My rooftop A/C (have 1 since I'm 30 amps) has worked great and it still cools but when I start it there's a horrible smell. It doesn't smell like mildew it smells like chemicals coming in to the R/V. I've been full-time for 1.5 years and this just started. I can't use the A/C because I feel like I'm breathing in poison. Think it's just that the A/C needs a good cleaning up there?
Update: I cleaned both "fins" on the roof, the evaporator thingies, I don't know what they're called. All the tin teeth are straight and the evaporator thingies are all clean but I still have a chemical smell inside my RV when I turn the air conditioning on. Any ideas?
I would get a technician to check the unit. You might a leak in the refrigerant system. Your system might have a leak that occurs only when the compressor starts to work.
Update: the spray stuff I got from Home Depot or Lowes worked. I just needed to let the chemicals burn off. The A/C is cranking and ice cold with no smell. Thanks for the help!