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Last Updated on August 23, 2024 by Paul Clayton
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RV Air Conditioning Troubleshooting Guide
Your RV’s AC unit is one of its key components, especially if you are traveling in the summer. Unfortunately, accidents happen, and you may one day discover that your AC refuses to work.
The RV Air Conditioning Troubleshooting Guide is an indispensable tool for any RV owner. It provides a comprehensive walkthrough of common issues that may arise with your RV’s air conditioning system, along with potential solutions.
The guide details how to identify problems, from minor malfunctions to major breakdowns, and provides practical advice on addressing them. It covers many issues, from inadequate cooling and unusual noises to water leaks and thermostat issues.
This guide aims to empower RV owners with the knowledge to troubleshoot their air conditioning system and ensure a comfortable journey.
To help you discover the root of the problem, we will now give you some tips on RV air conditioning troubleshooting. With them, you should be able to quickly find out what’s wrong with your AC!
What are common issues with RV AC units?
The common issues with RV AC units can range from minor to complex. One common 
problem is inadequate cooling, possibly due to a low refrigerant level, dirty coils, or a faulty thermostat. Another issue is strange noises coming from the unit.
This could be an indication of a malfunctioning fan motor or compressor. Yet another common issue is water leaks, possibly due to a blocked drain pipe or a damaged condensation pan. Lastly, electrical issues such as blown fuses or circuit breaker trips are common problems with RV AC units.
Diagnosing and addressing these issues promptly is critical to prevent further damage and ensure optimal performance.
How do you reset an RV air conditioner?
Resetting an RV air conditioner involves a few simple steps. First, turn off the unit and unplug it from its power source. Wait for about 10 minutes to allow the system to reset.
Once the time has passed, plug the air conditioner back into the power source and turn it on. If the unit is functioning correctly, it should reset itself. If you continue to experience issues, consult your user manual or contact a professional service team.
This is an essential guide on “How do you reset an RV air conditioner?” but remember that each model may have different procedures and safety measures.
How to determine if your AC unit has gone bad
First of all, you need to determine whether your whole AC unit has gone wrong or not. If this is the case, your only option is to replace it with a new AC. But if some specific components malfunction, you’d need to replace them to get your RV’s AC working.
To determine what is wrong with your AC, you must troubleshoot it. Here’s the step-by-step process of how to do it.
Check the AC’s Power
If your AC isn’t reacting when you try to switch it on, you must check if it gets power. First, look at your 12V panel and check the condition of the fuse and whether the breaker has tripped.
If you run a thermostat with your AC unit, check it also. Thermostats run on 12V, so if your thermostat doesn’t work, then it is likely that the 12V power is terrible. And that’s another issue that needs resolving.
Another thing that might have happened is that the fuse or the breaker shut off. This may occur if the power supply of the camping grounds is too weak to provide your AC unit with power.
Back then, many campgrounds had 15A power poles, sometimes too weak to provide sufficient power for AC units. Nowadays, campgrounds usually provide 50A service for modern AC systems, so lack of power shouldn’t be a problem.
If your power delivery is all okay, it’s time to test the AC itself. But if there are any problems with your power source, you will need to resolve them first.
Check the capacitors
If the AC unit’s fan or compressor doesn’t start, the starting capacitor may be at fault. A lousy capacitor has several symptoms:
- The AC unit hums and tries to start.
- The AC unit runs for a few minutes, and then the breaker trips.
- The unit’s fan won’t start without a push.
- The AC unit blows only hot air because its compressor is off.
The starting capacitor stores electricity to provide the fan motor and the 
compressor with the necessary power at startup. If the capacitor has gone wrong, then it won’t be able to give the AC’s components that initial power boost.
The capacitor looks like a small battery, a button, or a flask. Some units come with just one capacitor, while others have several capacitors, one per each component.
You can test the capacitor with a multimeter. If the capacitor is correct, it will show a random value. If you keep the probes in place, this value will slowly decrease.
If the capacitor has gone wrong, you should be able to replace it quickly. You need to get a capacitor with the same voltage and model number and install it instead of the old one.
Before removing the old capacitor, memorize how its wires are installed. Don’t touch the terminals of the capacitor with bare hands.
In addition, before throwing the bad capacitor away, drain its charge. You can do this by connecting its terminals with a screwdriver that has an insulated handle.
Check the thermostat
If your thermostat is wrong, the AC unit won’t turn on. If your thermostat is wall-mounted, you can check its voltage with a multimeter.
If the AC unit turns on only when you touch the thermostat’s wires to each other, then the thermostat is broken. But if the thermostat and your capacitors are working, then the control board of the AC unit may be wrong.
Thermostats are easy to replace, so you shouldn’t have problems with them. As for the control board, you’ll most likely need professional help to get it working.
Check the Fan/Compressor
If everything has been alright with the AC unit’s power and the thermostat, the problem may lie in the unit’s fan or the compressor.
The fan may be wrong if the AC doesn’t blow air or only at certain speeds. If the AC blows air but is warm, the compressor may have gone wrong.
A working compressor should turn on audibly and feel warm to the touch. If the compressor doesn’t work, replacing it with a new one is more accessible.
As for the fan, it may be working funny for several reasons. Maybe you’ll get it working by just cleaning or oiling its motor. If this doesn’t resolve the problem, you will likely need to replace the fan motor.
Troubleshooting common AC problems
This video has been included to clarify the topic. Credit goes to AZ Expert
‘Video is not the main content of the page’
The RV AC unit’s Motor is too Loud
You may have noticed that your AC runs louder than it used to when it was new. Moreover, it may be too loud for your taste. Fortunately, the fix to this problem is pretty easy in most cases.
