Welcome to summer campers! By now we've all realized that camping without the modern convinces like running water, inside toilets and, oh yea, air conditioning, can be a miserable time in the woods. So, let's talk air conditioning (A/C).

Your A/C unit, like the rest of your camper, requires yearly maintenance too. All A/C's are supposed to have a filter installed at the return air location. This is located in the ceiling assembly -- be it a ducted system or non ducted system -- and requires the same filter material as a window unit in your house. These filters are readily available at Home Depot, Lowes or your favorite hardware store, just cut them to fit. They need to be cleaned often with mild soap and water, shaken dry, and reinstalled. If they show signs of old age and deterioration, replace them. Keeping the filters clean prevents the dust and dirt from clogging the evaporator coil and squirrel cage fan blade which will prevent mold from forming on these components, compromising the air quality you breathe.

If you camp in very dry and dusty places it will be necessary to hose off the outside coil or the condenser coil. Do this with medium pressure, starting from the top and working side to side towards the bottom. Use caution not to damage or flatten the fins of the coil as this will prevent proper air flow hindering the performance of your air conditioner. This requires a trip on the roof so as always be careful, especially on the rubber roofs -- they tend to get very slippery when wet.

All A/C units require a freon recharge from time to time. There are no service valves factory-installed in any of the modern roof air systems available today. Your R.V. service tech will be able to install the required service valves and perform a recharge on your unit.

How do I know when my air conditioner needs a recharge? There are some basic indicators you need to be aware of: if the unit will not cool your camper on a hot day (this is the obvious one), if your A/C freezes up when running, if the air temperature out of the cold side is less than 15-20 degrees cooler than the air temperature in your camper. If your unit is ten years old or so you should have the freon level checked and brought back up to proper standards.

Proper maintenance is always less expensive than having to replace the $700-plus unit. Fan motors of today are of the sealed bearing type and are in no need of oiling like the older (pre 1980 ) ones, they figured if you couldn't oil it you'll have to replace it.

All A/C's require 20 amp to run, so be careful when plugging your camper into a regular house receptacle, they are usually 15 amp, and low power will cause damage to the unit. If A/C is required at your home or camper location, have a 30 amp, 110 volt outlet installed (like the larger plug from your camper) by a qualified electrician. Be sure you specify the outlet is 110 volt only. If your camper has a four prong plug, it is equipped with 50 amp and requires two 110 volt legs, neutral and ground. Please leave the electric work to someone qualified, you can damage many components if hooked up wrong, even for a second.

As always have fun be safe, and maybe will see you in the campgrounds.