Since June 2016, records began breaking all over the country fueled by a persistent heat wave that doesn’t seem to want to go away. For the RV owner, this heat is not only a nuisance to summer plans; it also makes life more difficult inside the RV when trying to keep the interior somewhat livable. Even the best RV lacks the same insulation that you would find in your home. So how do you enjoy your summer travel plans and ward off Mother Nature’s summer wrath? Continue reading for some great tips to keep your RV cool even when summer is at its hottest.
- Park Smart, point north- Depending on the type of campground you might be limited in how you can position your RV. But keep in mind the old adage of the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Consider which direction you want to face when you will be inside the RV the most. Position the sleeping quarters where they will be the farthest from the suns path. You can also park your RV to take advantage of any shade that is available, especially on the side where the refrigerator vent is located. Also try for a shady site when you check in at the campground. This will not only help cool the RV down, but your refrigerator and roof A/C will work much more efficiently.
- Keep the A/C filters clean- On most models, this is a simple as washing the filters in warm soapy water, rinsing and allowing them to dry before reinstalling. If the filters are just too clogged or worn out, replacement is a cheap and easy solution. A/C units that don’t have to work as hard to operate can help keep your unit cooler.
- Use the RV’s built in shades- Make full use of the awnings, your window blinds or curtains and day/night shades to help keep the sun out and the cooler air in.
- Monitor the campground voltage- which can fluctuate during the summer months when campers are running their A/C, placing a higher demand on campground electricity. You should monitor the voltage coming into your RV with a digital voltmeter. If voltage drops below 105 volts or goes above 130 volts, turn your appliances and electronic equipment off until proper voltage is restored. This will allow more power to keep your A/C going at 100%.
- Install a fan in your refrigerator vent fan- Installing a thermostatically controlled refrigerator vent fan at the back of the refrigerator, or at the top of the refrigerator roof vent to assist with drafting the hot air away from the refrigerator will improve the refrigerators performance by up to 40 percent. This is something many people can do themselves or have a competent RV shop do it for you.
- Maintain proper ventilation- Good ventilation will help prevent excess heat from building up in your RV. You can install vent covers over the roof vents to allow for ventilation and fresh air in, even when it’s raining. Meanwhile, the smoke, cooking odors, heat, and stale air escapes.
- Like a refrigerator, limit the opening and closing of doors- Remember when your mother would scold you for constantly opening the refrigerator to decide what to eat? To help keep the inside of the motorhome cool, try to avoid opening the door as much as possible.
- Cook Outside- Consider also cooking outside rather than inside whenever possible. A solar oven is great for cooking with the sun and keeping the heat out of the RV. There are also a number of outdoor grilles and even ones that tap into tour onboard propane system.
- Evaporative coolers- A good evaporative cooler will chill an RV by 10-30 degrees in warm, dry climates. Do a Google search for DIY evaporative coolers to find a solution that will fit your needs. Another search term is the “Swamp Cooler”. The main benefit is it can pull water directly from your fresh water tank so you don’t have to worry about running out of water. It’s made to fit perfectly in a standard vent fan opening so the install doesn’t involve cutting any holes into the roof.
- Window Filters- Sometimes it cools off enough at night especially in the desert, where you can leave the windows open. In fact, you really need to leave windows open to circulate air so you’ll want a good filter to trap any dust before it enters the RV. Any A/C filter will help but more expensive ones work the best, or better yet if you plan to camp in dusty areas often then purchase the washable filter roll so you can customize and reuse the filters.
So there you have it, 10 hot tips to keep cool in Texas from A Dallas RV repair shop. If you need help getting your RV to stay cool, be sure to give us a call.