AC in the winter

[HIYOSIL]

Just went to check on my camper and the AC units were running. It’s 21 out and units have snow on them. I have thermostats set to cool to 80 because it was hot here a week ago. The new Austin TX. I switched thermostats to Auto. But they don’t heat right? I can only heat with propane right? Sorry I am a newbie

[Melucy2airs]

Turn mode to off on the Thermostat screen then the OFF black lever at the bottom if you have a Dometic. I have a 2008 AS International.

Hope this helps.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by rlang0531

Just went to check on my camper and the AC units were running. It’s 21 out and units have snow on them. I have thermostats set to cool to 80 because it was hot here a week ago. The new Austin TX. I switched thermostats to Auto. But they don’t heat right? I can only heat with propane right? Sorry I am a newbie

The AC may be equipped with a Heat Pump. It takes the heat,(exhaust) that the AC removes and uses it too warm the trailer.
They work fairly well down to about 40*F.
Make sure the thermostat is not set on 'heat pump'.
If you haven't winterized. Leave the furnace on with all lower cabinets open, ck often, open the low point water drains & fresh water & hot water tanks. Use the water pump to empty the lines, add 3gal RV antifreeze the the FW tank and pump ti through the system.


Bob
🇺🇸

[HIYOSIL]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

The AC may be equipped with a Heat Pump. It takes the heat,(exhaust) that the AC removes and uses it too warm the trailer.

They work fairly well down to about 40*F.

Make sure the thermostat is not set on 'heat pump'.

If you haven't winterized. Leave the furnace on with all lower cabinets open, ck often, open the low point water drains & fresh water & hot water tanks. Use the water pump to empty the lines, add 3gal RV antifreeze the the FW tank and pump ti through the system.





Bob

[emoji631]

Thanks! What should thermostat be set to? I think it only has cold or auto.
I kinda winterized. Drained everything and put rv antifreeze everywhere except the water tank. Didn’t want to contaminate my water supply.

[BayouBiker]

And to add more to Bob's explanation, there seems to be a bug or two in the Dometic firmware. Several people have reported the behavior you are describing. It is likely stuck in deice mode but due to the software bug does not display that it is in deice.

So as Bob said, down south where it is humid, avoid Heat Pump mode below 40 (really below 45 is better for the Deep South) specifically stay 12 degrees above the dew point when the temperature is less than 45 F and don't go below 25 at all.

Now in addition, when it is less than 45, don't use Auto. It is supposed to switch to furnace when in auto but instead the bug kicks in on many units and does what you describe.

So when below 45, switch it to furnace.

For avoiding freeze if you didn't blow out the pipes, make sure all the valves are open and set the furnace to the same amount above freezing than you are expecting it to drop below. So 22 F? Set it to 42 etc.