How to Keep Your RV Cool and Comfortable- RV AC Tips

Keeping your RV Cool when the temperature is rising can be tough! Road trips, sunny days, camping under the stars, and so many other great things mark the summer and hopefully you have a few trips lined up. With all of the good adventures sure to be coming, that RV should be tuned up and ready to ride after a winter of hibernating in the driveway or storage. There is nothing quite like the feeling of that first summer road trip with the spirit of joy and freedom that it always provides. For all of us road wanderers, warm weather travels are a much needed break from the cold and for many others, summer is the main travel season of the year. So, all aboard and wheels up!

With all the warm weather activities and endless miles of highway to lead all of us RV enthusiasts anywhere the wind may take us, it’s important to know how to keep yourself and your rig cool and comfortable as the thermometer rises ever upward. With a little knowhow and some planning, you can rest assured that your air conditioning is up and running in good working condition so you aren’t left sweating to the oldies on some dusty road in the middle of nowhere. Let’s take a look at a few simple tips to keep it cool this summer.

Pre-Trip Planning and Inspection

As with other forms of regular maintenance, it is always a good idea to perform a routine check on your air conditioning units before hitting the road. Climb up on the roof of your RV by using a ladder (safely, obviously) and do a visual inspection of any roof mounted A/C units. Start by checking the plastic cover over the entire unit and inspect for cracks, holes, or other signs of wear. These covers can easily get beat up by a stray tree branch or other small road hazard and if your cover is in sorry condition, consider replacing it. New covers are easily available and pretty affordable.

Also check that the entire unit is snug and secure on the roof while you are up there. There is typically a foam or rubber gasket type lining between the A/C unit and your roof. Look at this and make sure it is not loose or torn. This is an oftentimes secret entrance for water to creep in to your RV and that is a huge issue that should be prevented at all costs.

Look at the cooling fins to make sure that they are straight. These fins can get bent, especially if there is damage to the A/C cover and this can lead to poor cooling ability and sometimes failure in the unit altogether. If they are bent, don’t panic! You can easily straighten out the fins using a butter knife, comb, or other stiff piece of dull material. Just take extra caution to not puncture the cooling tubes that run near these fins. If you puncture these tubes, you have just performed a fatal flaw on your rig… Proceed with caution!

Related Read: Tips for Fixing Leaky RV Roofs

How to Keep Your RV Icey Cool Inside

If your A/C units check out up top, it’s time for some considerations of how to keep things cool on the interior. A first step is to locate the interior A/C units that are directly below the rooftop units except on the interior. All models vary slightly but there is a foam filter under or around the plastic cover that should be cleaned with warm water every year. While this filter is out being cleaned, take a minute with a shop-vac or other maneuverable vacuum and clean out the dust built up within the A/C unit. Try to reach up into any ductwork that is accessible and vacuum this as well.

These are the basic steps to preventative maintenance for your RV air conditioning system. Let’s now take a look at a few steps to keeping your rig operating as an efficient cooling environment to keep you from sweltering under the sun this summer.

Curtains and Drapes

It may seem like more of a cold weather thing, but insulating your RV with high quality curtains is a crucial step to keeping it cold. If you are in a very warm environment, an RV can act like an oven on wheels - quickly heating up to uncomfortable levels in a matter of minutes. All of the air conditioning in the world won’t always help if there are open cracks or large window openings letting the heat of the outdoor air seep into your vehicle.

Related Read: DIY: Installing Insulating Blinds in Your RV

The first step here is to make sure all of your windows, doors, and vents are in good operating order without any cracks or compromises in function and integrity. Check windows for cracks and make sure seals and moldings are not worn, torn, or out of order. Replace these if necessary. Any type of curtain material or fabric will work to cover your windows but make sure to have a curtain available for every window. You can easily cut and customize your own curtains and simply Velcro them over all window openings. Custom and prefabricated window treatments are also available if you have the budget to do so. For an added step and further increased cooling efficiency, installing a sunshade and/or solar insulated window covering is a great option.

Air conditioning is a wonderful feature of modern life and if you have spent any time in a hot, humid region of the country, you know it can feel like a lifesaver. Following these easy steps to insure your RV A/C is up to snuff and ready to keep you as cool as a cucumber for your summer road trips is an easy and essential aspect to pre-trip maintenance. Time spent performing a regular checkup and upkeep on your system as well as making your RV efficient with curtains and insulation will go a long way and is more than worth the effort.