anyone ever mess with Freon?

Chris_and_Sarah

I'm outside Houston right now and absolutely miserable.  The heat index today was 115º, and my Frigidaire isn't blowing cold air.  Here's what I know:

1. The exterior vent is blowing HOT air outside, and the air coming into the tab is *mildly* cool, but nowhere near 20º cooler than the outside air.
2. The compressor is ON.  At night I hear it kick off for a few minutes at a time.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if it just needed some more freon -- we spent probably 2 months camping last summer and the unit was running all the time.  It hasn't really run since last year because we've been up North until now.  But last year we did hot weather camping, and I know how it's supposed to feel in here...it's definitely not working properly.

I'm tempted to replace it, and also tempted to try to figure out the whole freon thing, but it looks like it might be a little more complicated than I thought.  Anyone ever attempt adding freon themselves, or know if it's easy to get a pro to do it?

Nomad

How humid is it? Someone here said it can't start cooling until it first removes the humidty. That's the way all A/C works I guess.
Last time I was in Houston you could cut the humidty with a knife.

Chris_and_Sarah

It's humid for sure, but that's why I added the reference to last summer, which was just as humid -- the difference in performance is night and day.  This is WAY more that just typical underpowered a/c in hot weather stuff.

Nomad

Last time I was in Walmart they had a big display of A/C rechargers for cars - Don't know if they'd work or if there's something similar for window A/C.
Personally I'd head to a heating / air conditioning shop and have them check it.

Ramrod

Danby a/c cannot keep up with the heat either during the day. 

Chris_and_Sarah

I've been researching this for the last hour as my ambient temp creeps back down toward the right side of 80º.

The more I learn the less I want to attempt this.  I think I'll just call a shop and see what they say, if a repair attempt is even worth it versus a full replacement.

Nomad

Kind of surprised you all camp in that kind of heat/humidity - In Minnesota, I'd never attemp a winter of -10 (or below) without supplemental heating and maybe not even then.

Chris_and_Sarah

the difference is that the consequences of faulty equipment in heat are not death

Nomad

You can die from cold or heat - Not sure the extremes are camping compatible.

Ratkity

@Chris_and_Sarah, freon isn't used anymore. The coolant is usually R34, but it's usually marked on the outside of the unit or through the manufacturer. If the compressor is clicking on and off, then make sure the auxiliary fan is on - the compressor is either overheating or freezing over. I'd look at air flow before thinking it doesn't have enough coolant. If you are in a place where you can't get to an RV place, try to find a Walmart or somewhere similar and get a small fan and tie it over the outside vent to blow air outwards. Walmart sells battery operated fans (O2 fans) that run on 2x D batteries. Just a temporary Redneck solution to see if it helps you while on the road. Good luck!!

ChanW

You can make the AC unit run more effectively by attaching some baffles on the outside grill to redirect the warm exhaust air away from the cool intake air. They tend to mix together because of the way the unit is installed in the Tab.

If the prevailing breeze happens to be blowing against that side of the Tab, it makes it worse, I think.

Nomad

ChanW - There was a pic of where someone built a baffle that directed the hot air out and up so it wouldn't mix - any recollection of that - have searched but no findy.

Photomom

Where is the cool air intake? Isn't that the black thing on top?

Nomad

Photomom - That's the aux air intake - According to an old, old post I can't seem to find, hot air is exhausted from the back center of the unit and fresh air is taken in on the back sides - both thru the external vent. The only reason I remember it is because I thought I'd build the baffle that was shown at some point but have never been in hot weather long enough to mess with it.

Chris_and_Sarah

I'm sure building a baffle could help make things more efficient, but I think I need to address the problem directly first.   

manny

I, don't think you have a Freon problem,,   If you take to a shop have do a ampage draw test first.  if it is drawing to high of amps...  U have a clogged condenser or bad compressor...  low amp draw..  possible leak in system..low charge...   temp diff.  is only 20 to 30 deg.. ..no matter how good unit is performing...   good luck!!    Manny...  38 yrs. in appl. repair..   2017 CS-S Max...

