Lesson Regarding AC

[retiredhappy]

Went into town today leaving the AC on for my pups. Got back and "OH NO", no cool air. Turned off and motor was still running so turned off at breaker. Thought I had gotten caught up in all the AC's dying on this forum. Frantically called around Silver City trying to find anyone who would come out and see what was wrong. First problem is that apparently everyone closes for lunch and they can't afford answering machines. Finally got someone who would come check it out. An hour later two really cute guys showed up (damn why aren't I 30 years younger?) Turned breaker on and flipped switch. Voila - air conditioning. WHAT?? Cute young guy looks at the filter and its completely covered with dust so no air getting into AC. Now I'm embarrassed - I just plain forgot to clean it for the last month. Another thing to put on the calendar so I won't forget (the list keeps getting longer as my memory keeps getting shorter.) Bless these guys, they won't even charge me a call-out fee. Fortune is smiling on me today.

LESSON: KEEP YOUR FILTER CLEAN.

[Sparkle]

Karen, Beth and I are at a loss as to how you could miss cleaning your filter. You, of all people, who has back ups for your backups! What were you thinking? Soos's firemen? That was it I bet. Start a little fire, send for firefighters, tell them to take off their shirts, ugly fat ones, they put out the fire. Karen entertains (in her own fashion) the good looking ones.

[BirdbyBird]

I really need an individualized one on one inservice on all the "stuff" that needs attention, etc. LOW used to offer something like that during their pre-conference. I have sat through seminars and read the books but I learn from hands on. I know not enough and I know that it is going to get me in trouble down the line....

[mitch5252]

..

Okay, here's my newbee question - that filter on the A/C - it is the one inside that's made out of kinda cheap, large-cell foam?
Or is there something outside on the roof?

..

[dpf]

Wondering the same thing Mitch. I've been after DH to get the air compressor up on the roof to blow out that unit. One of the campgrounds where we used to camp had a gazallion cottonwood trees and when the cotton would start blowing it could clog up the outside unit. The campground hosts always had a screen box that they had on top of the rig to catch the fuzz before it was able to get into the fins.

[sharon]

The filter she's talking about is the "cheap foam" one. It's inside the coach, just pop off the plastic vent, pull it off, wash in mild soap and water, let dry and put back. Easy peasy. And yes, it's very impoortant! If you don't get enough return air back to the condenser, your compressor goes out on high head pressure.....then no A/C. It can also eventually take your compressor to the death house. Very seldom do you have to get on the roof and clean the condensor unless you're in a place like dpf was with cottonwood or something that will block the air vents on the roof unit.

[avalen]

and another thing the guy yesterday told me......at least once a month in the winter
turn the ac on and let it run for about an hour to get the freon moving in the lines
and the lube in the motor and other moving parts. Now, in arizona its not a problem
to turn the ac on occassionally but when your in a cold climate and running the furnace,
well, to me it just doesn't make sense but he said turn the heat up to ninety and let
the ac cool it down just to keep the ac lubricated and thats a fact jack
Seriously, thats what he said!!

[sharon]

And he's so right! It's the same as with anything else on your rig...generator, fooderator, anything that has moving parts needs to move every once in a while....kind of like your insides if you get my drift! Same goes for the stick house. The worst thing you can do to anything that needs lubed is to let it sit.

[sharon]

Tina, we can have a mini seminar at the GTG if you want....anything you need help with. You too, Mitch. Trailers are a little different that rv's, but I bet we can muddle thru.

[BirdbyBird]

Thanks...I often feel like a negligent parent to the Baby Bus.....

[Bethers]

Yeppers, run everything once a month - and keep everything clean - and check water levels in batteries and clean air conditioning filters - and don't use your heat with anything blocking ANY of the vents (very important in an rv).

Now, all that said, my dang water heater is refusing to start (the pilot doesn't stay lit). Going to see if one of the guys here can take a look in the morning - before I start smelling really bad.

And, yes, Karen, Sparkle and I were in shock that you had a dirty air conditioning filter. Aghast is more like it - hahahahaha - now, if Sharon had done it I would have been shocked into silence. Hmmmm, nope, I don't think anything can shock me into silence for too long.

[retiredhappy]

Beth, just had a problem with the pilot light on my water heater - wouldn't light. Replaced the igniter and you guessed it, I bought an extra one just in case.

[Bethers]

You do realize I have to sit in the lodge to read the forum, don't you? I just laughed so hard that everyone is looking at me. Karen, I'm scared it's a part - as there won't be anyway to easily have one here - we aren't around the corner from anything. Can you imagine - I'll be heating my water to bath and wash my hair. Oh geez, just the thought LOLOL - maybe I'll just have to borrow Sparkle's shower.

But the thought that you bought a spare - omg - no, I'm not surprised. That's another of those things that I would say - once in 10 years and I have that part sitting here - that when I need it I won't remember what it is or where I put it! Love ya, Karen - we are so different on these things - and so alike on others - but would never admit that!

[AlmostThere]

Well, this newbie jotted down to check out Little Missy's filter.. would never have thought of it.

I did run my generator yesterday. Then flipped the 'disconnect battery' switch so nothing is putting a drain on my battery.
Question; do you ever run the generator while the rig is plugged into shore power even if it's just because it needs to run?

Buying a used rig from an individual you don't get the same indepth walkthrough like from a dealership. And the stack of booklets that came with the rig isn't any help with this type stuff. Most of them look like diagrams on how to take every appliance apart, nothing on how to use them. It would be great if everything came with an instructional DVD.

[BirdbyBird]

Don't worry...you may have missed the walk through at the dealer...but nothing beats the hands on figure it out stuff...Those walk throughs go so fast, even if you video them, unless someone actually does all the steps...and not just "talks" about them I think it is difficult to retain the information. I have been "helped" by friendly strangers several times. It will go better for you.... get a GTG going and ask lots of questions! You will get wiser on each trip out!