AC

[twosocks]

I have a 2015 model Coachman Freedom Express Liberty model travel trailer. Last trip out AC quit working would blow air but would not cool. Outside temp was around 85 and inside temp 96. We were at Bennett Spring Mo. and a neighbor at the campground recommended a repair man. Gave him a call he came out checked everything and found nothing wrong with the compressor but the coil had frozen up. long story short the coil kept freezing up with ice so called him back to see if he could add Freon. Was told no way to add anything the units are disposable and just have to be replaced. Is this correct? Thanks have a secondary warranty but the dealer says he can't get in in and fixed in time for our next outing June 7. Thoughts and the disposable unit part. Thank you all in advance.

[Toddupton]

They can be charged, just takes a little work. The problem is if they have to be charged then it has a leak and that has to be fixed as well. Unless you can do something like that yourself then the cost to repair is more than the cost to replace and that is what makes it disposable.

[Flybob]

If the problem is just the coil icing up, open the quick dump vent until the TT is cooled and the humidity drops, then close it over time. That has worked well for me. The ducting system sometimes does not allow sufficient air flow to keep the coil from freezing up if it is very hot and humid. If it is a loss of freon issue, the manufacturer is aware that they had a bad shipment and that they can corrode and lose the coolant. Contact your dealer or a local RV repair facility that sells Dometic and they will replace it. it is about a 2hr job.

[northstar1960]

Make sure the freeze sensor is in place and located in a central position on the coil .
then do what flybob says use the quick dump. freezing up is not something they would replace the ac over . adding Freon wouldn't change anything if you could add it but you can't no ports . these units are disposable

[Bama Rambler]

Second the freeze coil. It's about the size of a stack of half a dozen quarters, and should be clipped right to the evaporator coil.

We had one that kept freezing up and once i found out that the freeze coil was supposed to be clipped to the evap coil, I found it hanging lose near the coil. Once I clipped it directly to the evap coil, it never froze up again.

[twosocks]

Thank you for replying. When you said manufacture was aware that they had a bad shipment. Did you mean Coachman or Dometic? Thanks

[twosocks]

This is my first RV could you post pictures or be a little more detailed about the freeze senor. I have no idea what to look for. Thanks.

[northstar1960]

do you have a dometic or coleman mach ? the freeze sensor you can see when you pull the inside cover off with the filter in it . it should be stuck in the coils about center . a wire going to it and about the size of a smashed cigarette butt only white . if it 's not in a good location or if not in far enough or even slipped out it could cause freeze up .
you can move it to a center location and make sure it's shoved into the coil fins good

[northstar1960]

another thing to look at while in there is how well sealed it is . sometimes they do not do a good enough job sealing it off and you may need to duct tape or aluminum tape it up better . if i could post pictures i would but can never seem to get that to work.
it's the space between the intake where the filter is and the dump port . if it's not sealed well it will allow already cooled air to recirculate back over the coils causing freeze ups

[Iwannacamp]

There were problems with units about that age. Some sort of soldering issue. You can research model/serial number to see if applicable. Yes. Low of refrigerant will cause icing...so will other things.


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[northstar1960]

Originally Posted by Iwannacamp

There were problems with units about that age. Some sort of soldering issue. You can research model/serial number to see if applicable. Yes. Low of refrigerant will cause icing...so will other things.


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the issue was with not adding a anti corrosive in the mix and that allowed the solder joint to corrode and leak the refrigerant . now tell me how low refrigerant will cause icing when it' won't even get cool let alone cold. I've only replaced about 20 of the dometic AC upper units over the last 7 months and have never come across one that froze up when the refrigerant had mostly leaked out

[Iwannacamp]

You can do your own research. On the pressure/temperature there is a window of time where the refrigerant pressure/temp gets below freezing and causes icing. Very common in R-22 and R-12 systems. You prolly won't be fixing any 12 units.


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[northstar1960]

Originally Posted by Iwannacamp

You can do your own research. On the pressure/temperature there is a window of time where the refrigerant pressure/temp gets below freezing and causes icing. Very common in R-22 and R-12 systems. You prolly won't be fixing any 12 units.


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won't be fixing any dometic or colemen units as they are not made to be recharged . the low refrigerant issue does not normally cause freezing . if the unit is low on refrigerant the out put temps will show it and freeze up will not be the issue . the units we have on our RV's are cheaper to replace then try to sliver solder in ports and recharge . don't need to do anymore research .

[Todouble]

Low on refrigerant causes lower system pressures which will make any A/C freeze up regardless of refrigerant type. As long as there's moisture in the air and your low side refrigerant temp is below 32 degrees your gonna get icing. It's a shame these units are designed as throwaways but an hour or two of mechanics time and few materials eats up what a new ac cost so.....