Rusty water in AC drain pans

[ocgrant]

Ok just started on my 2006 48DA and quickly noticed all the AC drain pans (4) are full of rusty water??? Did Sea Ray not use a stainless pan? Is there a tablet or anything that can be used to prevent this?

 

[carterchapman]

SS pans or composite pans came later. I got Dometic to send me a new pan free on my 3 year old 340, but now I use Ospho or "Etch and Prep" phosphoric acid to turn the iron oxide to iron phosphate (stops the rust) and I repaint with rustoleum white...

 

[Express 390]

Ok just started on my 2006 48DA and quickly noticed all the AC drain pans (4) are full of rusty water??? Did Sea Ray not use a stainless pan? Is there a tablet or anything that can be used to prevent this?

If 4 pans are full of rusty water something is clogged. Do all 4 units drain to a common drain and then to a sump ?

 

[carterchapman]

Well....Dometic's design of the drain location always allows a small amount of water in the tray...

"Full of water" is a clogged drain, but a 1/4" to 1/2" is, unfortunately, "normal" due to the design location of the drain.

 

[ocgrant]

Well....Dometic's design of the drain location always allows a small amount of water in the tray...

"Full of water" is a clogged drain, but a 1/4" to 1/2" is, unfortunately, "normal" due to the design location of the drain.

Correct they drain fine just rusty bugs me

 

[carterchapman]

Treat 'em and paint 'em!!

 

[JVM225]

SS pans or composite pans came later. I got Dometic to send me a new pan free on my 3 year old 340, but now I use Ospho or "Etch and Prep" phosphoric acid to turn the iron oxide to iron phosphate (stops the rust) and I repaint with rustoleum white...

My pans are rusty enough that I get an annoying rust mark at the discharges.
It’s annoying enough that I planned to insert the same clear plastic tubes in them as I do in the AC discharges on the starboard side.
Stupid question. Did you go through the hassle of removing the units to treat the pans?

 

[carterchapman]

My pans are rusty enough that I get an annoying rust mark at the discharges.
It’s annoying enough that I planned to insert the same clear plastic tubes in them as I do in the AC discharges on the starboard side.
Stupid question. Did you go through the hassle of removing the units to treat the pans?

Hi JVM.

On my 340, I replaced the pan with an SS model that Dometic sent me under "warranty" after 3 years. On my 410 and 58DB, I just treated them "in place" with phosphoric acid and white Rustoleum. On the 340 and 410 I did the clear plastic 2" tubes, but on my 58DB, I have common drains on each side and they drain over bottom paint and leave no rust marks...

 

[JVM225]

Hi JVM.

On my 340, I replaced the pan with an SS model that Dometic sent me under "warranty" after 3 years. On my 410 and 58DB, I just treated them "in place" with phosphoric acid and white Rustoleum. On the 340 and 410 I did the clear plastic 2" tubes, but on my 58DB, I have common drains on each side and they drain over bottom paint and leave no rust marks...

How did you get to the pans with the Rustoleum with the AC units in place?

 

[Express 390]

Well....Dometic's design of the drain location always allows a small amount of water in the tray...

"Full of water" is a clogged drain, but a 1/4" to 1/2" is, unfortunately, "normal" due to the design location of the drain.

Ok got ya!

 

[ocgrant]

Treat 'em and paint 'em!!

Yea... not a fun project the way these are burried!!!

But add it to the list

 

[searay495]

I have the same question.......how can you paint them with the A/C unit in place?

 

[carterchapman]

How did you get to the pans with the Rustoleum with the AC units in place?

It depends on where it is, and access, but I can get to all 5 of mine. You can't get to everything without removing the unit and then doing a complete disassembly. If you go that far, replace the pan with SS!