RV Air Conditioner Guide
An RV air conditioner is, in our opinion, absolutely essential, especially when camping during the summer months. This means you will want to make sure you purchase a quality unit, install it properly, and maintain it well.
Lucky for you, you've come to the right place. Below is everything you need to know about your RV air conditioner and more.
Finding the Best RV Air Conditioner
First, let's talk about finding the best RV air conditioner. There are several factors to consider to ensure you get the very best unit for your rig and camping style.
Power
We believe power is the most important thing to look at when shopping for RV air conditioners. RV air conditioner power is measured in BTUs, or British Thermal Units. Most units are going to offer 12,000 BTUs of output.
Those who spend a large amount of time in hot places will want units with a higher output. Meanwhile, those who will rarely use their A/C may prefer something with less power at a lower price.
Dual Usage
Another thing to know when shopping for a camper air conditioner is that there are dual-usage units available. These versatile appliances include a heat pump, allowing them to function as heaters as well as air conditioners. This is great because it means you can use your propane furnace less often, saving you fuel and money.
All that said, these air conditioner units are more expensive than most. Additionally, the heat pump will not warm a space in very cold weather.
Ducted vs Non-Ducted
Motorhomes with multiple ducts in the ceiling use ducted RV air conditioners. The RV ducted air conditioner distributes cooled air throughout the rig, ensuring consistent cooling. They are generally quieter and provide a more steady overall cooling of your motorhome. However, they are also more expensive.
Smaller RVs or campers often use a non-ducted RV air conditioner, which blows air out of the bottom part of the unit to cool a room, meaning one area is likely to be cooler than others. While it's possible to switch from a non-ducted to a ducted air conditioning setup, the change can be expensive.
Size
Size is another thing to consider. While larger, traditional RV air conditioners put out a lot of cool air and are ideal for big rigs, low profile AC units also have their merits.
A low-profile RV air conditioner works just like other RV air conditioners but has a lower profile. This gives you more space on the roof of your rig and might even be necessary for a taller motorhome or trailer. They also produce less drag, improving fuel efficiency, and tend to cost a bit less, but some find that the fuel and cost savings isn't worth the loss of power.
