How to Maximize Your RV A/C Performance
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If your RV A/C isn’t keeping you cool, it could be due to a wide variety of reasons. Thankfully, there are several things you can do to maximize your RV A/C performance and ensure you stay cool.
Susan and Mike (the owners of RVBlogger) have a total of 3 RV air conditioners on their RVs. One on their 2008 Class C Gulf Stream Conquest and 2 A/C units on their Thor Challenger Class A RV. They have some great suggestions to improve the performance and efficiency of your RV A/C.
Let’s go in-depth on RV A/C, reasons it’s not blowing cold air, and how to maximize performance. As with many things, preventative maintenance plays a big factor. However, we’ll also look at a quick A/C upgrade that will make you cool and comfy in your RV.
Why Isn’t My RV A/C Blowing Cold Air?
If your RV A/C isn’t blowing cold air, there could be a variety of different causes.
One possibility is that you have a mechanical issue, such as a broken compressor, condenser, or fan. This is especially likely if your air conditioner is making a lot of noise while running, or absolutely no noise at all.
Old or dirty air filters and or coils are another common issue. If you don’t regularly clean and replace air filters, it will impact performance. If you are in a dusty area A/C filters can collect dirt quickly, lessening the cooling of your unit.
Susan and Mike had this issue on their Class A RV after they drove down a 5 mile dirt road to a Harvest Hosts winery. The amount of dust was unbelievable and their AC units they were filthy and inefficient. Now they have their RV rooftop air conditioners professionally cleaned every year to ensure that they operate correctly.
Leaks in a duct system are another possible culprit. Checking for this is fairly easy; simply run the air conditioner, and check all the ducts and connections by placing your hand over them.
If you feel the air against your hand, or a loose connection, then you’ve found your leak. Even a small leak can make a difference. Your RV A/C needs all the help it can get to keep things cool inside.
The final common issue is with the design of your air conditioning system. Yes, that’s right your A/C isn’t designed for maximum airflow.
Rather than being attached directly to the vents in the rooftop unit, air blows first into a space in the roof called the plenum. This disrupts the airflow, and on top of that, the plenum is also a common area for leaks.
As a result, all the cool air doesn’t make it into your vents to cool down your RV.
How To Make Your RV A/C Colder
There are many ways you can maximize your RV A/C performance so that it blows colder air. One of the most important things to do is to properly maintain your A/C.
Some of this maintenance will be done once a year while other tasks can be done every week. A/C preventative maintenance items include:
- Regularly cleaning and replacing air filters
- Regularly inspecting the shroud on top of the unit for damage, and covering it when not in use
- Periodically checking the seal between your AC unit and roof to ensure the gasket isn’t worn out
- Checking fins on the rooftop unit for damage or blockages
- Listening for a loud fan motor
- Checking seals in ductwork for leaks
It’s also smart to ensure your RV A/C doesn’t have to work so hard to cool your RV. Park in the shade whenever possible and prevent your RV from getting too hot by using window shades and windshield sun shades.
Perhaps the best way to maximize your RV A/C performance, however, is with KoolRV A/C Connect. Once installed, this unique device will increase your RV A/C performance and efficiency, leading to better cooling.
Mike and Susan installed the KoolRV A/C Connect in both of their Class A rooftop A/C units and it works great! They are much cooler and the A/C units are performing very well, even on hot days.
How Does KoolRV A/C Connect Work?
The KoolRV A/C Connect is a simple device that will maximize your RV A/C performance. The best part, it’s a super easy one-time installation.
If you remember, from the previous section, we mentioned how your RV A/C likely blows air into a plenum rather than straight to the vents. The plenum is basically a box where the smooth flow of air is disrupted as it swirls around inside.
So because there’s no direct connection to the vents, air can swirl around in the plenum, rather than making its way to the cabin. The KoolRV A/C Connect fixes this problem by providing a direct connection between your A/C unit and your vents.
Simply attach the A/C Connect to the A/C unit, then to your vents, and voila! Your air conditioner will now run much more efficiently.
Check out the video below to get the full picture.
How Much Should An RV A/C Cool Your RV?
Just how cool your A/C can make your RV depends on a number of factors.
For one, the exterior temperature is a major deciding factor. Your A/C unit takes this air and the warm air inside your RV, cools it down, and then sends that air into your RV. If it’s 100 degrees outside, even the most powerful RV A/C isn’t likely to get your RV down to 50 degrees.
That said, a properly working RV A/C should be able to drop the temps in your RV by about 20 degrees Fahrenheit. So, if it’s a 100-degree day, you should be able to get down to 80 degrees.
These numbers are, of course, with a properly maintained and working A/C. In the best-case scenario, you should be able to drop the temperature by about 20 degrees.
How Often Should You Service An RV A/C Unit?
To maximize your RV A/C performance, you should have a professional service the unit at least once every 12 months. They’ll inspect the unit and do any necessary repairs and maintenance to ensure it performs as well as when you bought it.
Keep in mind, though, that if you live in a hot climate and use your RV A/C more as a result, more frequent maintenance is recommended. Consider doing maintenance as often as every 6 months if you’re in this situation.
Besides professional servicing, you should ensure you clean and/or replace your air filters periodically. While the general recommendation is every couple of months, if you live in or have been visiting somewhere very dusty, you should consider cleaning filters as often as weekly.
4 FAQs On Maximizing Your RV A/C Performance
1. Why is my RV A/C not cold?
You may have a coolant or duct leak, a clogged air filter, or a mechanical issue like a broken fan or compressor. Or, it may simply be due to the flawed design of many RV A/C systems. Most RV A/C systems are not designed for the most efficient flow.
RV A/C troubleshooting can be tricky as there are a host of reasons your A/C isn’t cooling as well as it should
2. How do I make my RV A/C colder?
There are many ways to maximize your RV A/C performance and make it colder. The most basic is ensuring regular maintenance, including cleaning and replacing air filters and coils periodically and having a professional service the unit at least once a year.
Products like the KoolRV A/C Connect can also help make your air conditioning system more efficient.
3. How often should you service your RV A/C?
To maximize RV A/C performance, you should have your A/C unit serviced at least once a year. If you live or travel in places that are especially hot, consider doing more frequent servicing.
4. How much will an RV A/C cool down your RV?
Your RV A/C won’t cool your RV down to a specific temperature, but rather by a specific number of degrees.
Generally speaking, a properly working RV A/C unit should be able to cool down your RV by about 20 degrees versus the outside temperature.
Final Thoughts About Maximizing Your RV A/C Performance
If your A/C isn’t blowing cold air, then you could have a variety of issues. Leaks, clogged filters, and design issues can all contribute.
Thankfully, by taking steps like proper maintenance and using tools like the KoolRV A/C Connect, you can maximize your RV A/C performance. That way, you’ll stay nice and cool, even in the dead of summer.
Related Reading:
– Can I Run The RV A/C While Driving?
– Will RV Skirting In Summer Keep Your RV Cool?
– RV Window Insulation Tips For Summer And Winter
– Can I Walk On My RV Roof?
Ryan Milejczak – Author and Part Time RVer
Ryan Milejczak (mill-LAY-check) is a full-time freelancer writer and Florida native with a passion for RVs.
Currently, he’s saving up to do his own camper van conversion, which he plans to take across the US and Mexico.
When he’s not writing, Ryan loves cooking, hiking, practicing his Spanish, and taking care of his plants (currently at 23 plants and counting!)
Source: https://rvblogger.com/blog/how-to-maximize-your-rv-ac-performance/
