Cleaning Motorhome Roof and Air Con Condensers Query

[DDJC]

Over the summer, we found ourselves in the south west corner of France near Perpignan. The temps one night were hot enough to make us put on the air con (Truma Aventa Comfort). After about half an hour water was trickling – not just dripping – from the underside of the inner housing. Did some digging and it seems that our condensers must be blocked up with gunk, and that they should be cleaned.

Great, but the manual showed a grainy picture of roughly where they are, not what they look like or how to clean them.

Problem is that they were on the roof. Having fallen off the MH roof trying to clean it a couple of years ago, and sustaining broken ribs, I don't do ladders any more.

Our MH is parked alongside the house and as we go upstairs, I shudder at how filthy the roof is, and how much damage we are likely doing to the seals and surface, by not cleaning. The solar panel is in need of a clean too.

I have just bought a work platform that should be tall enough for me to safely get up there and have access to the roof, aircon unit and solar panel.

So, I have a couple of questions for the experts out there.

1. Where are the condensers on the Aventa Comfort and what do they look like and how best to clean them?

2. What is the best stuff to use to clean the roof, bearing in mind that it has only even been cleaned properly twice from new. I have a power washer, brushes, sponges, old toothbrushes, mops, rotary sander, angle grinder, etc, what should I be using? Wax afterwards?

3. Same again for the solar panel. Is a sponging with car shampoo followed by a rinse, all that is needed?

Many thanks in advance

 

[Figaro]

My Dometic air con drips permanently when in use and is normal.
I assume your unit will operate in a similar way ?

On mine the workings are accessed by removing the top cover to give access to the condenser, evaporator and condenser.
They do collect a few leaves in there.

 

[DDJC]

My Dometic air con drips permanently when in use and is normal.
I assume your unit will operate in a similar way ?

On mine the workings are accessed by removing the top cover to give access to the condenser, evaporator and condenser.
They do collect a few leaves in there.

I wish it was just a drip! This was a flow! A few days later in the Dordogne, it was 40deg, so we just laid some towels down and lived with the trickle.

I have no idea whether the cover needs to come off, or how to do it. I just know that it is very gunked up around the edges of the housing

 

[Figaro]

Where was the trickle of water ?
It should be onto the roof and drain off from there depending on which corner of the van is lowest
Shouldn't be any need for towels.

 

[Soycd]

We have had a number of Dometic aircon units and on occasion they have dripped. Keeping the doors closed during the day with the aircon on low seems to help as moist air can’t get in. The other thing to check is the seal around the aircon unit. As you know the unit does take moisture out of the air and that water has to go somewhere. If you are on a perfectly flat area it can pool around the unit and maybe if the seal is not 100% could seep in? I’ve often cleaned the internal filters but never taken the cover of on the outside, but do clear leaves etc away from the outlets. On our latest unit we did not have any problems. Hoping the Truma unit on new van does not drip as it’s above the bed! In terms of cleaning I’d be cautious of getting on the roof as the extra weight could interfere with the seals around the aircon unit. If the unit is a retrofit maybe ask the fitter for some advice? Like domestic aircon they do need servicing at intervals.

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[Soycd]

Other thing is, on a perfectly flat site the water pooling on the roof could just get back into the unit? I always try to park on a slight slope so the water runs of rather than collecting in one place.

 

[DDJC]

Where was the trickle of water ?
It should be onto the roof and drain off from there depending on which corner of the van is lowest
Shouldn't be any need for towels.

Ah! I wasn't being clear!
The trickle of water was INSIDE!!!

 

[DDJC]

We have had a number of Dometic aircon units and on occasion they have dripped. Keeping the doors closed during the day with the aircon on low seems to help as moist air can’t get in. The other thing to check is the seal around the aircon unit. As you know the unit does take moisture out of the air and that water has to go somewhere. If you are on a perfectly flat area it can pool around the unit and maybe if the seal is not 100% could seep in? I’ve often cleaned the internal filters but never taken the cover of on the outside, but do clear leaves etc away from the outlets. On our latest unit we did not have any problems. Hoping the Truma unit on new van does not drip as it’s above the bed! In terms of cleaning I’d be cautious of getting on the roof as the extra weight could interfere with the seals around the aircon unit. If the unit is a retrofit maybe ask the fitter for some advice? Like domestic aircon they do need servicing at intervals.

I am not going on the roof!
I have bought a work platform with a platform height of 2.75m. Should easily be enough for me to lean in and clean any buildup for the outer housing. But what does it look like? The manual is next to useless.
And what to clean it with?

 

[Soycd]

I am not going on the roof!
I have bought a work platform with a platform height of 2.75m. Should easily be enough for me to lean in and clean any buildup for the outer housing. But what does it look like? The manual is next to useless.
And what to clean it with?

Can't help you there as not got the van with the Truma yet! I've just done a google and it seems that around the rim of the roof unit is where the condensation gets out. Could be that these are blocked? The diagrams below may help (or not) but might give you an idea of where you need to check for gunk and clean them? Will be interested to hear how you get on! I'd be vary wary of blasting it with a high pressure hose though!

Also this article although old addresses the same issue.

Truma Aventa Air Conditioning Poured Water Into Caravan!

This has turned out to be a real turkey of a piece of equipment, but I am very surprised to find almost no mention of problems with Truma air conditioning on the internet. So far, we have had three holidays, and the thing has failed one way on another on all three. First off it wouldn't cool at a...

www.caravantalk.co.uk

 

[DDJC]

Can't help you there as not got the van with the Truma yet! I've just done a google and it seems that around the rim of the roof unit is where the condensation gets out. Could be that these are blocked? The diagrams below may help (or not) but might give you an idea of where you need to check for gunk and clean them? Will be interested to hear how you get on! I'd be vary wary of blasting it with a high pressure hose though!

View attachment 809117View attachment 809118
Also this article although old addresses the same issue.

Truma Aventa Air Conditioning Poured Water Into Caravan!

This has turned out to be a real turkey of a piece of equipment, but I am very surprised to find almost no mention of problems with Truma air conditioning on the internet. So far, we have had three holidays, and the thing has failed one way on another on all three. First off it wouldn't cool at a...

www.caravantalk.co.uk

Your pictures are better than the pics in the manual I received!!

Unless someone says otherwise, I am going to go at it with a soft brush for loose debris, then a toothbrush & detergent under the rim of the housing. If I can do it without breaking either me or the bus, I'll take some pics - probably before, during and after!

Not a high pressure hose. Tried it once on the sides, and even though I was careful around the fridge grills, it did something to my 12v electrics.