Travel Trailer Air Conditioner Problems
A travel trailer is a versatile addition to the vacation experience. But as these trailers are more robust than other vehicles, they can also present special problems to the owner. Air conditioning for a travel trailer is crucial to a comfortable experience, but in the event of malfunction, some air conditioning problems in a travel trailer are more straightforward to resolve, while others should be handled by an experienced service technician.
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Noise
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When a travel trailer's air conditioning unit begins to make new noises, this is an obvious symptom of a problem that warrants attention. Often, the noises occur despite otherwise normal functioning by the air conditioner. But left unattended, the entire system may stop working. The source of a squealing sound is usually the fan motor. It is possible that ice is condensing on the motor and creating the noise. Sometimes, running the air conditioner at a higher speed can prevent this problem.
Freon
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Freon is an essential ingredient in the proper functioning of vehicle air conditioners. Replacing the freon is a common question by travel trailer owners. However, this is not a recommended solution to a problem with a travel trailer air conditioner. Due to the intricacies of these units, there are multiple possible explanations for the reduced effectiveness of the air conditioner, and until they are ruled out, freon replacement could be wasteful or even make the situation worse. Additionally, the process of replacing freon is not always straightforward. A qualified service technician should investigate any problem and perform the freon replacement if necessary.
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Voltage
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It is possible that the air conditioning unit in a travel trailer suffers from poor voltage. This is a potential issue in any RV that routes electricity between multiple circuits. If the air conditioner reports a low power warning, or if the thermostat's lights shine dimmer than usual, low voltage is the likely cause. The power source should be monitored for degraded output. This is typically a 12-volt battery. But the incoming voltage should also be checked. The exact source of the problem will depend on these measurements and will point to the area of the circuit where the voltage is drying up.
Shorts
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Take precautions when sharing the travel trailer with other devices that use a lot of power. When the trailers are plugged in, other devices running on the same circuit could cause problems directly to the trailer. A high-wattage tool, such as a leaf blower, could blow fuses in the trailer if the two are attached to the same outlet. More serious are the risks of a short to the air conditioner if it is running at the same time another device pulls power from the outlet.
Dry Camping
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Air conditioning is the one of the first conveniences to stop working in a dry camping environment with a travel trailer. Dry camping is always risky since there is no electricity to charge critical services or recharge a battery if voltage reserves become unavailable. Travel trailers will often allow the air conditioner and other high-wattage devices to operate together without warning, until it is too late. If dry camping is desirable, it is necessary to use an independent generator to operate the air conditioner and other appliances.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Omar Bárcena
