It’s crucial to take extra precautions with your most priceless things, like the air conditioning unit in a caravan. Unwanted substances may enter the air through a clogged air conditioner if it isn’t frequently maintained. If they are not cleaned frequently, they may get so blocked that air cannot pass through them. The ideal situation is for you to accumulate debris in the air ducts. It may worsen your health conditions, such as asthma or allergy symptoms, or it may result in an air conditioner unit failure.
The good news is that maintaining and cleaning your caravan’s air conditioner can be done easily. It is worth it for the luxury of your caravan aircon.
How frequently should I check the air conditioner in my caravan?
Caravan air conditioners require deep cleaning approximately every few years. Fresh outside air can carry dust, smog and allergens along with it. Even mountain air can still accumulate pollen and dust particles. The coils of condenser or evaporator are encased in this deep clean. They accumulate dirt over time no matter how long you spend looking at the roof shroud for cracks and gaps. You should also clean your AC filters once a month.
Many caravan air conditioners come with serviceable filters that can be accessed via the plenum or internal air box. To remove filters, refer to the owner’s manual. This is not a difficult task for most models. The typical cleaning is similar to washing your air conditioner’s filters. We will not go into detail about deep cleaning.
Safety measures
Before you begin to clean the caravan’s air conditioner make sure that it is off. It is a good idea to unplug your caravan’s air conditioner from its power source. Then, seal the AC vents in the caravan’s inner with a plastic sheet. Next, examine the roof strength of your caravan. You will be climbing up onto the roof in order to access the condenser or evaporator coils. Make sure it can withstand your weight. To make a platform for your weight, you can use a plank or plywood.
Cleaning the coils
First, remove the protective cover that covers the caravan’s air conditioner unit. You will now see the condenser and evaporator coils clearly to your naked eye. This will allow you to see how much dirt and debris has accumulated. To clean the coils, you can either use an AC coil cleaning solution or regular household cleaners. Spray the solution generously on the coils and allow it to sit for a while.
The coils should be hosed off with water after about 15-20 minutes. To avoid damaging any wiring or electrical attachments, you should be careful. To protect them, cover them with plastic sheets or bags.
After you have finished hosing up the debris, use a wet/dry shop vacuum to absorb any moisture remaining on the condenser or evaporator coils. To dry the entire area, you can use a blower or fan. You can also dry it in the sun for several hours before putting on a protective shroud.
Cleaning fan motor
Sometimes, your caravan air conditioner fan may need some maintenance and cleaning. It’s pretty straightforward. Take off the protective shroud to inspect the fan blades. If the fan blades appear to have accumulated a lot of dirt, you should clean them using the same cleaning solution as before. Use a dry shop-vac or blower to dry the blades. Use a small amount of machine oil to smoothen the sleeves or bearings of the fan motor. You are done!
An air conditioner unit that is clean and well maintained will help keep your caravan’s interior comfortable during your summer camping trips. Regular maintenance and servicing of air conditioners will make them last longer. It is important to have your air conditioner serviced annually if you are frequently travelling in dusty areas or camping under trees. If you don’t have the time or desire to clean your air con every 2-3 years, it is worth doing so. If your van was purchased second-hand, the air conditioner may not be in its best condition.
Take a day off from your busy schedule to clean out your caravan AC. This will make it last longer.