You’ve probably heard the term “bad cooling unit.” This is a catch-all phrase to describe any number of failures with an absorption refrigerator’s cooling unit, which is the labyrinth of tubes partially encased in foam that we’ve been talking about. A failed cooling unit = a dead refrigerator. It runs, but no cooling. A failed […] The post What Causes a Failed Cooling Unit on an RV Propane Refrigerator? appeared first on Ask The RV Engineer ..read more

Are you a fellow sufferer of analysis paralysis? I am. Choosing a self-leveling sealant is enough to set me back three Ibuprofen pills. Options abound. And as an RV repair technician, I must carry sufficient stock to re-seal all roof types, all colors, at any time. I don’t want to stock $700 worth of self-leveling […] The post Nerd Battle of the Best RV Self-Leveling Roof Sealants appeared first on Ask The RV Engineer ..read more

Many larger RVs and motorhomes use a pressurized hydraulic fluid system to move slide-outs, leveling jacks, and landing gear. They are relatively simple hydraulic systems. Most have a simple displacement pump and gearbox transmission, a machined manifold with solenoid-activated flow control valves, some safety switches, and a little PCB brain.  Note: As an RV engineer/tech, […] The post Loud RV Hydraulic Pump? Entrained Air Might Be the Culprit … appeared first on Ask The RV Engineer ..read more

Today’s quick tip is to clean your air conditioner’s evaporator coils during your spring shakedown and your fall winterization routines.  Why an Air Conditioner Evaporator Is Important The evaporator is the star of the show. The air conditioner throttles warm refrigerant through an expansion valve or orifice into a low-pressure liquid inside the evaporator tubing. […] The post Quick Tip: Clean Your Air Conditioner Evaporator Coils in the Spring and Fall! (with Video) appeared first on Ask The RV Engineer ..read more

If you’ve been RVing for any length of time, someone has probably told you about the trick to “resetting” your propane tank: Yes, this trick works. It’s just like the old IT joke: “Have you turned it on and off again?” But why does this work? What are you resetting? And will it happen again? […] The post Resetting the Excess Flow Valve Inside the Big Green ACME Nut on Your LP Pigtail appeared first on Ask The RV Engineer ..read more

Call me suspicious, but I am skeptical of anyone who claims to comprehend the inner workings of an absorption refrigerator. To fully fathom the depths of magic inside all those steel coils, you must understand thermodynamics, chemistry, fluid dynamics, and mechanics of materials. It’s an entire engineering education within a single appliance. Every time I […] The post How Does an RV Absorption Refrigerator Work? No, Really! appeared first on Ask The RV Engineer ..read more

Until now, I’ve aimed most of my words about RV roofing at the winner by popular choice: membrane roofing. It’s what most people call “rubber roofing.” The two most popular membrane roofing types are EPDM and TPO, with PVC taking the bronze. Dicor and Alpha Systems are the two largest OEMs, I think.  But there […] The post Is Anything Better than a Fiberglass RV Roof? appeared first on Ask The RV Engineer ..read more

I was recently working with a customer who wanted to retrofit and upgrade his mega teardrop camper (NuCamp TAB 400, Forest River R-Pod, Little Guy Max, that kind of a camper). He and his wife, both bon vivant chefs, enjoy steaming vegetables and sauteing home-cooked meals on their 2-burner propane range. They also live in […] The post The Elusive High-Performance RV Range Hood, And the Art of Dehumidification appeared first on Ask The RV Engineer ..read more

If you’re wondering whether you should leave your RV’s black tank valve open or closed, the short answer is: Closed. You should keep it closed until the tank is ½ to ⅞” full, or you’re getting back on the road after camping. Best not to travel with a full holding tank if you can help […] The post Yes, You Should Leave Your Black Tank Valve CLOSED! appeared first on Ask The RV Engineer ..read more

Replacing a Dometic or Thetford gravity toilet water valve is easy. It takes 20-60 minutes and only requires basic hand tools. RV toilet water valves are used on gravity RV toilets to control the flow of water when flushing. When the foot- or hand-lever is pushed down, the valve allows water to flow into the […] The post Picture Guide to Replacing an RV Toilet Water Valve appeared first on Ask The RV Engineer ..read more