"Smoke" from the AC unit...

[rmkrum]

The oil all over the place is the oil that was in the system. Could be leaking anywhere. Pinhole is all it takes, and sadly most modern units have no service valves, so it’s time for a new one. [emoji37]

[PharmGeek]

Well - hell!!!!! [emoji24][emoji24][emoji24]

Trying to think a bit positive here - I’m down for a DIY here folks. More learnin’ to come.

Also on a positive note - I have 300 bucks in amazon points (credit card kickback) I can use toward a unit - some maybe amazon will be a route?

It seems nuts I cannot fix, evacuate, and recharge!

Also - why did this happen? Less than 5 years in with few hours on the unit and this?

[PharmGeek]

Where to start - current unit is 13.5k btu I believe - not sure what unit I will need - supplies - sealant?

Y’all have any YouTube videos on the process?

Airstream Inc folks have yet to respond to my message - I mean I can like pray they will care to help a poor AS owner outside of warranty.

[Foiled Again]

When my A/C blew it spewed oil. Had oil dripping on the floor inside. Happened on the dealership's lot, and was replaced before I took delivery. Bought it used 9 months old... supposedly had sat on POs yard th see whole time. Sure looked that way. Perhaps lack of use causes problems?

From what I could see, your outside unit is hardly awash in oil. Is the inside of the shroud black? Or Could it be just accumulated road crud? There is a Naval Air Station near a camp in Va. Beach and when the jets do touch and go landings for carrier qualification, Everyone has to wash their RVs to get off the av gas exhaust. I would try to run it one more time, to see if more oil comes out (fire extinguisher at hand, and wife ready to shut it down at thermostat). If it blows oil, it is already gone, so you can't hurt it... if it does run without more problems... great.

Good luck. Paula

[PharmGeek]

The rear unit in the same area has zero evidence of such residue - no the cover was not all super black - the sheen is not super black although as you wipe it with you finger it is like blackish.

It doesn’t look good

I suppose it MAY not be this bad thing but looks to be

Running the AC now if it’s that will blow the compressor and would that cause like a fire?

[PharmGeek]

Oh right - didn’t see your last paragraph - my uncle is an HvAC guy and bro and electrician - may get some assistance

[GMFL]

I just bought a 15k heatpump this week for 950.00 and I am going to swap myself. I live 1.5 hr south of you and would be glad to help if you need it.

[PharmGeek]

Originally Posted by GMFL

I just bought a 15k heatpump this week for 950.00 and I am going to swap myself. I live 1.5 hr south of you and would be glad to help if you need it.

Hey thanks! And long time to see!

Also - allow me to ask a question:

If I “never” use that heat pump feature -
Should I bother? I suppose resale is always an issue although we have no plans anytime soon

Not sure if not having it would require some kinda thermostat reprogramming

It looks as though the heat pump version would be a couple hundred more.

[PharmGeek]

In watching a few YouTube videos - seems simple enough - minus the getting the thing up on top lol

[PharmGeek]

Assuming at this point from all the chatter that no way this is serviceable

Anyone else have an opinion about trying to run it? I feel like at this point given the smoke - the evidence of the refrigerant - to just replace - I could try and run it for a but - if that was Freon it was I suspect a lot of it to see it that much - so if I were to cut on the AC it would not blow cold air and without that oily stuff inside the compressor would blow

Even if by some chance no symptoms - seems like a matter of time? Just thinking out loud

[djarrett]

Pharma - have you reached out to Dometic? Just curious what they may say about a 4-year-old unit doing this?

[GMFL]

Not sure about the non heatpump option and thermostat. My understanding is that the 13.5 to 15k units is a direct swap out. That’s what I am doing

[Camr]

As a side note, we had a Dometic heat pump die on our 2015 Mobile Suite less than a week after first use. The Dometic tech explained that the newer units are manufactured with smaller, higher speed compressors and thinner walled tubing, and in his opinion this was the reason that the newer units do not last nearly as long as older units. He did comment that if they make it past 6 months of regular use, they will likely last a reasonable length of time.

[Foiled Again]

Talked to a buddy in camp, who says to swap it out. He knows far more about HVAC than I ever will so follow his advice not my opinion. My 25 has a 13.5 unit, now 5 years old. I halfway hope it fails so I can replace with a 15.0.

Paula

[PharmGeek]

I’m not sure why I would want a 15k

This unit is directly over the front bed and even in horrible heat keeps up - the only suboptimal area is on the other end - back end of the trailer - the center 15k BTU AC in the summer heat had a harder time keeping up - in particular getting cool air to the bunk rear area - although it does “fine” - ducted air came the year after mine - which I’m very happy to not have paid the uptick in sticker price!!

[rugjenkins]

I would go with the 15k since you have a 30ft camper. Mine is a 28ft and I went with the 15k heat pump.
I would run the a/c is see if it cools or you see smoke. If it's toast, it won't matter.

[A W Warn]

Originally Posted by PharmGeek

Hey thanks! And long time to see!

Also - allow me to ask a question:

If I “never” use that heat pump feature -
Should I bother? I suppose resale is always an issue although we have no plans anytime soon

Not sure if not having it would require some kinda thermostat reprogramming

It looks as though the heat pump version would be a couple hundred more.

When I changed out the unit in my Excella I installed the AC only unit, in place of the heat pump. If the original thermostat would have worked (it had old style) the controls would have been plug & play. Even with the upgraded t-stat and separate control box, it was fairly simple using the existing the existing wires.
I'm not 100% sure about your specific unit, but if Dometic has continued to make the control wires as they have for the last 20+ years, the connection between thermostat and roof top unit is similar to a computer data cord. Plug it in between two Dometic products, it works.

edit: The reason you might want to go to a larger unit: When you are on a 30 amp service with no 50 amp available, if that is the primary unit, more cooling would be a good thing when needed. Power requirement is the same for both units, so why not? If this is the unit that does not work when 30 amp is being used, I see no need for a larger secondary unit.
edit 2: Dometic has a chart in some literature I found on line that says which thermostats work with which units. I think your present t-stat would work with an AC only Dometic unit. You can check it out at Dometic's website.

[Foiled Again]

Pharm, I have a small Vornado Fan (12 in. Blade diameter) that I use to direct air wherever the roof air is weak. Makes a big difference, and can direct air at any angle. Think I got 2 for $15 Several years ago.

[PharmGeek]

Originally Posted by Foiled Again

Pharm, I have a small Vornado Fan (12 in. Blade diameter) that I use to direct air wherever the roof air is weak. Makes a big difference, and can direct air at any angle. Think I got 2 for $15 Several years ago.

On my short list as an obvious solution lol

Just that the kids in that area don’t complain so no problems yet

Question - probably a stupid one:

Is there an AC unit even more powerful than my center 15k unit? Crazy/stupid idea but moving my 15 to the front and putting something better in the center? Meh - that is dumb but an idea but feel better having voiced it.

[PharmGeek]

AW warn - not the primary unit - center 15k is I believe