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10-04-2005, 12:01 PM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Prescott Valley
, Arizona
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 39
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How do I clean my AC drain tube?
It is not draining like it should and I think it is clogged.
Do I fish something from the top down or from the bottom up? Can I use a hanger or would an air compressor with an attachment work better? What is the tube made of, rubber or copper? Plastic?
I searched and found lots of chatter about the tube but no details on cleaning it out.
Thanks
__________________
1983 Excella 31 - Sold
2001 Dodge 2500 V10 - Sold
Looking for a new rig and tow vehicle.
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10-04-2005, 01:10 PM
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#2
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2 Rivet Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 93
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You seem to have a pretty good handle on the various methods that are commonly used. Which one you choose is really up to you
I will mention that using an unfolded wire hanger will only go about twenty inches in, which will work only if the clog happens to be at the end of the tube. What are the chances of that? I have used a much longer wire, a piece of solid 10 ga. copper hook-up wire from the bottom up with success, doing no damage. To make the tip un-sharp I folded the end back about an inch to make a rounded tip.
Getting to the top of the tube to work down is no picnic, unless you take your lunch with you, while ascending the coach and field-stripping the A/C.
I will also mention a method I have not used but has been reccomended. If you pour household bleach down the tube, it should wipe out a blockage due to growth of mold and fungus in the tube. In my case the blockage seemed to be due to mud-daubers or other insects in the tube and I don't think bleach would have worked.
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10-04-2005, 01:11 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,335
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When this happened to my AC, I knelt down beside the trailer, took the tube in my mouth, and blew long and hard ( I play bagpipes, flute and tin whistle, so I am a trained AC drain cleaner!) After initial resistance, I could feel a gurgling of air through water. I took the tube out of my mouth, and then received a face full of muddy water. Next time I will try to move a little faster.
The tube has stayed unblocked for a couple of years. Enjoy!
Nick.
__________________
Nick Crowhurst, Excella 25 1988, Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel. England in summer, USA in winter.
"The price of freedom is eternal maintenance."
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10-04-2005, 01:35 PM
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#4
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Still Working
1994 36' Classic 36
North Charleston
, South Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,686
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Compressed Air
No lips required
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10-05-2005, 12:12 PM
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#5
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2 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Prescott Valley
, Arizona
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 39
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thanks guys, Though I think Nick's way was the most...interesting...I think I will start with compressed air and bleach. Then work toward the wire.
Thanks so much.
Missy
__________________
1983 Excella 31 - Sold
2001 Dodge 2500 V10 - Sold
Looking for a new rig and tow vehicle.
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10-05-2005, 02:02 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2020 30' Flying Cloud
1995 25' Excella
Clear Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 588
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I don't know about your version of the Airconditioner, as it is at least 11 years newer and may not be original equipment.
In a 1972' with the original AC, the drain tube is accessable from the inside of the trailer without removing any covers. Our drain tube can be reached by removing the air filters and reaching in through the filter opening to disconnect the tube from the bottom side of the AC unit. To clean our tube of any clog, I will run the air hose from this point out the bottom of the trailer.
__________________
Mark
72 Sovereign: L couch, mid-twin, rear-bath "When you come to a fork in the road, take it" "It was impossible to get a conversation going; everybody was talking too much." "If you don't know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else." - Yogi Berra
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10-05-2005, 04:10 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
, Minnesota
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,721
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After reading this, I'm going to replace my PVC tubing with Pex. I think Pex might be less likely to clog.
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10-05-2005, 05:26 PM
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#8
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3 Rivet Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 113
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cleaning ac drain tube
I was at the beach in 90 degree weather when I found that mine was stopped up. (probably mud daubers) The only thing I could find to clean it out was a clothes hanger. When I got home I used compressed air. Mine was a rubber (or plastic) tube and a clothes hanger could possibly punch a hole in it. Hopefully someone knows a better way.
Wayne
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10-14-2005, 09:24 PM
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#9
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2 Rivet Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 76
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Mine was also plugged. The Airstream Factory Service Center used compressed air.
I would think that you would want to be gentle with the pressure applied.
Loren
__________________
2012 New Horizons Travel Trailer (formerly an Airstream owner)
2008 Dodge 2500 diesel with Equal-i-zer hitch.
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05-21-2008, 08:47 AM
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#10
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New Member
1991 29' Excella
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 4
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Try a thin "rooter"
Dripping water was the very first problem our "new" baby had. Assuming a clogged drain tube, I looked for something long, thin and flexible. What I found -- at Wal-Mart - - was a dryer vent cleaning brush on a 10-foot flexible wire. I just clipped off the brush, leaving a couple of little brass knuckles at the end. It worked like a champ, and was exactly the right length to go from the outlet up to the unit (saved the effort of trying to go from the top down) It even has a little handle on the end so you can give it a twist to root out those "dauber digs"...
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05-21-2008, 10:47 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1992 34' Excella
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 563
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When mine clogs up, it's usually both the tube and the catch pan so clearing just one doesn't fix the other.
