MotorHome RV Tech Tips

RV Roof Top A/C Maintenance & Filter Cleaning

RVP Series 9000 Roof Top A/C & Ceiling Plenum Maintenance

One of the biggest advantages of the Series 9000 air conditioner is that the maintenance needed to keep the unit in good care is minimal. The only thing that the owner must take care of is the cleaning and replacement of the filter located in the ceiling air return assembly. Filters are made from long life non-allergenic natural fibers or foam which can be cleaned and reused, and which completely filter the circulated air when the air conditioner is in operation. If the filters are not cleaned at regular intervals, they may become partially clogged with lint, dirt, grease, etc. A clogged filter will produce a loss of air volume and may eventually cause an icing-up of the cooling (evaporator) coil.

It is important not to operate your air conditioner for extended periods of time without the filter installed. An even more serious condition occurs when the air conditioner is operated with a filter. When this happens the lint, dirt grease, etc. that are normally stopped by the filter are now accumulating in the cooling coil. This not only leads to a loss of air volume and possible icing-up of the cooling coil, but could also result in serious damage to the operating components of the air conditioner.

Filter Cleaning and Replacement

Each roof air conditioner has a separate ceiling return containing a filter that must be cleaned. It is recommended that the filters be cleaned and changed at least every two weeks when the air conditioner is in operation.

To clean the filters, it is first necessary to remove them from the 18 inch square ceiling air return grill that houses the air filter. This is done by removing the four screws that secure the air conditioner filter grill from the ceiling unit. Once the grill is removed, inspect the ceiling unit with a flashlight and wipe clean any dirty surfaces with a paper towel. Next remove the filter from the grill and wash it with water with a gentle spray from your sprayer hose to remove any accumulated lint or dirt from the filter. If your filter is made of foam (which most are) simply shake it gently but vigorously to remove the excess water and let it air dry for about 30 minutes or until it is dry to the touch. Then replace it in the grill and screw the grill back into the ceiling unit. Take care that the screws are reinserted back into the same holes that they came out of, especially if you have a padded ceiling wherein you do not want to create any new holes in the fabric.

If replacement filters are necessary, the filters can be purchased from most RV Products Authorized Service Centers. It is recommended that spare filters be carried with the RV at all times to replace worn, torn or deteriorated filters.

Caution: The maintenance recommendations on this page are meant as general guidelines only. Always consult with a professional RV mechanic, your owner's manual, and/or your authorized RV dealer BEFORE performing any maintenance procedures. See 'Legal Disclaimer' below.

Legal Disclaimer & Caution: Before using any advice, and/or performing any maintenance procedures recommended on this website you should consult with your RV dealer, and/or a professional Motorhome or RV mechanic. The recommendations and advice given on this website are intended as general guidelines ONLY, and may not pertain to your particular make and/or model of RV or Motorhome. Use these suggestions, repair tips, and/or maintenance advice AT YOUR OWN RISK. Under no circumstances will this website, or any of its officers or employees be liable for any consequential, incidental, special or exemplary damages even if appraised of the likelihood of such damages occurring. The owners of this website do not warrant the information against errors, omissions or deficiencies of any kind.

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