Yet Another AC Question - Service Related

[PictureTheSouth]

I'm scheduling some maintenance next week; pretty much all HVAC related. Probably burned out water heater element and shot circuit board on furnace. Need to get those taken care of before I need the rig for a "hurricane lifeboat" or need to hang out in there for winter ice storms.

Here's the question though - I asked the folks taking my service registration to check out the roof AC, tuneup and add refrigerant if needed. Still have a couple of late summer and early fall trips on the agenda, and wanted to make sure AC was tip-top too. If rig is in the shop anyway, why not?

Tech told me no! "Roof AC units can't have refrigerant added, nor repaired - they can only be replaced".

WHAT? Is the local RV dealer I've come to trust (gasp!) lying to me? Or is this true?

[Beau388]

True. Roof top A/Cs have a sealed refrigerant system. Chassis A/C has service ports and can be serviced. You should pull the cover on the roof top A/Cs at least every year and check for debris. It is amazing what finds its way into the A/C (cotton wood seeds, muddobbers, paper wasp, leaves, etc).

[Lt Keefer]

Yup, rooftops are like Bic lighters. When they crap out you get a new one.

[PictureTheSouth]

Thanks for the feedback guys.
Not what I'd hoped to hear, though.
Is that a design flaw? Planned obsolescence?
Or just a system limitation I don't understand?

[rynosback]

I thought the same thing about roof A/Cs. They are not serviceable. You might be able to have a high and low side fitting installed and then evac and recharge the system and add some dye. But if it is low, there is a leak some where. And not sure if those parts are sold separately.

A roof A/C services is to make sure that your intake filters are clean and go up on the roof and clean the condenser.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by PictureTheSouth

Thanks for the feedback guys.
Not what I'd hoped to hear, though.
Is that a design flaw? Planned obsolescence?
Or just a system limitation I don't understand?

Expensive labor.

There is no reason a good AC.Fridge tech couldn't evacuate the system, install high and low ports and a dryer, recharge and check for leaks. But by time he's done you could have bought a new system for the repair charge.

[cavie]

FYI. A/C = air conditioning.
AC = electricty

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by cavie

FYI. A/C = air conditioning.
AC = electricty

Yeaaaah; keep trying to push that rope uphill.

[rynosback]

Originally Posted by cavie

FYI. A/C = air conditioning.
AC = electricty

Guessing 16ACE27 was a little confused on what I stated or just stirring the pot or taking a poke at me. I think the latter as that is how he/she is. Thanks for clarifying it for him/her. I can not see what he/she posts as I have him on my ignore list.

[Patrick WH]

Used the a.c. once in Mexico. Tried again this year in Wyoming, 93 degrees, and no a.c.. got back home and asked RV store and they said the same thing, cannot recharge, have to buy new one for $800 plus installment fees of $200. Yikes!