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Topic: Water Pooling on the Roof from the AC (Read 397 times) previous topic - next topic
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Water Pooling on the Roof from the AC
When I drive off in the mornings or anytime after having the AC on for several hours I get water sloshing over the sides of the cab of my LD.

Today, I summoned up the courage to climb up on the roof and take a look. I see water pooling under my solar panels which are just in front of the AC and around the escape hatch.

I just had the roof resealed so I'm not too worried about water intrusion but shouldn't there be some kind of drain tube moving the water down to the ground? What should I be looking for?

I'm in Congress, Arizona now but moving up to cooler weather near Flagstaff next week and hope to use the AC less as I move east along I-40.

Thanks!
My wheels:
2003 MB
2012 Jeep Liberty
Re: Water Pooling on the Roof from the AC
Reply #1 –
This is normal condensation from the ac.  More pronounced in humid weather when using the ac, and if you are in Congress, you are receiving some monsoon-related humidity.

Dan
2007 IB-30
Re: Water Pooling on the Roof from the AC
Reply #2 –
The solution is level the Rig so it’s a bit not level.  We try to raise the the front or back about a 1/2 bubble off allowing AC water or rain water to drain off.  Hope this helps.
Re: Water Pooling on the Roof from the AC
Reply #3 –
Quote from: Ed & Margee  - 
The solution is level the Rig so it’s a bit not level.  We try to raise the the front or back about a 1/2 bubble off allowing AC water or rain water to drain off.  Hope this helps.

Won't that cause an issue with the fridge?
My wheels:
2003 MB
2012 Jeep Liberty
Re: Water Pooling on the Roof from the AC
Reply #4 –
Quote from: dsandsaz  - 
This is normal condensation from the ac.  More pronounced in humid weather when using the ac, and if you are in Congress, you are receiving some monsoon-related humidity.

Dan

Yeah, who knew AZ could be so humid. One of the monsoonal rains got me when I was driving the RV & Jeep back to the RV park after having some work done on my Jeep (needed to be towed in for the repair). Luckily, it was a short-ish drive (I drove very slowly).
My wheels:
2003 MB
2012 Jeep Liberty
Re: Water Pooling on the Roof from the AC
Reply #5 –
Quote from: debinvenice  - 
Won't that cause an issue with the fridge?

The Rig would have to be much more out of level to cause the propane refrigerator to have over-heating problems.  For what it's worth, if the site is level then we'll raise the front tires allowing the water to run off the back of the Rig.  In addition, the shower drains better and so does sink water going into the gray tank in a MB.
Re: Water Pooling on the Roof from the AC
Reply #6 –
"I see water pooling under my solar panels which are just in front of the AC and around the escape hatch."

You've had your first of many introductions to the phenomena called "Lake Newton".

The roof is slightly concave so whenever there has been a pooling of water, from a rainstorm, the A/C, or possibly even a heavy dew, you can expect a situation that looks like the underside of Niagara Falls. Just remember to keep your cab windows closed until it's had a chance to drain off.   ;D

Best ask Larry Wade about a drain, if there is such!
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: Water Pooling on the Roof from the AC
Reply #7 –
Quote from: Lazy Bones  - 
"I see water pooling under my solar panels which are just in front of the AC and around the escape hatch."

You've had your first of many introductions to the phenomena called "Lake Newton".

As is Sir Issac?

Quote
Just remember to keep your cab windows closed until it's had a chance to drain off.  ;D

Yep! Already learned that lesson. ;-)

My wheels:
2003 MB
2012 Jeep Liberty
Re: Water Pooling on the Roof from the AC
Reply #8 –
Possibly a distant relative of Sir Isaac.   Newton is the name of the family that owns Lazydaze.  The lake was christened in their honor.  ;)
joel
Joel & Terry Wiley
dog Zeke
2013  31 IB   Orwan   / 2011 CRV Tow'd LWEROVE
Re: Water Pooling on the Roof from the AC
Reply #9 –
As long as we are on the topic of Lake Newton, the spillway for ours is the front corner on either side then right down over the windows and on down river. Question here is that I see some with short sections of gutter over the windows, I think Lazy Bones has one, Does it help?

Thoughts,
Jon
1994 MB
Re: Water Pooling on the Roof from the AC
Reply #10 –
"Does it help?"

Oh indeed it does as long as the precipitation is smaller than the Great Deluge!  :o

It also helps cut down on those ugly black streaks.  ;) 


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As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: Water Pooling on the Roof from the AC
Reply #11 –
Quote from: joel wiley  - 
Possibly a distant relative of Sir Isaac.   Newton is the name of the family that owns Lazydaze.  The lake was christened in their honor.  ;)
joel


LOL! Thanks for the history lesson!
My wheels:
2003 MB
2012 Jeep Liberty
Re: Water Pooling on the Roof from the AC
Reply #12 –
so many years ago one of my four brothers decided to "borrow" my car without asking, making me late for a job I had during college......many years later when I had the rig at my Mom's house to wash and wax it...knowing the reservoir was on top waiting to be dumped off I asked him to stand near the front passenger side so "I wouldn't hit a brick garden wall" as I moved the rig forward off the front blocks...........PAYBACK!!!!!!!!  Thank you Lake Newton .  ;)   
2013 31' Silver Twin Bed
Semi-retired 6/21....
Re: Water Pooling on the Roof from the AC
Reply #13 –
Oh goodness this brings back memories!  Our "introduction" to Lake Newton was backing off the leveling ramps with the driver window open, Steve's (my husband and our admin) head hanging out watching the wheel come off the leveler, when the lake "unloaded its payload" on his head  ;D
Re: Water Pooling on the Roof from the AC
Reply #14 –
We do the slight tilt to the side (not to the front/back).
The fridge cares more about front to back tilts than it does side to side tilts.

Note

Even with a very small tilt (it doesn't need much just enough to get just if the water over the small lip at the seams on the top edges of the roof) it is effective.
However you will see that slight tilt other places - like any boiling over a pot on the stove goes towards the tilt direction. I guess ours also helps the tanks drain a little more also as we tilt towards the drivers side).

There are some parts to catch the water and carry it away in tubing but the only RV I have heard that is built to use these are Airstreams (I researched this). Airstream builds tubing into their RV that goes inside the roof and down the walls to the outside of the RV so the condensation does not go on the roof. I don't know is this is all years or only some.

I did some playing with rigging those extra parts up for a LD (over the roof not inside). First attempt I didn't have the slight downward slope needed (we were not tilting the RV). I have not tried a second attempt yet to match the tilt we do (to give more downward slope) nor tried anything like a tiny pump.

I have not written up any of our mods/repairs yet, one day life will slow down enough to do so.
Jane

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
Jane & Scott
Currently have a 1989 TK  LD we did a lot of upgrades on.
Bigfoot 25RQ Twin on order with early summer 2024 ETA

Our smartphone autocorrects into very poor English.
 We disclaim the illusion of ignorance this creates as we have enough ignorance we rightly claim.
Re: Water Pooling on the Roof from the AC
Reply #15 –
Thanks for the detailed explanation, Jane!

Now that I know that this is a normal/common phenomenon, I'm not going to worry about it too much. Aside from getting the rig level for the fridge, I want it level for my own comfort (though a little higher in the back is nicer for sleeping). ;-)
My wheels:
2003 MB
2012 Jeep Liberty