The method that I've settled on is I take a long piece of weed wacker string (I use the green stuff) and I fish it up from the bottom as far as I can, cut it off and chuck up the end in my screwgun and let 'er rip.
Sometimes I have to drop all the air delivery components to get to the drain outlet from the pan and once again feed a piece of trimmer line up into the pan and give it the screwgun treatment.
__________________
Crusty
"If you come to a fork in the road, take it."
Lake Travis, TX
"Rancho Deluxe"
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06-21-2008, 08:40 AM
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#12
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A girl and an Airstream
1993 29' Excella
dunnegan
, Missouri
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 99
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93 excella air leaking
My air-conditioner is dripping water on the floor. I took the filter covers off but don't see anything that isn't electrical. How do I fix this? I have the original Penguin Duo-therm.
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06-21-2008, 09:27 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1977 27' Overlander
1973 27' Overlander
1963 19' Globetrotter
Naples
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,259
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Shop vac works for me,connect to hose coming thru belly pan,seal with a rag ,and let it go for a while,it will also suck out a lot of scum in pan. Dave
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06-21-2008, 10:05 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
Commercial Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Naples
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,508
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Quote:
Originally Posted by missysanford
My air-conditioner is dripping water on the floor. I took the filter covers off but don't see anything that isn't electrical. How do I fix this? I have the original Penguin Duo-therm.
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missy,
Your water problem might, or might not be related to a blocked drain tube. You should have the tube blown out with complessed air first and see if that solves your problem. The drain tube usually terminates in the road side wheel well.
If this doesn't solve your problem, then your A/C unit is creating the problem, which could be caused by a number of factors like dirty condenser coils, a blockage in the exhaust air flow, evaporator freeze-up, and several others.
At this point, you should have your unit serviced by a qualified Dometic professional.
__________________
lewster
Solar Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
Victron Solar Components and Inverters, Zamp Solar Panels, LiFeBlue and Battle Born Lithium Batteries, Lifeline AGM Batteries
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06-21-2008, 12:49 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
1976 27' Overlander
Richmond
, Virginia
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 755
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Our 1976
Missy,
Our 1976 Overlander was leaking on the inside, I tried the hose and it was not blocked. What I did find when I removed the inside plastic cover was that the leak was comming from the clamp that attached the copper tube to the plastic drain tube. It took some moving around, but I was able to tighten the clamp and my inside drip stopped.
__________________
"Abe" & Melissa Lincoln
1976 Overlander "Spirit"
2020 GMC Denali Duramax
Hensley Hitch
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06-21-2008, 12:58 PM
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#16
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3 Rivet Member
1990 25' Excella
Currently Looking...
Glenburn
, Maine
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 142
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While I like the chap who uses the weed trimmer and his drill as a possible solution, I didn't have one handy when I cleared my last plug. What I did have in the truck was a "fish tape" for conduit which is essentially really thick weed whacker line with a spring hook attached. I ran that up through from down below by hand and it did a great job.
__________________
wil
AIR 22828
TAC ME-3
Universal Address: 97XX5 QGG5Z
Longitude: -68.814136
Latitude: 44.894663
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06-21-2008, 01:34 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
1977 27' Overlander
1973 27' Overlander
1963 19' Globetrotter
Naples
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,259
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I hope all the people saying compressed air are blowing down from top,if not they are just blowing the slime back into the pan for it to plug another day.Dave
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06-21-2008, 05:12 PM
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#18
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Cyclist
2007 28' International CCD
Windermere
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 457
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1/2 second of hose spray up the drain tube.
__________________
2007 28' Int CCD.
2011 F 250 Big Honking Diesel
DTV 5lnb on a tripod.
Wilson wired repeater with YAG.
Two big screens
15dB Backfire WiFi antenna and WaveMagnum
Centramatics.
Hawkshead Tire Monitors.
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06-24-2008, 05:02 PM
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#19
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1 Rivet Member
1976 25' Tradewind
Fort White
, Florida
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 7
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A/C drain hose
My 1976 tradwind A/C drain hose is cracked inside the wall. With the a/c on water flows inside the the trailer . Dealer said they would have to take the walls apart to replace drain hose.
Question: Is it possible to run a drain hose outside the trailer, attached, to side to bottom? Anyone done this? I thought I saw this done some years ago.
Has anyone replaced their drain hose? and do you have to remove the wall panels inside?
Thanking all in advance,
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06-24-2008, 08:16 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2011 34' Classic
Westchester Cty.NY
, / Miami FL
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,122
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i wonder if a smaller hose could be fished inside the old one? it would not handle as must water but it might help.
is anyone a heart surgeon? lol
__________________
Ricky
2012 F150 Super Crew 5-1/2' bed Ecoboost 4x4 3.73 elec. lock diff. Propride hitch
give life. kidney & pancreas transplant 9/9/06
Ingrid-my unofficial '"World's Oldest Streamer" 1909-2008 R.I.P.
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