Glaron
Cape Cod, MA
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Joined: 12/23/2009
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We are wintering in Florida from MA and just needed to crank up the A/C for the first time since out of storage. Last used in August/Sept.
Soon as we turned on ... a musty (maybe moldy ?? ) smell coming out of the ceiling vents. I clean the foam filter located in the ceiling unit regularly so that's not a problem. Is there another filter on the roof unit I'm not aware of? Sort of looks like a sealed unit up there though.
Suggestions on removing smell ??
Thanks
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tvman44
Southwest Louisiana
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Joined: 09/25/2007
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Clean the coils, probably mildew on them.
Papa Bob
1* DW "Granny"
1* 2008 Brookside by Sunnybrook 32'
1* 2002 F250 Super Duty 7.3L PSD
Husky 16K hitch, Tekonsha P3,
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"A bad day camping is better than a good day at work!"
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Big Katuna
Deland, FL
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Its probably the evaporator coils. I had to do mine a year or so ago. You can look up from the bottom with a flashlight with the filter out and may be able to see it. To clean it, you have go on the roof, take the cover off, remove a sheet metal cover. You can do it your self or take it to a dealer. Coleman says to use 409 cleaner. I put a piece of vinyl and some towels on the floor under the AC and towels around the intake (from the top). I use a regular squeeze hose squirter to rinse. Spray, brush, rinse, repeat 50-60 times. A throw-away paint brush with the bristles cut short works ok, too.
If you do it every year or so, its not so bad.
You will have to wash the roof and sides off when your done. I use Murphys Oil soap and do it all at once.
My Kharma ran over my Dogma.
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Glaron
Cape Cod, MA
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Thanks Big ... I'll climb up there and take a look see ... and get to work I guess !!
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ScottG
Bothell Wa.
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Ford makes a great product for removing this smell that you spray onto the coils. It's available at any dealership parts counter.
Scott, Grace and Wesly
2003 Dodge 3500 4x4, 6 speed Cummins (lightly bombed),
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Big Katuna
Deland, FL
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I doubt that would solve the problem that RV AC's have. What happens is the filters in roof mounts are not very good and they don't get cleaned anywhere near enough so the coils end up with a thin and not-so-thin covering of dirt and dust across thte top of the fins. THEN the mold/mildew sets in on top of the dirt/dust. You have to get the dirt off. Another benefit is the AC will work better, use less power and last longer.
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Luke Porter
Not on the road :(
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Joined: 10/03/2000
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They have cans of spray foam AC coil cleaner at Home Depot.
Yep, actually drove to all of these places---in the last eight years. Missed Rhode Island and New Jersey.
.
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Big Katuna
Deland, FL
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I tried the coil cleaner. It works ok but my coils were dirty enough that one can only made a dent. It would have taken 3-4 cans and at $4 or so a can, screw that. A spray bottle of 409 cleaner, which is what Coleman recommends is a few dollars and it only took half the bottle. The paint brush cut short did most of the work.
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sh410
Northwest
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I'm trying to understand how cleaning the outside coil will help the musty oder on the inside?
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Big Katuna
Deland, FL
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It isn't the outside coil. The coil you see at the rear of the AC is the condensor coil. That one can get dirty too, but that one doesn't get wet and mildew and the inside air doesn't pass over it. Plus it is outside in the sun.
The evaporator coil is the one that does the cooling and as warmer air passes over it, the air cools and water forms on the coils. The wet coils are in the dark and mildew can and will grow. You get to those coils from the outside by taking the cover off then removing a piece of sheet metal on the front of the AC.
If you are inside the RV, remove the plastic shield/cover, then remove the foam filter, you can shine a flashlight up there and see a part of the evap coil but you can't get to it very well from the bottom. Not good enough to clean it anyway.
Heere is a link to Chris Bryants website that has TONS of great info in it including this section on ACs. Thanks Chris.
CLICKY LINK
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