Tabaz

Here are some photos that may help.  Also, don't forget to check the air filter screen to insure it's clean.

http://tab-rv.vanillaforums.com/discussion/2709/how-to-remove-the-air-conditioner

ChanW

@PXLated, no I can't tell you where to look. I may have posted some pictures back in the day, but darned if I can remember when or where. It may have been on the Yahoo group.

PXL has it right though, the heat is blown out the center of the vent, while the cooler air is drawn in the sides of the vent (this functions this way because the cool air intakes, on a window AC unit, are on the sides of the unit - - - pretty simple).

The baffles I made are of corrugated plastic sign material, and fit between the fins in the vent grill (a bit of fine knife-work)...

BTW, Chris_and_Sarah, it made a great difference in whether or not the AC unit worked at all.

JandJ92010

You must be licensed in order to handle most types of refrigerants, R-134A in autos, anyone can use. Older A/C's used R-22, new ones use R-410. Leave the charging of an A/C unit to the professionals.

JandJ92010

JandJ92010 said:

You must be licensed in order to handle most types of refrigerants, R-134A in autos, anyone can use. Older A/C's used R-22, new ones use R-410. Leave the charging of an A/C unit to the professionals.

And an other thing, SOME refrigerants are compatible with others, SOME are not, due to their chemical composition and the oil type that is blended in with the gas. Put the wrong two together and you'll have a real mess to contend with. DO NOT play with chemicals.

Ratkity

JandJ92010 said:

JandJ92010 said:

You must be licensed in order to handle most types of refrigerants, R-134A in autos, anyone can use. Older A/C's used R-22, new ones use R-410. Leave the charging of an A/C unit to the professionals.

And an other thing, SOME refrigerants are compatible with others, SOME are not, due to their chemical composition and the oil type that is blended in with the gas. Put the wrong two together and you'll have a real mess to contend with. DO NOT play with chemicals.

Awwwww, no playing with my chemistry set?? I promise I won't melt sulfur in the house again and make nickle impressions with liquid sulfur (Mom about killed me when she got home, btw).

Nomad

At least you din't blow the house up ;-)

Ratkity

PXLated said:

At least you din't blow the house up ;-)

It wasn't for the lack of trying!!

ChanW

Heh! And I thought rubbing mercury onto pennies was fun... Might 'splain a few things...

jkjenn

@Chris_and_Sarah freon might not be your issue. I was having the same issue in Utah. Once outside temperatures dipped to the lower 90's the a/c would start cooling again. Basically, my a/c would blow cool air after dark until mid to late morning and then it was just warm air.

JandJ92010

Like I said before, at higher ambient temps., these 5K units just can't keep up.

RollingLagrima

103 outside. 73 inside. 0939 hours.  July, Lake Havasu, AZ.  My 5000 btu is fine as long as I limit the amount of "coming and going" from the T@B and keep the shades closed.

RollingLagrima

^^^factory, non-digital, Frigidaire-2016.

jkjenn

RollingLagrima said:

103 outside. 73 inside. 0939 hours.  July, Lake Havasu, AZ.  My 5000 btu is fine as long as I limit the amount of "coming and going" from the T@B and keep the shades closed.

Mine was in 100% exposed sun. Mine was not a matter of coming and going as I had been gone for hours and it was hot. Do you have the a/c exhaust fan?

Verna

@jkjenn, yes, she does. She had the fan in her Silver Shadow, so she is accustomed to using it. 

Jenn, the fan makes a world of difference here in the Midwest, and in 98* with 90% humidity in Kansas. 

Chris_and_Sarah

As I mentioned a couple of times already, T@b camping in hot weather is nothing new to me.

If this was the first time, perhaps I could accept that maybe the A/C just can't keep up.  However last summer I was just fine, similar to
@RollingLagrima.  This summer there's no cold air.  

Taking the A/C to get serviced to see what they say.