Leaky AC on new Flying Cloud

[extiger]

We had the same problem last weekend. The AC was fine until is was turned off and then water came down. I was outside by the wheel well drain when it was turned off and water shot out the tube.

We blew out the line before the weekend, we run the fan on high and even gradually moved the temp from 71 to 78 before shutting it off and still water came out. The nightime temp was 77 so not a significant temp difference.

We have 2 AC's and the problem was with the bedroom one, since we were on 30 AMP we ran the front during the day and BR at night.

I contacted Airstream and they said it must be freezing up because I don't have all the vents open. I am wondering if a larger pan can be installed?

[xrvr]

Running at 71 degrees could freeze it up. Jim

[Pepthedog]

I've been dealing with this on my 2008 Safari here in sunny Florida (that's spelled H-U-M-I-D). A small drip through the air filter onto the floor while it's running and a trickle outside while it's running. When it cuts off the water comes gushing out the outside drain at the tire.

Here's what I've learned. When the AC is running the fan tends to create a vacume that keeps the water in the pan. That explains the trickle outside. The pan is only fitted for Airstreams so probably not a perfect design. When the unit cuts off, and also the fan, it "releases" the water. There's your gush of water.

I noticed that if the fan gets too full it will overflow onto the roof. This is by design. My problem turned out to be the overflow holes up top were clogged, not the drain tube. The pan would fill up but drip into the inside of the trailer instead of out on the roof.

Normally it's such a small amount of overflow you never see it because it evaporates or goes to the gutters running the length of the trailer.

My fix was to remove the top cover including the black cover over the fans and pour a few gallons of water into the pan (which is partially visible). This cleared the overflow holes and also make a nice bubbling sound as it went down the tube.

So far so good, no more leak.

Before you go climbing up on the roof check the drain tube first since that's the most common problem with critters and gunk getting inside and the easiest to fix. A length of cable TV coax with the end cut off will fit snugly and clean it out if compressed air can't do the trick.

Lastly, the only time this seems to be a problem is in very humid and hot conditions when the AC runs for long periods. When it cycles on and off periodically the drain pan never has time to fill up.

[hansenk]

I recently resolved a 2 year battle with the AC on my 2010 FC. Here are a couple observations:

If you are like me, you spent more for your Airstream than your car yet never have AC problems with the car. In fact, we never have to think about it. That's the way the Dometic AC should work: worry and trouble free. I shouldn't have to set the vents a certain way, adjust the thermostat differently on humid days, or cycle the compressor. My expectation is that I should be able to turn it on, set the temp wherever I want, set the vents wherever I want, and let it run as long as I want, and have no leaks.
Dealers can't fix this problem because Dometic and Airstream say they are baffled by it.
Reproducing the problem is very difficult because atmospheric conditions play a major role in the recurrences.
The latest theory from Dometic is that water condenses on an exposed plate that has since been insulated on 2012 models.

Airstream was initially reluctant to address the problem, but I sent video directly to Dometic and Dometic immediately responded. Dometic gave instructions to the dealership and eventually shipped a new AC when the problem couldn't be fixed. The new AC works as expected; I turn it on and forget it. No leaks into the interior space.

Recommendations:

1. Video tape the leakage. Send it to Randy, national service rep at Airstream and have him contact Dometic.

2. Insist on a replacement unit.

3. Don't ignore the problem, it doesn't just go away.

[mpl]

I'm having a similar issue with the A/C in my 2010 Flying Cloud FB. It will run then occasionally blow hot air. When it cycles off I get the gush of water at the drain valve. What gets me is I see ( and hear) the units in other campers around me running just fine at a constant rate.
I also agree that we shouldn't have to go through a kabuki dance of setting to keep our ASs comfortable in hot/humid environments.

[Gene]

There's been a fairly constant number of posts on this thread and others about the late model Dometics in Airstreams leaking or not working properly. I wonder if other RV's are having problems with them too?

Gene

[AirEgger]

Based on the previous post, the 2012 units have a change incorporated that fixes this problem. I have a 2012 and have not had this issue (yet?). Just wondering if it's really fixed for 2012 and later?

