RV Air Conditioner Repair and Replacement in Harlingen, TX

Signs you have an AC problem

The symptoms usually show up before the unit dies. The vents blow weak even on high, the air comes out lukewarm, or the compressor cycles on and off more than it should. Sometimes the unit won't start at all, or it clicks when it tries. A clicking start is worth a call right away, because running a unit with a bad capacitor can damage the compressor. Water is the other sign. Pooling on the roof around the unit or dripping inside means a clogged drain or a failed seal where the unit meets the roof.

What usually fails

The capacitor is the most common culprit. It stores the energy the compressor needs to start and run, and it wears out. A failed start capacitor leaves the compressor struggling or sitting there clicking. A weak run capacitor is quieter and usually shows up as a slow loss of cooling. Clogged cooling fins restrict airflow and make a healthy unit look sick. The seal around the unit's bezel breaks down over time, and once that perimeter lets go, water gets under the unit and attacks the electrical connections. On older units the compressor itself can seize, and that's usually when replacement beats repair.

How we figure out what is wrong

We run the system first and check the cooling output and the drain function. That sorts the problem into cooling, airflow or water. Then we look at the capacitor and, if it's the cause, replace it with an OEM-matched start, run or dual capacitor, whichever your unit uses. We also go around the full bezel perimeter looking for sealant that has cracked or pulled away. You get a straight answer on repair versus replacement before any work starts.

The repair and what we install

A bad capacitor gets swapped and the cooling response tested. A failed bezel seal gets lap sealant applied around the entire perimeter. When the unit can't be saved, we install a replacement rooftop AC, either a 13.5K BTU cool-only or a 15K BTU heat pump. When it's a Coleman-Mach, we lift it without using the outer plastic shroud, and we set it with the shroud nose toward the front of the vehicle, as the manufacturer's instructions call for. Before we leave, we run the unit again and confirm it cools and drains.

What this costs in Harlingen

A 13.5K BTU rooftop AC replacement runs a flat $1200 to $1800, covering the unit, labor and us coming to you. Call and tell us what the unit is doing, and we can give you a typical range for your situation on the phone. The exact number is confirmed once we've seen the job. A capacitor swap or a reseal is a smaller job than a full replacement, and we'll price it after we've looked at it.

What can change the job

The unit usually isn't the only thing in play. If we find corrosion under the old unit, bad wiring, or a mounting platform softened by water, that gets dealt with before a new unit goes on. A compromised roof surface around the opening gets the same treatment. We tell you what we find before we go further, not after. Storm exposure in Harlingen is low, so weather seldom holds up roof work.