A/C Fin Problem ( a neat tool!)

[Karl]

Shortly after we purchased our 5er, I had parked under a tree with low hanging branches that hung even lower during a heavy rain and windstorm. As a result, the branches "flattened" at least 2/3 of the A/C Fins on the roof unit. This greatly reduced the cooling capacity, and caused the compressor to overheat and stop cooling. I started by using round toothpicks to try to straighten the fins, but this would become a never ending job! A search over the WWW found me exactly the tool I needed for the job, and I thought I should share the information here. I was able to order a "fin comb" pictured below at a cost of $14.95 plus shipping.



I ordered this from the following site, and received it in just a couple days. I have since loaned it to several other campers who I had noticed had crushed fins on their A/C. It also works on home A/C's like mine that had been damaged by hail and lawnmower debris.

http://www.aapak.com/Qstore/p000144.htm

[stiles watson]

Informative post. thanks.

[azstar]

Hi Karl, thanks for the post.

If you key in on RV A/C units in your travels you will see a lot of this. Damage to fins that is. Some Manufacturers put a protecting screen on at the factory. You can purchase a protecting screen I believe from Camping World or like me you can make your own.

I bought a piece of 1/4" galvanized steel screen from my local Hardware store, cut it to size and screwed it to the rear of the A/C unit. It provides great protection and looks factory installed.

On our last Trailer a hail storm did a number on ours. I spent about two hrs. laying on the roof with a pair of tweezers.

Happy Camping

[sreigle]

We put a finguard from an RV Dealer over ours but in the absence of some kind of guard this would be a great tool to have.

[Karl]

Now that AC time is here, I thought I would renew this thread about the FIN COMB that I mentioned when I started the thread.

A friend at a campground where I was just a short time ago was complaining of his unit not cooling well, and when we looked, the fins on the unit on the roof were really mashed (they had had a hail storm) He used my fin comb to straighten the fins, and there was a big improvement in cooling.

After straigtening the fins, a fin guard is a great solution.

[sreigle]

I think the comb would be a useful tool to have even with a finguard. The finguard naturally has to have some holes to allow airflow and you can still get damage, especially from hail. It's good at keeping tree limbs out but wouldn't help a lot with hail.

[jpkelpe]

we have one of these thingys too. worked real good on our other 5er when something hit the a/c. our son made sure his mechanics had these for repairs when he was over in Kuwait and Iraq--made their air conditioners work better, if that is possible in 130-140 degrees.

[sgf]

Just a note,anyone can buy this tool at most ant hvac wholesale house,such as r.e.michel or united refigeration.Cost at these places only about 5 bucks.

[Wordsmith]

Thanks for “bumping” this post, Karl. A VERY useful tool. I have some fins on the house ac unit that could use this.

[Charlie]

Looks like it could be used on a radiator on the TV if need be.