By Jessica Rider
Oftentimes maintenance is the last thing on our minds when we are out enjoying summer RV adventures but it will cost us when the A/C stops working or the refrigerator stops cooling down our favorite summertime treats. We cannot stress maintenance enough when we talk about keeping RVs on the road but in this article we are going to talk specifically about the mid-summer maintenance you need to do and when you should bring your RV in to have a technician look at it.
The common issues we see in the summertime are problems with A/C units, water leaks, refrigerator issues and slide issues. When you think about the most common things you use most when camping during the summer season these four things are the primary components and the ones most likely to have issues. Some of these things you can address on your own but here is when it is necessary to call in a technician.
A/C systems
If your A/C is not cooling the first thing is to remember that units are only meant to cool 20 degrees less than the temperature outside so if it is not as cool as you would like first look at the temperature outside compared to inside the unit and see if it is within the 20 degree range. If it is still not cooling correctly then it could be that your unit on top of the RV needs to be cleaned. If you are handy you can unscrew the cover on this unit and clean the fan, coils and filters. This should be done at least twice a year. If at that point it is still not cooling down then it may be time to call a technician.
If your A/C unit is not turning on at all the first thing to do is to start with the fuses and thermostat. Check your fuse box for a blown fuse. If that is good next check the thermostat to make sure there is power. From here we need to check the communication to the A/C unit itself which requires you to check the amperage on the wires at the thermostat and on the unit. If you are comfortable with this and can do it safely then you can check these things, if you are not comfortable then it is time to call a technician.
Water systems
If you just pulled into the campsite and cannot seem to get water out of your faucets the first thing to check is always to make sure you are hooked up correctly, the water at the spigot is turned on and all of your bypass valves are in the correct position to allow water to flow properly. If you are handy you could also check your traps for any clogs. After this if you are still not getting any water then it is time to call in a technician. A tech will have to test the lines to make sure you don’t have leaks anywhere that could be causing this issue. If a leak is found then a technician will have to replace perhaps a line or fitting to fix the leak.
Refrigerator systems
There is nothing worse than heading in to grab some popsicles from the freezer or some fresh blueberries from the refrigerator only to find your refrigerator stopped working. Before your food goes bad grab a cooler and some ice and get that food chilled again, then start diagnosing the refrigerator issues. The first step is going to be to check the power. If your refrigerator runs on electric and propane check to see if it powers up with either source. If it powers with one and not the other then you know where to start. If it doesn’t power with either then again you know where to start. If the propane power is the issue then make sure you don’t have leaks in your lines and that you have enough propane. If the electrical power is the issue then you should test the wires to make sure they are all pulling the correct amount of amperage, assuming you are comfortable doing this and can do it safely. This is where you should call in a technician if you are uncomfortable doing this. They will test the connections and the power sources to make sure the unit is getting the power it should and then address anything with the refrigerator itself as to why it is not functioning properly.
Slide systems
By far this is one, if not the most, common issue we have. Slides break, they just do. It can be anything from not enough power to move the slide, a slide motor that has gone out, a slide cable that is broken, a track system that is out of sync or a lockout function on the entire system (typically in large class A motorhomes). Again, as I have alluded to in this article, if you are handy enough you can most likely diagnose what the problem is when a slide is not functioning properly. For example you may be able to hear that the motors are not powering when you hit the extend or retract button or you can visibly see that a cable is broken or that the slide is out of alignment. From here you may have to do some sort of emergency retract if you are stuck with a slide open, in some models this is an option. After doing this and determining what you believe is the issue it would be time to call a technician.
Technicians
Calling a technician can mean going back to the dealership where you bought your RV or finding a mobile RV technician, like us, to come to you to fix the issues. There are some differences between the two with the obvious one being that the mobile technician is going to come to you rather than you having to take your RV to a dealership. Oftentimes a mobile technician can get to you faster than most dealerships these days but they may not have all the parts they need on hand. Some mobile technicians don’t keep a large inventory of parts and may not be able to get them as fast as a dealership. It’s important when looking at a mobile technician to ensure they are a legitimate business, have proper insurance and can get you what you need quickly. We have seen a rise of those claiming to be technicians but they are just a guy and a truck with no business behind them. You may be okay with that but the problem lies in the unknowns like what happens if they mess something up, who is going to cover that. The best thing to do is to find a reputable technician whether that is at a dealership or a mobile repair technician, best to make sure they are certified with the RV Technical Institute, to repair the issues you are having.
Stay on the road this summer enjoying as many adventures as possible by keeping these things in mind for maintenance and knowing how to do quick fixes on your own and when it is time to call in a technician.
Happy Camping!
Jessica