Air Conditioner Maintenance

[sebring96hbg]

I noted something somewhat alarming while installing the optional heat strip in the A/C unit. One of the four retaining bolts was loose above the interior subassembly. I understand that these bolts serve to facilitate a compression fit of the exterior and interior A/C subassemblies on the roof.

I don't know if someone at the factory thought "three out of four ain't bad" or the bolt simply loosened after one season of travel. I'll have to call the manufacture for the torque specs. If the latter, then that's not good. If the former, I am not happy about that either.

Anyone can check by removing the grille and checking the corners for the black retaining bolts.

[Grumpy]

There are no "torque specs" other than tighten untill the gasket is partially compressed and on the new COLEMAN units there is a tab or mark on the gasket that tells you when to stop. They should be checked regularly since the will loosen up and they've been like that for the 35+ years we've had air on a RV.

[RVhiker]

At least you had three out of four tightened. On my trailer when I first got it only two of four were tight at all - the other two did not contact the bracket at all. At least the two that were tightened were diagonally across from each other.

[Ttrav122]

Be careful not to overtighten those bolts. I found out the hard way when I "snugged down" those bolts. The consequence of that was that it closed off the drain holes on the coil tray and the drain holes were flush with the roof. And this caused condensation water to overflow into and through the filter soaking the floor and carpet inside the trailer. Took me about an hour and a half to figure out how to solve the issue.

[edatlanta]

That gasket is approx 1" thick when new. Over time the weight of the a/c unit compresses it and you need to "snug" down the brackets. I mean "snug" not tight. Once the gasket has compressed and has no more ability to compress it must be replaced which requires removal of the a/c.

"Snug" means just a tad more than hand night.

[chuckworkb]

They may have loosened on the trip from the factory to the dealer, to your driveway. Just like the others have said - just snug, not cranked down.

[sebring96hbg]

Thanks for the replies. To clarify, mine was not even threaded into the upper bracket.

How often should this be checked? I am thinking of making this a part of the winterization and de-winterization routine.

[chuckworkb]

Once a year.

[norty1]

There are sticky threads on this on just about every thread on rving.
It is a regular maint item when changing filter give them a look.
Don't be tempted to torque them down for the reasons mentioned.