Condensate coming from Dometic AC

Montique · 07-19-2009, 04:13 PM

I have condensate coming out of the bottom pan of AC and running down both sides of trailer. Is this supposed to do this or is there a tube or something to carry it away? I do not want to ruin my new paint job! Help!

mustang · 07-19-2009, 04:18 PM

It is normal, You are in a humid climate I am assuming. Just like water dripping from your car when the a/c is on

HowieE · 07-19-2009, 04:25 PM

Not sure when Airstream started to pipe the condensate through the trailer and out a tube just forward of the driver side wheels. Look there if you see a small drain tube then that is where the condensate is supposed to flow out. If none is coming out there the tube may be clogged. If water is flowing out there and you are still seeing water on the roof take a look at the compressor itself. If the unit is low on gas the compressor may be sweating and that water flowing to the roof.

If you do not have a drain tube then all water will flow across the roof.

TBRich · 07-19-2009, 04:32 PM

I'm not sure about your year/model, but there is a drainage tube on our Bambi...it exits in front of the street side wheel inside the wheel well. If you have a drainage tube, it could be clogged...with either mold/algae or dirt & debris. If it is clogged, you might be able clear it with pressurized air or good strong suction... We connected a plastic tube to the end of ours and covered the end with a piece of old nylon stocking to keep mud dabbers out...and to direct the draining condensation away from the tire.

mustang · 07-19-2009, 04:40 PM

I just learned something, Didnt even know I had a drain tube... This is the first newer one I have owned. My 73 and 71 didnt have a tube. It just ran down the roof.

**Chuck** · 07-19-2009, 04:49 PM

I think you probably did have drain tubes in those trailers, as does the Argy in question. They were put into the walls at the factory, just in case anyone wanted to use them; but the actual A/C units were dealer installed options. And if the dealer installed an A/C unit that would take the drain tube, they'd attach it. But many A/C units aren't configured to use one, and they just dump onto the roof. (like my Coleman).
I don't remember the brands that included a drain pan that sat inside the roof, and could be connected to the drain tube, but someone will...

AirsDream · 07-19-2009, 07:52 PM

My AC unit started dripping INSIDE the coach ... so I checked, and found that indeed, there was a drain tube - ending in roadside wheel well - ... tried cleaning it out using the electric drill and weed whacker line trick. Didn't help. Read the installation manual for the AC ... not a WORD about hooking up drain line! Read it again just to make sure. Nope.

Ultimately discovered that if I just keep the filters clean (operator error!) and keep the coach more or less level (more operator error!) it drains out the drain tube that isn't mentioned but in fact is there and is hooked up. I have no idea what difference the filter cleanliness makes, but it seems to make a difference on where the moisture goes.

Utahgoldrup · 07-22-2009, 11:46 AM

My AC unit is dripping inside of my coach too, I just dropped it off at the dealer this morning for them to look at it.

AirsDream - when you mention keeping the filters clean, are you talking about the filters on the bottom of the AC unit inside the trialer? Mine are clean, just not sure why the condensation is dripping inside instead of into a drain tube, perhaps they will find the tube is dirty, etc.

szimmerer · 07-23-2009, 10:37 AM

I had a similar problem with condensation dripping off the inside of the A/C ceiling unit (Dometic). Turns out I had a cracked drain pan and condensation made it's way down into the ceiling unit then on to the floor.

62 Overlander · 07-23-2009, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by szimmerer

I had a similar problem with condensation dripping off the inside of the A/C ceiling unit (Dometic). Turns out I had a cracked drain pan and condensation made it's way down into the ceiling unit then on to the floor.

Same here, the '05 CCD had a crack in the pan close to where the drain tube connected. Evidently Airstream had seen it prior because there was Sikaflex dobbed around it.

Otherwise, it never sweats enough to drip inside the trailer, even camping on the Gulf coast when the humidity is way high in the summer.

genearnold · 07-23-2009, 11:33 AM

A few years ago my bedroom A/C surprised us with a wet bed. We were visiting Nebraska in mid-summer and it was steamy hot for several days and we just had to get along w/o the unit. I determined the problem was a damaged drain pan so when I got home I booked it in to the A/S dealer (they are no longer an A/S dealer) and ordered a new pan. $135 labor later I was told they couldn't install the thing since they would have to ruin the A/C since the factory had used Vulcum on the install (not really surprising that they no longer are a dealer).

We were able to use the unit when in the desert with low humidity. Three or four years ago I decided to attempt a repair myself and at the recommendation of a friend who is a veteran R/V tech I bought some stuff that I was able to apply that seems to have taken care of it (sorry, I can't recall what it was, but I think I brushed it on). My trailer has a drain hose to the street side and I blew it out from inside the trailer with compressed air.

Though I'm not acquainted with the Argosy, it would be simple to remove the inside trim & vents and take a look.

Gene