How long do the AC units last?

[jim6090]

I have had 3 failures on our 2017 30ft Flying cloud. Not a Dometic fan. hahah

[BayouBiker]

over the years I have done several investigations on industrial and commercial A/C end of life studies. Some if it translates to the smaller residential and Rv units.

Evaporator leaks are very common end of life failure. These are reduced significantly with frequent operation. Long downtime tends to accumulate contaminates on the coils accelerating corrosion and failure.

For small systems frequent starts accelerates start and run capacitor failure, contactor failure and precision theral resistor failure. These are the most common causes of A/C service for residential and RV systems.

Frequent starts with short run times also accelerate compressor and fan motor failure.

So the summary: It's a toss-up though catastrophic failure is reduced with frequent use.

[guskmg]

!5 seasons and counting with EasyStart's SoftStars on both. Regular use probably helps like the soft Starts. They also provide conditioned line voltage like an inverter generator.
guskmg

[cwf]

Best things you can do...
1- make sure your power is GOOD
2- Monitor POWER use
3- EasyStart

There are lots of possible 'failure' points on the ACs. Typical is the start/run Capacitor which the EasyStart controls... the EasyStart gradually starts the COMPRESSOR and ensures there is a 'delay' in starting the compressor so you don't need a 'hot start' kit... Dometic would refuse warranty if the EasyStart was on their AC... not any more.. in fact I hear Mothership is installing the EasyStart now...

[mikesSE]

My ‘07 Penguin lasted 11 years.Since then,I’m now on my third since the first one.Dometics is not the unit now,that it once was.The problem is it was the only one I could find that offered a drain through the body,instead of the other style of letting the condensate water run random across the roof.

[Bauerg]

If your trailer is parked and you have plug in available, go to a big box store and purchase one of the portable air conditioners that are on wheels. I saw a post where a person took the vent pipe and attached it to the upper vent to allow it to vent. Run that air conditioner to maintain the temp and humidity you want and don't put stress or hours on the unit in your ceiling. Cost to replace the rolling unit would be less than the installed unit.

[mrhulse]

I asked the same question last week on the FB group. I turned off the AC and placed a portable dehumidifier in our 2019 FC25. It's amazing how much water is collecting in it and I feel like it's better just having the drier air in there. We live on the Potomac River in VA and it's hot and humid out there!

[Sojourner69]

The original Dometic in my 1969 (51 years!) is still running and cooling. Although part of its life was in Arizona and it was run heavily, it's seldom run now since we're usually on 12 volts.
My experience with refrigeration for laboratories is that old compressors (<1980's) were domestically manufactured and were more robust. Later compressors accused of being manufactured in China had a much shorter lifetime. I think it's the compressor life that determines the life of an AC unit.

[ChuckFeldt]

My a/c lasted 3.5 years. Death was slow. Didn’t cool as well got worse until noticeable. Likely caused by low voltage in campgrounds. Death was preceded by melted power cord plugs. A/C Replaced under extended warranty.

[SailAS]

For those of you using dehumidifiers in your AS, please be cautious. I live in Houston which is the Air Conditioned capital of the world due to the humidity.

I placed a dehumidifier in my Kong & Halverson yacht and ran it on it's mid setting. Yes,, it pulled a lot of humidity out of the air. In fact it pulled so much out of the boat that cracks began to appear in wood and coverings all over the boat!!!!!

Many construction materials have natural moisture in them and it is needed to maintain the stability of the construction. Pull too much moisture out and things shrink (not always a good thing). Likewise get too much moisture can be just as bad (swelling, mildew, etc.

I store my AS at a local Storage yard and have no power at the site so do NOT run the AC or use a dehumidifier. I do keep good circulation within the trailer ( even under the cushions ) to address mildew etc but the internal temps will get into the 90's (with probably 80% humidity on occasion.

It is a 2007 Safari 25FB that I have owned for over 12 years and so far, I've not had a problem with the Dometic AC, internal temps, humidity ( internal) ,etc. I did have to replace the sub floor on the rear due to the crappy design the mothership used on the rear bumper storage locker and the moisture in that sub-floor was way, way high according to my Moisture meter. but that was from "outside"......

My suggestion is a lot of moving air and open vents.

Cheers, D

[Margi]

We run a dehumidifier and a small box fan with all the cabinets and closet doors open on our '73 28'er. The A/C is original and is very strong, but just don't like to run it 24/7. Keeping any mold or mildew in check and keeping the original plastics and such in good shape is our goal. We also put the heat shields in all the windows and I made insulated drapes. It's worked for 47 years-27 of them in Texas.

[peterb123]

Recently replaced both the 13.5K and 15K BTU dometics in my 2015 AS 28. Will not replace with Dometics if they fail in a few years. No support from Dometic or AS as they were 3 years old at the time

[WhereStream]

Dang, these older AC units have some long lives!

If not Dometic, what other options are there?

My Dometic did not last two years.

[ROBERT CROSS]

17 Seasons...infrequent need, but run it once in a while for exercise.

Yearly inspections with dauber nest expulsion.
Like others...the OEM shroud deteriorated in 3 seasons and was replaced.

Still doing well.
WNY heat wave recently....92*- 79*.
Thermostat set @ 75* Fan medium.
I do not use the 'auto' setting.

Bob
🇺🇸

[egraham]

My units are 5 years old and now out of warranty.
Will adding Easy Starts assure they last longer?

[rmkrum]

Originally Posted by egraham

My units are 5 years old and now out of warranty.
Will adding Easy Starts assure they last longer?

Maybe. My crystal ball has bad batteries, so i can only suggest an answer.

Because of less stress on startup and protection from over current or under voltage while running, the compressor may last longer.

The MicroAir EasyStart won’t hurt it, that’s for sure.