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chaseav · 08-08-2015, 09:50 AM

Is there a wrong way to take out the ceiling ducts for the AC system? i'm very hesitant to go pulling too hard on them; it seems they are held in place by double-sided tape and two clamps. Do you just yank them out or is there something more to do? And is that really the only filter on this system?

daveswenson · 08-09-2015, 10:12 PM

The new issue of Blue Beret has instructions for cleaning the filters in the new ducted AC models.

**moosetags** · 08-09-2015, 10:24 PM

I assume that you are talking about the air returns for the ducted system. I have taken mine off several times to clean the foam filters.

I remove them by grabbing the end and pulling down.

Here is a picture of what they look like when removed.

Brian

jayseejay · 08-10-2015, 04:50 AM

I too just pull down from the ends to remove. I have to pull down pretty hard to release the clips. There is no double sided tape on mine. Joe

chaseav · 08-11-2015, 05:33 PM

Thanks guys. Yes, that's the one. Didn't know there were foam filters in there. We spent 7 weeks in ours and I'm SHOCKED by how much dust is built up on them. We didn't even use the AC that often. There's got to be a better filter out there than foam though...? Has anyone found a replacement?

chaseav · 10-11-2015, 09:34 AM

Okay, I finally got around to pulling mine out. Now what...? How do you go about cleaning that sorry excuse for a "filter"!? I'm surprised to see all that wiring in the AC duct too. I don't see any way to do a better filter modification.

chaseav · 10-12-2015, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveswenson

The new issue of Blue Beret has instructions for cleaning the filters in the new ducted AC models.

Dave, just noticed your reply. Sorry! I'm not a WBCCI member or subscriber to the magazine. Would you mind sharing how they clean the filter?

jonnie3 · 02-18-2016, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaseav

Dave, just noticed your reply. Sorry! I'm not a WBCCI member or subscriber to the magazine. Would you mind sharing how they clean the filter?

I have the same ceiling returns. I just pulled mine down and wiped clean with a paper towel. For the sponge filter I took it outside and slapped a cloth (bandana) to both sides. Cleaned up in a few seconds.

chaseav · 02-18-2016, 06:18 PM

I ended up vacuuming my vents and yes, slapping out the foam thing. Definitely in the market for some sort of better filtration there.

BigAl · 02-18-2016, 07:16 PM

don't forget that you want to maintain an adequate air flow. Therefore the filter medium cannot be too restrictive.
Al

chaseav · 02-18-2016, 08:51 PM

Yeah... plus I'd have to find something that small. Does anyone know if there is another filter up in the outside unit as well?

kendrick.l.j · 10-07-2018, 07:19 AM

Does anyone know where to buy replacement filters or part numbers? I purchased some while at JC last March but haven’t located them online anywhere. Thanks.

abqdor · 08-21-2021, 05:02 PM

I've followed the instructions in this thread and still can't get the air returns off. I even used a small right angle pointed tool and got completely between the return and the ceiling skin. This tool has a handle and I can pull pretty hard, to the point that I see the skin moving also and it still doesn't budge. Are they really that hard to remove? The picture in the thread just shows a clip. I'm afraid to pull on it much harder. Any secrets?

abqdor · 08-28-2021, 08:52 AM

Just an update from my previous post. Having gotten no response on how to best remove a very tight air return duct, I decided to try a different approach. I took a small hoe, the kind you use for small jobs with a short handle of about one foot. I cleaned the head, made sure it was straight and put blue painters tape on it. With my fingers, I was able to slide the head of the hoe in between the interior skin and the duct. Then I put a hot pad between the elbow part of the hoe and the skin. I even put my fingers between the hot pad and the ceiling skin just to feel how much pressure I was exerting on the ceiling as I didn't want to dimple it. It took some doing, but finally both ducts popped off and I was able to wash the filters. It was the leverage and the width of the hoe head that made the difference. I can't believe it was so hard, but maybe the template used to cut the pattern was just a bit smaller than most.

uncle_bob · 08-28-2021, 10:46 AM

Hi

The "ears" on the frames that hold the covers in place can be bent a bit. Bend them one way and they hold really tight. Bend them the other way and they are pretty loose.

Loose is good when you are pulling them off for cleaning. It's not so good when you want them to stay in on bumpy roads. Various folks (and I'd bet dealer techs) adjust them various ways as a result. I'd bet a pervious owner was pissed about them falling out .....

Bob

Foiled Again · 08-28-2021, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

... bet a pervious owner was pissed about them falling out .....

Bob

SNICKER! Sometimes I think the former owner of my rig was definitely "pervious" Oh, the things I have found[emoji2957]

s1000pre · 08-28-2021, 12:14 PM

Once in while we get cone shaped dust collecting on the ceiling from the vents. The so called filters on the ceiling are not going to do much for filtration. While watching a video on the 2022 models, I noticed the new filtration system on the ceiling. Are we able to purchase the filter system and install it on an earlier model? Would it be worth doing?

uncle_bob · 08-29-2021, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foiled Again

SNICKER! Sometimes I think the former owner of my rig was definitely "pervious" Oh, the things I have found[emoji2957]

Hi

Amazing what spell check can do for you

Bob

uncle_bob · 08-29-2021, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s1000pre

Once in while we get cone shaped dust collecting on the ceiling from the vents. The so called filters on the ceiling are not going to do much for filtration. While watching a video on the 2022 models, I noticed the new filtration system on the ceiling. Are we able to purchase the filter system and install it on an earlier model? Would it be worth doing?

Hi

Given how fast the existing filters plug up, they must be doing something

If you go to a better filter (that catches more stuff), I'd bet it will plug up faster. There's only so much space there, even with some sort of pleated gizmo.

The only way to find out about a retrofit of the "new" filter would be to give JC a call.

Bob

abqdor · 08-29-2021, 09:57 AM

Uncle Bob.....being the original owner, the tightness of the "ears" came from the factory. Having read about ducts falling from the ceiling, perhaps the factory was trying to compensate. We've never had any problems with the ducts. This is a '16 model year and I think '15 was the first year of ducted air, so perhaps they were still trying to come up with the right formula for the flanges.