What to do
Your RV’s AC unit is loud because its rubber shock absorbers shifted from their place. The AC will run loud if the shock absorbers interfere with the fan unit or the compressor coils.
To resolve this issue, remove the AC cover, find the rubber shock absorbers, and put them back in place. They shouldn’t rub against any running components in the AC.
Lubricating the AC’s motor may be another way of resolving the noise issue. If you can’t do this yourself, have a professional lubricate your AC’s motor.
There is ice around the RV AC
Ice around the AC isn’t something you’d want to have. First, it 
will be melting and dripping onto the floor, which will cause a mess at the very least. In the worst case, the dripping water will generate a short circuit.
In addition, even though the AC unit produces ice, the RV air may be warmer than expected.
What to do
Low Freon levels are the most likely reason for ice forming around the AC. This may be caused by leaks or Freon evaporating over time if your AC isn’t sealed well.
The first thing you’d want to do is check for any leaks. If you find a leak, you must find where it comes from. The trouble may come from anywhere in the cooling system, so you must thoroughly examine it. Fittings and gaskets are standard weak links in such enclosed systems, so they should be checked first.
If you find that the AC’s gasket is leaking, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is damaged. It may be that it isn’t bolted in place securely. So, the first thing to do would be to tighten the bolts and then wait a few minutes to see if the problem persists.
If it does persist, then the gasket itself is most likely damaged. Replace it, and you should have the leaking issue resolved.
If there are no leaks, then you are pretty lucky. You’ll need to top off Freon levels in your AC. This should resolve the ice issue and make your RV cooler.
The RV AC unit is Leaking
Leaking is a pretty severe problem. Just like with ice, it is both a safety and efficiency concern. It is essential to resolve the leaking issue as soon as possible.
What to do
If you notice a pool of water around the AC unit, it doesn’t necessarily mean it leaks. The evaporator coils in the AC unit evaporate the liquid coolant before it goes back into the compressor. The coils may not evaporate the liquid when they get dirty or dusty. This is what might cause dripping.
The solution to this problem is simple: clean the evaporator coils.
If this isn’t what causes the leaking, you’d need to recheck the AC’s gasket, just like it was in resolving the icing issue. If you remember, you need to tighten its bolts first and see if it solves the problem. If not, then the gasket needs replacing.
The RV AC unit gets hot
If you feel the warmth from your RV’s AC unit, something is wrong. That isn’t how an AC should behave. Your AC may get so hot that it shuts down to prevent burning.
An AC that runs too warm won’t do its job, first of all. Secondly, it is a fire hazard, so you should resolve the overheating issue immediately.
What to do
Most of the time, overheating is caused by a lack of maintenance. If the internal components get covered by dust and dirt, the AC unit won’t do its job as it should. Clean the internals of your AC from all the dirt and dust, and you should have the overheating problem resolved.
The RV AC unit blows warm air
Your RV’s AC unit is there to deliver cool air, and it certainly wouldn’t be okay if it blew warm air. And since you’ll be using your AC in the heat of the summer, warm air isn’t what you want.
What to do
Your AC may deliver warm air because its motor is faulty. This means that 
its cooling system isn’t running. Here, you’ll have to determine whether the problem lies in the motor or whether your whole AC unit has gone wrong.
Following the procedure described in the beginning, check if your motor is getting voltage. If the motor isn’t getting voltage, you should ask a professional to repair it.
If the motor gets voltage, though, the AC is faulty. Most likely, it is the compressor. Again, follow the troubleshooting process described above to determine what causes the problems.
The RV AC Smells
You certainly don’t want bad smells in your RV, right? But if you encounter a strange odor one day, your AC unit may be at fault.
What to do
Before touching your AC unit, ensure there isn’t something else in your RV that may produce the odor. It may be your bathroom, or maybe you’ve left some food in your fridge for a long time. If you check everywhere and the odor persists, it is most likely your AC unit.
Dirty filters in your AC could be responsible for all those nasty smells settling in the RV. Filters need occasional changing, and if you’ve never done it or have replaced them a long time ago, your filters most likely need changing.
Aside from changing the filters, clear the radiator unit of your AC as well. It may also be a source of the odors.
The RV AC unit is Constantly Running
Modern AC units can be hooked up to a thermostat. The AC will kick it down when the temperature exceeds a certain threshold.
If you one day discover that your AC runs when it shouldn’t, then there may be a problem with it.
What to do
In the best-case scenario, your thermostat will force the AC to stay on. If it delivers excessively high readings, the AC will be running constantly.
If the thermostat is all sound, the AC’s circuit board may be responsible for this issue.
If your thermostat has gone wrong, then you could replace it. But if it is your circuit board, you’ll have no option but to ask a professional to repair or replace it.
This video has been included to clarify the topic. Credit goes to HighTechLab
‘Video is not the main content of the page’
Wrap Up
Our comprehensive RV Air Conditioning Troubleshooting Guide is crucial for every RV owner. This guide offers a systematic approach to diagnosing and resolving common air conditioning problems in recreational vehicles. The guide covers essential areas such as understanding the basic operation of your RV’s air conditioning unit, potential issues affecting its performance, and practical solutions to these problems.
This guide provides invaluable insights into handling issues like inadequate cooling, strange noises from the unit, the air conditioner not turning on, and so on. With this guide, the user can perform simple maintenance procedures, thereby saving costs on professional repairs for minor issues. However, it also helps identify when professional help is necessary.
Therefore, an RV Air Conditioning Troubleshooting Guide is an essential tool that aids in maintaining the optimal performance and longevity of your RV’s air conditioning system.
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