AirEgger

[Ridgerunner3]

I had a new Dometic Penquin 15K heat pump installed on my 2002 Safari 25 at Jackson Center in early August. I have run it in very humid conditions. On hot humid days it will run for a number of hours to cool down the trailer after a day on the road. We have had many hours of operation in August / Sept and have not had any trouble with it spilling water inside the trailer.

I left the original 2002 drain pan in place based on the AS tech's advice. The tech installed a new Dometic roof gasket under the new heat pump. I also had them install the new style air distribution box (the plenum inside the trailer) with the heat pump.

So far the performance of the new heat pump has been great.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by AirEgger

Based on the previous post, the 2012 units have a change incorporated that fixes this problem. I have a 2012 and have not had this issue (yet?). Just wondering if it's really fixed for 2012 and later?

AirEgger

Airstream makes change during a model year and it is possible that early 2012's don't have the change and later ones do. A call to customer relations may help find out when it happened and what VIN has the fix so you can tell if you have one with it or not.

Gene

[mstephens]

I have a 2012 FC and the Dometic roof unit expels 4 oz. or so of water down through the interior plastic shroud whenever it shuts off from HP mode. This is usually at night, with outside temps of in the 40s with high humidity (coastal).

Since it doesn't leak while running any length of time, I do not think the drain is plugged. This discharge on shutoff pours out the moment the motor shuts down. It always discharges on the curb side of the shroud.

I am going to do the initial investigation on my own, because I haven't yet heard of any dealers having a solution to this. It's quite costly to run up and down to the dealer.

I like the idea of video taping it, because you know, you'd never get it to happen when at the dealer!

[AirEgger]

Gene, thanks for the suggestion to contact AS re 2012 cut-in point for ac leak fix. Will contact them on this and also check the cut-in point for the rear compartment rubber seal that supposedly fixed the leak in that area. I'll post the serial number info if I can get it.

AirEgger

[1civilengr]

We just encountered HP drainage issues on our first long (3 week) trip in our 2011 23' International. Water drips out of the unit as well as through the adjacent roof seam! Drippage (?) occurs from the heating mode, as well as the AC mode. We are very concerned about mold growth in the ceiling as a result of this leak/drip!

Our closest dealer (Safford in Northern VA) is 3 hours away, and was not particularly impressive when we bought the unit.

Am I better off contacting Airstream directly first on this problem, or will they not do anything until a dealer has looked at the unit?

Any advice is appreciated!

[Gene]

You can call customer relations and ask them—is it still under warranty? I assume you are talking about the roof seam inside next to the A/C. It could also be coming from the skylight which in years past was often installed very badly—they would screw the screws down too tight and crack the plastic.

Gene

[1civilengr]

Thanks for the reply! It still is under warranty (bought new in May). We haven't had any signs of leaks before now, and the vent is on the opposite side of the AC unit from where the ceiling is leaking (this unit doesn't have a skylight).
I think I will call up AS customer relations tomorrow and see what they have to say.

[hansenk]

Originally Posted by 1civilengr

We just encountered HP drainage issues on our first long (3 week) trip in our 2011 23' International. Water drips out of the unit as well as through the adjacent roof seam! Drippage (?) occurs from the heating mode, as well as the AC mode. We are very concerned about mold growth in the ceiling as a result of this leak/drip!

Our closest dealer (Safford in Northern VA) is 3 hours away, and was not particularly impressive when we bought the unit.

Am I better off contacting Airstream directly first on this problem, or will they not do anything until a dealer has looked at the unit?

Any advice is appreciated!

As you may have read, I've had a couple year experience with getting my AC leak resolved. Here's what I recommend:

1. Video tape the leak with your cell phone when it occurs.
2. Email the video to Airstream and to Dometic.
3. Contact them both and have them work out the solution.

This is a difficult problem to resolve because it's generally not reproducible at the dealer, it depends on specific atmospheric conditions not always present, and many Airstreams are not used regularly enough for owners to identify it as a chronic problem.

