Heating and cooling systems are one of the main reasons campers upgrade to RVing from tent camping. They’re wonderful when they work, but what happens if you return after an outing and find your RV AC dripping water inside?
A towel to absorb the water or a bucket under the drip are temporary solutions. But you’ll need to troubleshoot this common RV issue to prevent it from continuing. This tutorial investigates why an RV AC drips water and helps you prevent it from happening.
Why Does My RV AC Drip Water Inside?
Ignoring a dripping RV AC poses a considerable risk of electrical damage or water damage to ceilings, floors, furniture, and personal property. Electrical and water-related issues can be dangerous and expensive to repair. So, address RV AC leaks as soon as possible.
However, dripping water from an AC is typically a symptom of a larger issue. Let’s identify some common reasons why an RV AC is leaking water inside:
Clogged or Dirty AC Filter
Regular inspection and cleaning of your air conditioner’s filter is arguably the most important DIY maintenance task you can complete for your RV’s cooling system. Most RVers inspect and clean their AC air filter(s) every 3-4 months. To avoid losing track, you can also make it part of your post-trip RV cleaning routine.
When an air conditioner filter is too dirty, airflow will be restricted. That lack of airflow, often combined with dirt buildup, reduces heat transfer from the air into the coils. This causes them to get too cold, and any humidity in the air condenses and freezes on the coils. This is especially true when the AC has been running for a prolonged period. However, when the AC unit cycles or you turn it off, the coils will begin to thaw, and the moisture frozen on them will drip inside your RV.
To avoid this issue, inspect and clean your air conditioner’s filter quarterly. If your unit uses a more traditional, residential-style air filter, keep a stock of replacement air filters handy for RV air conditioner maintenance.
Impacted Drain Pan or Line
Most RV air conditioners work by pumping heat out of your RV and simultaneously lowering the humidity level. When that moisture is pulled from the interior air, it often collects in the air conditioner’s condensation drain pan, in which rests the evaporator coil.
With the majority of AC designs, the drain pan has a small hole that allows water to run out onto the roof, where it will then run off one of the sides. This is normal for a camper with AC. That’s why you’ll often see an RV AC dripping water outside when running.
However, if that drain pan is clogged or damaged, or if you’ve improperly sealed your air conditioner with a sealant not recommended by the manufacturer, moisture may not be draining as designed. When this happens, the drain pan can overflow, and the water will naturally find another place to drain: inside your RV.
To check this issue, you must remove your air conditioner shroud and inspect the drain pan. If the drain hole is simply clogged, removing dirt and debris should remedy your issue. If the drain pan is damaged and that damage prevents proper draining, you’ll need to replace it.
Finally, if you’ve resealed around your air conditioner and that sealant prevents proper drainage, you’ll need to remove the sealant impacting drainage and consult your manufacturer on the best sealant to use on your RV roof.
Improper Installation
Your RV AC could also leak inside because it wasn’t installed or secured correctly. RV air conditioners have an exterior gasket that must be compressed to the manufacturer’s recommendation. Failure to tighten the unit’s lag bolts to the recommended torque setting can allow water to leak into your RV.
That recommended torque setting is important because overtightening those lag bolts can also be an issue, causing damage to the exterior gasket and allowing water to drip inside. An exterior AC gasket also doesn’t last forever. It must be replaced when it has lost its elasticity.
Beyond the compression of the air conditioner gasket, the ceiling assembly must be properly secured to the exterior part of the roof-mounted air conditioner. The shroud must be secured correctly and free of any cracks or holes allowing water in. The ceiling assembly must be properly installed to the ceiling and fully sealed with foam and foil tape to keep cool air and warm air from mixing, which leads to overcooling, condensation, and icing.
To evaluate potential installation issues that could be causing RV AC leaks inside, you can visually inspect the shroud and the exterior gasket for cracks or damage. You can also contact the AC manufacturer for their recommended lag bolt torque setting and check that after removing the ceiling assembly panel inside your RV.
This tutorial (and accompanying video) has excellent information about disassembling an RV air conditioner to check these components and/or perform an aftermarket upgrade.
Broken Pump
Many air conditioners for RV use are equipped with a pump that moves water from the condenser unit to the condensation drain pan. If this pump fails, the air conditioner won’t drain properly, water will build up, and the drain pan will overflow and leak water inside your RV.
In most cases, the suspicious sign of a broken pump is an audible change to the air conditioner’s noise output when operating. Listen to your air conditioner when the fan is running versus when the RV AC compressor cycles on. If your air conditioner doesn’t sound normal during operation, it’s a good sign that it’s time to have a trained technician inspect it.
Is It Time to Service Your RV AC?
In addition to these issues, your air conditioner could leak inside due to a damaged coil or faulty air handler. These are issues best left to a trained RV technician.
If none of these tips solve your RV AC leak, it’s time to contact a service center to schedule an AC diagnostic. Trained technicians can quickly test and troubleshoot RV AC issues to identify the cause of a leak. They can also perform routine RV AC maintenance and alert you to upcoming services to schedule in the near future.
Of course, you can also schedule an RV service appointment if you’re uncomfortable performing any of these troubleshooting checks at home!
If a technician informs you that your RV AC needs to be replaced, use this guide to choosing an RV air conditioner to find the right replacement.
Use these additional resources to keep your camper’s interior climate at your ideal temperature and humidity level:
- Do You Need an RV Air Conditioner Soft Start?
- Can The RV Airflow System Improve AC Efficiency?
- What Is The Best Dehumidifier for Your Camper?
Have you experienced your RV AC dripping water inside due to another reason? Tell us about your experience and how you fixed the issue.
