Have you ever ever sat inside an RV, having fun with valuable cool air pouring in out of your A/C unit, and puzzled, “Precisely how do RV air conditioners work?” Nicely, you’re not alone—whether or not you’re an RV proprietor or an aspiring purchaser.
Understanding how crucial RV techniques, like your air-con unit, function will make it easier to troubleshoot points after they come up. Realizing what to anticipate out of your air-con system additionally alerts you when it isn’t working as anticipated, providing you with a bounce on crucial upkeep earlier than a costlier restore is required.
So, let’s element the fundamentals of operating an RV air conditioner.
How Do I Activate My RV Air Conditioner?
All RV air conditioners are operated by a management board or a wall-mounted thermostat contained in the unit. On many smaller campers, the controls for the A/C fan and the thermostat are instantly on the unit’s inside ceiling panel.
On different RVs, the air conditioner operates from a digital or analog wall-mounted thermostat. Fan controls usually embrace:
- Fan Solely
- A/C (i.e., Cooling)
- Warmth (if the unit has a warmth pump or warmth strips)
The thermostat management might will let you set a selected temperature. However it might additionally characteristic a dial that merely means that you can alter hotter or colder, relying in your desire.
To your info, a warmth pump is actually an air conditioner in reverse. It’s coupled with an RV furnace through the management board as a result of the warmth pump gained’t work in freezing temperatures when the furnace can take over.
Technician Tip: Seek the advice of your proprietor’s handbook in the event you’re uncertain which kind of management your RV’s air conditioner makes use of.
How Does an RV Air Conditioner Work?
An RV A/C unit removes warmth from the air inside your RV, cooling down the inside temperature. It makes use of a refrigerant within the unit’s evaporator coil, which absorbs warmth. The pumping motion of the unit’s compressor then pumps the warmth out of your RV to the condenser coil on the RV’s exterior—both the roof, basement, or sidewall—and the warmth dissipates.
Right here’s a step-by-step breakdown of what occurs if you flip your RV air conditioner on:
- The evaporator blower attracts heat air into the air conditioner by means of the return air grill and filters it over the chilly evaporator.
- The refrigerant extracts warmth and moisture from that heat air.
- The nice and cozy air modifications the refrigerant’s state from a liquid to a gasoline at low pressures.
- Cooler air is returned to your RV’s inside.
- The gasoline passes by means of the accumulator to the compressor, compressing it to the next strain.
- That prime-pressure gasoline goes into the condenser coil, the place cooler exterior air is pulled in by means of louvers within the air conditioner’s shroud and handed over the coil.
- That cooler air transforms the high-pressure gasoline right into a liquid that’s metered into the evaporator.
Merely put, an RV air conditioner removes scorching air out of your RV. It doesn’t essentially create and pump cool air in. The legal guidelines of thermodynamics apart, when it really works correctly, your RV air conditioner regulates the temperature inside your RV to your required thermostat setting.
Can an RV Air Conditioner Run Constantly?
An RV air conditioner will proceed to run so long as it has an ample energy provide. A/C items will cycle intermittently to manage your RV’s inside temperature. The fan will run repeatedly, however the compressor will cycle to keep up the temperature in keeping with your programmed thermostat setting.
Whereas your RV A/C can run repeatedly, there are some sensible issues to think about.
The primary is whether or not you’re paying for electrical service. Whereas your electrical utilization gained’t be metered for many short-term stays at RV parks, the identical can’t be stated for month-to-month leases. Many RV parks cost for electrical service on long-term web site leases. On this case, the extra you run your air conditioner, the upper your vitality invoice goes.
The second is longevity. Merely put, the extra you run your A/C unit, the extra put on and tear it should maintain. Extra frequent use additionally will increase the frequency of periodic air conditioner upkeep. Most RVers service their air-con system yearly, however you’ll want to take action extra steadily in the event you run your A/C repeatedly.
The third is short-term viability. An air conditioner that runs repeatedly is extra prone to expertise the evaporator coil freezing up. When this occurs, it will probably stop cool air from returning to your RV’s inside. The result’s an air conditioner that isn’t doing its job and would require an prolonged shutdown to thaw.
Your finest observe is to run your A/C strategically and periodically to maintain your RV snug. You may also use these RV local weather management ideas to maintain your RV cool with out A/C.
What Is the Greatest Setting for an RV Air Conditioner?
The perfect setting to your RV air conditioner will depend on your local weather management preferences and the choices out there in your particular unit. Nonetheless, we are able to provide a couple of necessary ideas when deciding on your air conditioner settings.
- A decrease fan setting will put much less pressure on the blower motor over time. Nonetheless, you’ll possible want the next fan setting on notably scorching and humid days.
- In case your RV is supplied with an Auto fan setting, it may be probably the most eco-friendly choice. The fan will cycle on when the system is cooling and off when your programmed thermostat setting is reached.
- Many RVers declare that 72℉ is their superb A/C thermostat setting, however that may possible rely on the outside temperature.
- On common, the air returning into your RV from the A/C shall be roughly 15-20 levels cooler than the surface air temperature.
Do RV Air Conditioners Run on Propane?
It’s unusual for RV air conditioners to run on propane. They don’t seem to be like their counterpart—RV fridges. Operating an air conditioner on propane isn’t not possible, however it might be costlier, complicated, and logistically difficult than the usual system you’ll see on factory-manufactured RVs.
How Do You Reset an RV Air Conditioner?
Some RV air conditioners have a small reset button. Others could be reset just by turning the ability off and switching off the related breaker or eradicating the related fuse for a number of minutes earlier than returning to the operational place.
Technician Tip: Because of the many RV A/C producers right now, it’s finest to seek the advice of your proprietor’s handbook for reset directions and troubleshooting steering.
How Lengthy Do RV Air Conditioners Final?
With correct upkeep and safety throughout the offseason, RV air conditioners can final at the very least 6-8 years. Nonetheless, they will require an air conditioner alternative a lot before that if not maintained correctly.
Listed below are some fast RV air conditioner upkeep ideas:
- Get an annual A/C inspection. RV Techs will usually examine the shroud and seals across the unit, take a look at the air return temperature for that common change, and extra.
- Preserve the filter clear. Cleaner air passing by means of your A/C reduces the possibilities of put on and injury to inside elements.
- Cowl it in storage. Use an air conditioner cowl to guard the outside a part of the unit from moisture, particles, and different components.
- Take into account a delicate begin. An air conditioner delicate begin reduces the ability required for beginning the A/C unit, defending the unit when much less energy is out there, resembling when related to a moveable generator.
- Observe your upkeep. Preserve a file of normal inspections and upkeep procedures. This helps you paint a transparent image to the following RV technician who works on it—and it will probably additionally enhance your RV’s resale worth by demonstrating your diligence to potential consumers.
Has it been greater than a 12 months because you had your RV air conditioner inspected?
Whereas this text centered on the fundamentals of how RV air conditioners work, listed below are a couple of extra assets that can assist you study and care to your RV’s A/C unit:
What questions do you could have about how RV air conditioners work? Tell us within the feedback beneath.