Fred Kovol

Re: Air conditioner leaking

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5619
2002 Intrigue. Have been in FL for 2 months. AC runs all the time. No dripping what so ever

Re: Air conditioner leaking

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5622
David,

You are right about Florida but sometimes you have to be here in the summer. We are building a house for us and the coach at Lake Ashton, and we want to watch the construction. Besides our site at Lazy Days is free for 30 days and they feed us breakfast and lunch. And if you work the Crown club right you can get extra free days and a free coach wash.

Bill G. 2001 Magna #5998

Re: Air conditioner leaking

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5627
Hi Fred,

I would rethink the RTV a little more before you use it. The seals already in place are a closed cell foam seal. The RTV could make the seal rigid and cause you to have vibration and noise when the A/c unit runs. My view point is if the seal is still good by looking at how it springs back to its normal 1" (uncompressed) thickness, then there is another cause of the seal to leak. I would first take the seal off and clean all the mating surfaces where it meets with the A/C and roof top. Chances are dirt and other debris has gotten under the seal and causing a wicking action of the water. A good cleaning of all mating surfaces should do it. Then reassemble and tighten to the 1/2 inch seal compression. Or, there could be a cut or crack in the seal. In this case the seal needs to be replaced.

If you do go ahead and try the RTV, let us know how it turns out.

Jim

2000 Allure #30511

Quote from: fredkovol

Re: Air conditioner leaking

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5644
Leaks inside the coach can't be normal! I had it once on my '98 Intrigue... I think from frozen coils but never (yet) in my '02.

Search this forum for conversation on this problem for solutions found.

Dick May

2002 Intrigue, #11438

Quote from: larry hanson
> If it's anything like mine (99 Intrigue) the condition is normal.
I experienced condensation coming from the cooling coils and dripping directly down onto the bed in the rear of my coach. It only happens when we leave the rear air on for an extended period of time and we are in a humid climate.

Quote
>

We also get the normal run off from the condensation tube on top
of the coach. I don't think the Intrigue has an internal drain system for condensation, but outlets the water onto the roof as a way of taking care of normal condensation.

Quote
>

As a safety measure, we always put a folded towel on the bed when
using the rear air for any period of time. Sort of like camping out, huh?

Quote
>

By the way, the first time it happened, the wife wanted to stop at
Albertsons for some Depends, but I had to convince her it was the A/C, not me! Not yet!

Quote
Larry
Intrigue
10762
Dick May
2002 Intrigue, #11438, towing a
2014 Jeep Gr Cherokee ecoDiesel

Re: Air conditioner leaking

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5646
"Leaks inside the coach can't be normal! I had it once on my '98 Intrigue... I think from frozen coils but never (yet) in my '02."
Go to Files section of this Yahoo Group and look at penguin.leak file. It details how to determine your cause of leak and its fix.

Sincerely

George W Becker

gwb36@... 1999 Country Coach Intrigue #10700

Re: Air conditioner leaking

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5653
Just thoughts about the leaking air conditioners in CC brands. I have had them and tightening the four bolts has cured it. Yet it keeps reoccuring due to vibration working the bolts loose. I think another problem is the relatively flat roofs that are on the CC coaches. With more of a slope I think the water condensation would run off better and not concentrate at the air conditioners themselves. That is something for CC to correct...

On Fri, 01 Aug 2003 13:44:20 -0000 "dickmay_2000" maymr@...> writes:

Re: Air conditioner leaking

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5719
My 2000 Intrigue was dripping water along the molding on the front slide in humid weather. I climbed on the roof and put down some towels to reroute the water. The water was pooling on top of the slide.

I found out that Magna's of my vintage had a drain system built in. I was referred to the Dometic rep who covers CC and he told me to make sure that the installer was experienced in the retrofit.

I have not done it as we are seldom in humid weather.

I think it was called either a penguin or igloo kit (sorry!!).

CC can refer you to the guy, he has been around forever.

Chuck Gauthier

40' 2000 Intrigue 11142
 

Re: Air conditioner leaking

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5790
I have a 2000 Magna #5798 and I ahd a problem with my front air leaking the same way- and it got worse until I took it in and the mechanic used compressed air to blow out the drain hose that exits near the front driver's side tire. It had some gunk or blockage in it. Everything else checked out fine and it has never "leaked" or dripped water since. however I have heard that you can have drips in a high humidity situation, although I have neer experienced it.

Sorry this is late... I just got back from a 2 week trip.

Quote from: pinchuscc
2000 Intrigue #11104. Our last time out we had water dripping

from

Quote
our rear air unit onto the bed. Not a great deal but two little

drips

Quote
that did make the bed wet. The rear AC also seemed to be cycling

on

Quote
and off way to often. The front AC ran fine but when we left and > started down the road we had a small amount of water come into the > coach through the main vent onto the carpet. We were in extremely > humid weather and since we have only had the coach for about a

month I