Dometic has the ultimate responsibility for resolving this and I think a company of its size has the engineering talent to correct the problem. My 2012 AC unit has not had the leaking issues so far. However, the new AC no longer drains exclusively down the drain tube so I get condensation runoff. In addition, the DIP switches were not set for the HP to operate and the thermostat no longer fits where the old one did. Unfortunately, I've learned it's less frustrating to lower my expectations than try to resolve these outstanding issues.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by hansenk

Dometic has the ultimate responsibility for resolving this and I think a company of its size has the engineering talent to correct the problem.

Airstream shares responsibility. They bought and installed the unit. They have an obligation to make sure the product works properly in their trailers. They may have made some changes for an Airstream installation as well.

These problems have occurred often enough in the past year or more. There should be a fix by now and every dealer should know it and be ready to fix it. If that hasn't happened, then Airstream is not doing their job.

I agree Dometic has the resources to find a fix, though Airstream may not. Nonetheless, between them they should have come up with something by now.

Gene

[Tater]

My 2011 continues to leak as recently as last week. I have tried everything suggested, fan on auto, fan on high, and it has leaked in all modes especially during the summer months when it is hot and humid here in Florida. I have contacted Airstream and they tell me they can't do anything unless Dometic authorizes it. Airstream says Dometic recommends all cooling vents be opened and the unit ran on high. A change of A/C units has to be authorized by Dometic. Airstream apparently does not assist the customer on these cases since Dometic carries the warranty. No bumper to bumper during warranty period on Airstreams in other words. I have sent two photos of the latest leak to Dometic and am waiting to hear from them. One of the big issues for those of us not close to dealers is that you spend a couple hundred bucks driving to a dealer and they can never replicate the problem. The trailer always has to be left and picked up later which means two round trips in a tow vehicle only to find out it didn't leak for them. The only thing I could say is if they will come to Daytona in July I can show them all the leak they ever want to see.

[KJRitchie]

Our one month old preowned 2008 Classic 25fb leaked on us last weekend. We only ran the AC a couple of hours on a weekend camping trip. It wasn't even that hot, lower 80s, in the afternoon. It was cycling on and off and I remember seeing a water patch by the street front tire. We were going to bed and the AC had not been running for a while as the evening cooled off fast and we heard water dripping. There was a puddle under the AC on the floor. I dropped the air distribution cover and peak up the largest hole in the front left side and I could see water lining the ceiling of the evaporator compartment. I can only see the upwind side of the evaporator. I could feel moisture along the top of the metal base that the air distribution box screws into. Is this upstream compartment getting cold and condensing the humidity. I can't see how this moisture is coming from the pan because its completely on the other side of the evaporator where there is no access from below.

Today I dropped the metal base to see if I could find anything wrong, wow the bolts were not very tight. Everything is dried up. I can see the bottom of the drain pan. Its narrow and deep and the tube comes out the the side but there is a lot of gray caulking over it. Looks like I need to get on the roof and remove the AC shroud. Will I be able to access the pan and clean it out and run water down the drain tube from up there?

I tried pushing weed eater line up the drain tube but at about 8 or 9 feet I couldn't push it through more. I have a compressor and will try to blow some low pressure air up to see if I can tell if there is an obstructions.

Here is the inside of the AC showing the drip pan at the bottom of the photo and the gray clumpy thing to the left is the drain hose. The output air box is at the top of the photo. Photo was taken looking towards the front of the trailer.

I live in Texas and if this AC continuously dumps water on the interior floor this is not going to work out well.

If the only recourse is to get a new version of this AC/Heat pump I guess I'll have to bite the bullet. Trouble is the Classic has the vinyl padded ceiling and the square box has made impressions in vinyl that may not be hidden by the newer oval distribution boxes.

Form what I've been reading Airstream has the ACs modified by Dometic for the drain pan. So you can only purchase these through an AS dealer?

Kelvin

[ROBERT CROSS]

Now THAT is a caulking mess...

.....or a modern "art" sculpture courtesy of the skilled artisan culkers at JC.

I see an Angel......you?

Bob

[cwf]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

Now THAT is a caulking mess...

.....or a modern "art" sculpture courtesy of the skilled artisan culkers at JC.

I see an Angel......you?

Bob

Bwwwaaaahahaha. Thanks. Bob!