5 Simple Fixes For Airxcel 48000 Series Not Cooling Problem

Airxcel 48000 Series Not Cooling
Airxcel 48000 Series Not Cooling

Traveling is fun when you’re already at your destination, marveling at the spectacles you’ve come to see. The commute? Not so much. The long queue at the airport alone will make you regret your decision.

And just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse, you’re seated next to a pesky kid on the plane. God forbid you don’t get caught up in the impending tantrums, or all hell breaks loose. The amount of drama you have to put up with throughout each trip is insane.

That’s why many American families dream of owning a motorhome or RV. There’s nothing more satisfying than being able to go anywhere without ever leaving home.

You can have your 30 minutes bathroom break and be as loud as you want without bothering anyone but your family. You can also sleep comfortably on a soft mattress when you feel like it. And the endless puppy cuddles—they’re to kill for.

Not Always a Bliss – There Are Problems, Too   

Many first-time RV owners forget that more than a home, their RV is a vehicle. And like in any other vehicle, some things can act up from time to time. Your air conditioning, for instance, may shudder, make strange noises, or stop working altogether.

airxcel 48000 series not cooling

Especially if you have an Airxcel 48000 Series, you need to keep tabs on its performance as it can be pretty susceptible to breakdowns.

One of the issues you may encounter with an Airxcel 48000 rig is the occasional loss of cool air. Of course, it’s a huge problem if you’re currently heading south and planning to stay there for a while.

But what do you do if your Airxcel 48000 isn’t cooling? In this article, you will learn simple fixes to such an issue and when to decide to call a professional technician.

Solutions for the Airxcel 48000 Series Not Cooling

1. Reconfigure the thermostat.

Switching on your air conditioner only to find out it is not cooling can be frustrating. But this issue may have a straightforward explanation and can be fixed by pressing some buttons.

So, before getting too technical and taking the AC apart, check the thermostat first. You probably raised the temperature before and forgot to turn it back down.

However, as you reconfigure your AC settings, remember the specific temperature you stopped at so that the next time the issue occurs and your thermostat shows the same temperature, you’ll immediately know something else is causing it.

Also, never set the fan speed to zero because you need it to circulate the cool air inside your vehicle. If you are having trouble adjusting your AC settings, consult the manufacturer’s manual that came with the equipment.

2. Check the condenser unit for obstruction.

Fixing and maintaining your RV’s air conditioning may require a little bit of engineering knowledge. If you realize the issue isn’t caused by a wrong thermostat setting, it’s most likely related to either the evaporator or the condenser.

The evaporator is inside the indoor unit, while the condenser is inside the outdoor unit. Between these two, it’s practical to check the more accessible one: the condenser.

But how can a faulty condenser prevent your AC from cooling? Well, it has to do with how the refrigerant, which cools the air inside your home, flows within the system.

When the refrigerant is still in the evaporator, it must be colder than your RV’s indoor air to absorb the heat. The now-hot refrigerant is then conveyed into the condenser, where the heat is purged.

But it must first be compressed to speed up the process, which is why a compressor sits between the evaporator and the condenser. Once the heat is dispersed, the refrigerant condenses back into its cold, liquid state.

If the condenser coil is covered with dust or grime, it will have trouble releasing the heat, meaning the heat stays in the system. That same heat has only one place to go if the condenser fails to release it—back into the evaporator and into your RV.

Therefore, removing anything that locks heat in the system, such as dust on the condenser, may fix the problem.

3. Replace the filter.

If the issue persists after cleaning the condenser, the source may come from the indoor unit. The evaporator itself may not be faulty. But, like how dust prevents the condenser from releasing heat, dust on the filter where the air (which the evaporator cools) passes through may be the culprit.

Carefully remove the vent from your Airxcel 48000 and look through the filter. If you can’t see the other side, chances are it’s covered with particulates.

You can choose to clean it, but for optimal results, consider just buying a new one. The old filter won’t be as efficient as before, anyway.

AC filter

4. Unclog the condensation drain.

As the hot refrigerant leaves the condenser, it enters the expansion valve. But since in most ACs, the expansion valve sits next to the evaporator, water forms as the hot air around the expansion valve makes contact with the cold surface of the evaporator coil.

Therefore, a condensation drain is placed below the expansion valve to catch this water and convey it to the floor drain.

Sometimes, the condensation drain gets clogged, and the expansion valve and a section of the evaporator get soaked.

This disrupts the temperature flow within the evaporator, affecting its efficacy in absorbing the warm air in your RV. By unclogging the drain, you’ll restore that same temperature flow.

5. Call a technician.

If you failed to pinpoint the exact source of the issue, then the best explanation is it’s coming from hard-to-reach areas in your AC.

In that case, you should contact a technician who knows how to disassemble and check your AC safely. It’s best if the technician specializes in motorhome ACs like the Airxcel 48000 series.

Don’t risk DIY when dealing with severe AC issues. Relying on a YouTube video will only do your AC more harm than good. It may save you a little upfront, but it will cost you big time in the long run.

With the help of a professional technician, you can avoid the issue for good and even get some tips on extending your AC’s useful life.

RV AC technician

Conclusion

AC malfunctions are typical household problems. You’ll encounter them even if you live in a house. In fact, they are more complicated if they occur in an RV since they may be linked to other mechanical features of your vehicle.

The technician must be adept in handling RVs to limit the work within the HVAC system.

It pays to be diligent when maintaining your RV. After all, the freedom to move your home around is a double-edged sword. It’s fulfilling but also scary, particularly when a technical problem occurs at a place where you can’t quickly get professional assistance.

Therefore, as a motorhome owner, you must arm yourself with a few repair and maintenance skills.

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