How to Clean Your Caravan's Air Conditioning Unit

Our prized possessions always require a little extra time and attention, and a caravan’s air conditioning unit is no exception. If an air conditioner is not cleaned regularly, it can become clogged allowing unwanted elements into the air. If they are never cleaned, they can become so clogged that no air can flow through them at all. In the best case, you will accumulate a buildup of debris within the air ducts. At worst, it may cause the air conditioner unit to fail or lead to an increase in health issues such as allergy or asthma symptoms.

Yet the good news is that cleaning and maintaining your caravan’s air conditioner is in fact quite simple. On that note, it is a small price to pay for the world of luxury that your caravan aircon provides you in your camping lifestyle. 

How often should I look to maintain my caravan’s air conditioner?

Caravan air conditioners need deep cleaning roughly every few years. With fresh outside air, there comes dust, smog, allergens, and particles that it carries along. Even the cleanest mountain air still acquires dust and pollen particles. This deep clean enfolds the coils of the condenser and evaporator, which accumulate a whole range of dirt over time, no matter how much time you take to examine the rooftop shroud for gaps and cracks. In combination with this deep clean, you would also need to clean the AC filters every couple of months. 

Most caravan air conditioners have user serviceable filters which can be accessed from the internal air box or plenum. Make sure to refer to your owner's manual to check how to remove the filters. Most models do not require any tools to do this. This typical exercise is no different from washing the filters of your home air conditioner, and as such, we will just continue to discuss the deep cleaning process in further detail.

Important safety measures

Before you start to clean your caravan’s air conditioner, make sure to check that its power supply is switched off. It is always recommended to then also unplug the air con from the power source. Next, then seal the AC vents opening into the inner part of your caravan with a plastic sheet. Then progress to examine the strength of your caravan’s roof. Since you will need to climb up onto the roof to reach the condenser and evaporator coils, make sure to check that it is sturdy enough to take your body weight. If you happen to be doubtful, opt to use a wide plank or piece of plywood to create a working platform, so that your whole weight is not directly applied to the roof surface.

Cleaning the coils

Firstly, make sure to withdraw the protective shroud that conceals the air conditioning unit on your caravan’s roof. The evaporator and condenser coils will now be visible to the naked eye, meaning you will be able to see exactly how much dirt and debris they have accumulated. You can use either an assigned AC coil cleaning solution or a regular household cleaning agent to wipe the coils. Spray a generous amount of the solution on the coils, allowing a generous amount of time for it to sit. 

After approximately 15-20 minutes, then gently hose out the coils with water to remove the remaining debris. You should take great care during this, to help avoid spraying or hosing any wiring or electrical attachments within the air conditioner unit. As an extra precaution, you can look to cover these with plastic sheets or poly bags to help keep them dry.

Once you are done hosing out the debris, grab a wet/dry shop-vac to help soak up any remaining moisture that still may be present on the condenser and evaporator coils. You can then opt to use a fan or blower to dry out the area completely. Alternatively, you can just leave it to dry in the sun for a few hours before replacing the protective shroud.

Cleaning the fan motor

In some cases, the caravan air conditioner’s fan requires a little cleaning and servicing as well. The process remains pretty much the same. withdraw the protective shroud and examine the fan blades. If they appear to have collected a large amount of dirt, make sure to clean them with the same solution or cleaning agent as before. Dry the blades with a wet/dry shop-vac and blower. Smooth the bearings or sleeves of the fan motor with a little machine oil (a few drops should be enough). Replace the protective shroud, reattach the AC to your power supply, and you are good to go.

A clean and well-oiled air conditioning unit will aim to keep your caravan’s interior at workable temperatures throughout your summer camping trips. Air conditioners that are regularly maintained and serviced also tend to last much longer. If you have been travelling in really dusty locations, or camped under trees long-term/on a timely basis – it is required to get this done annually. Otherwise, just consider cleaning approximately every 3-5 years. Again, if you have purchased your van second hand, and the air con does not look particularly clean – it is worth completing the above steps earlier.

So take a day off every few seasons to give your caravan AC a deep clean, and help it serve you better for many years!