I also use UV reflective window film. That, combined with double bubble reflectix ordered from Lowe's and heavy curtains, keeps a LOT of the New Mexico heat out. When I have this trailer rebuilt, better insulation will reduce a great deal of heat as well. On top of that, I'll be looking for UV reflective paint. Any bit helps.
I don't even have an RV I'm in Arizona in a mobile home. But I didn't know about cool air falling. I knew heat rises. Now I know cold air falls. Thank you.
I've got Reflectix in almost every window in the RV. Works pretty good in the summer, and even helps keep the place warm in the winter by reflecting the cold off the outside of the window and reflecting the heat back into the RV. I also have tower fans that rotate and in the winter I have a couple of space heaters the keep me from using up all my propane running the furnace. Great tips! Cheers! DonP
Yeah, the insulating properties of Reflectix would help keep some of the heat in, and the reflective properties on the inside might conceivably help a little too, but the outside-facing surface can't/won't reflect "cold" for the reasons K9 stated. "Cold" isn't a thing in itself; it's just the absence of heat.
I have done all the things suggested in this video. My only question I have is covering the silver reflection with black cloth will that help reflect sun more and not blind other’s?
Like so many, you do not understand the "drop" in temp an AC is capable of. A 16 to 21 degree drop AS THE AIR PASSES THROUGH THE AC is normal. NOT in ambient temp. A well insulated RV with good AC can easily drop the temp inside 40 to 50 degrees LOWER than the temp outside the RV..
Ambient temperature was a bad choice of words, but my point was an AC unit that is operating properly has a 16 to 22 degree difference in temperature between the air immediately entering the return air grill and the air immediately leaving the supply air louvers. And unfortunately there are lots of larger size RVs, equipped with one AC unit, that do a poor job cooling the inside of the RV during the hot summer months.
We have a new 38 FT. Class A Coach that has two 15,000 BTU A/C 's in it. I actually had to go purchase a 14,000 LG portable A/C and run the hose out a window hence, I don't like doing that because now I can't lock the window. But it had to be done just to be able to enjoy this coach. Do you think that's a good idea? Also, do you know if a way to lock this drivers seat window ? It's the window by the driver and it slides to open and close. I had put a piece of wood along the bottom seal.... but then I all anyone would have to do is just push the a/c panel/ hose inward or out and then just open the window. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge and videos I honestly enjoy each and every one. I don't know where I'd be today with this brand new coach without your help.
Hello Latada, I know exactly what you mean. We have an RV lot at the beach that we keep a 5th wheel trailer on. We added a 10 X 20 screen room enclosure and we use a portable AC to keep it cool. The hose goes out a window just like yours. The only thing I can think would be if you could figure out a way to route the hose down through the basement, but because the hose is large it would be difficult. Wish I had a better answer for you.
RV 101® Thanks! I will look into that idea. I just don't understand why these manufacturers run the A/C in the roof. There's not much insulation up there anyway, the cool air has to come down through the vents only after it cooled the entire roof. Why don't they install the a/c in the basement area then the cool air would come up through the floor.( but really, what do I know) lol... At this moment, my new coach is in having warranty work done. Of course right? They did find that the vents were cut too short and fell over hence, freezing up the unit. I'll never understand how they get away by just throwing this units together. Then we keep buying them for ( in my case ) hundreds of thousands of dollars. But, what do ya do when you got the RV Fever! Lol... Thanks again for all your knowledge and time. Wishing you happy and safe travels!
Since cool air falls, it's better to mount an a/c unit on the roof and have the cool air come through the ceiling. It's gonna head to the floor anyway, but at least it will pass through the middle of the interior of the RV (where *you* are) and hopefully mix somewhat with the interior air before it gets there. If the cool air were introduced through the floor, it would mostly just stay there and you wouldn't get the full cooling effect. (And likewise, you want the heater vents in the floor because hot air rises. If the warm air came from a vent near the ceiling, it would just stay up there, limiting the warming effect to the ceiling area.) If the roof insulation is inadequate, that's an insulation problem, not a problem with having the a/c on the roof.
Thx for the tips. I was concerned about running a small "honnneywell" house fan in rv. I thought I would blow the power. Are my concerns unfounded? Ps... newbie 😁
It's good to have an idea of the total amps/wattage you are using, especially if the RV has a 30 amp electrical system. However these small portable fans use very little electricity. You should be able to find a label on your fan that tells you what the wattage is, then you can use this formula to find the amps. Wattage /voltage = amps
That was my mistake, it fell down while filming and I quickly put it back up. I have it back to the proper position now. I love my country and the American flag. Mark is a retired CWO 3 in the United States Army. ~Dawn
My experience is that reflextics actually works better on the outside of the windows
Sid I got it on outside and inside on my casita
I also use UV reflective window film. That, combined with double bubble reflectix ordered from Lowe's and heavy curtains, keeps a LOT of the New Mexico heat out. When I have this trailer rebuilt, better insulation will reduce a great deal of heat as well. On top of that, I'll be looking for UV reflective paint. Any bit helps.
I don't even have an RV I'm in Arizona in a mobile home. But I didn't know about cool air falling. I knew heat rises. Now I know cold air falls. Thank you.
btw, the foil bubble film works good to keep the heat inside when it gets cool.
I've got Reflectix in almost every window in the RV. Works pretty good in the summer, and even helps keep the place warm in the winter by reflecting the cold off the outside of the window and reflecting the heat back into the RV. I also have tower fans that rotate and in the winter I have a couple of space heaters the keep me from using up all my propane running the furnace. Great tips! Cheers! DonP
lostagain, Reflectix can't reflect cold in the exact same way a mirror can't reflect a shadow. Not busting your chops, just letting you know.
Yeah, the insulating properties of Reflectix would help keep some of the heat in, and the reflective properties on the inside might conceivably help a little too, but the outside-facing surface can't/won't reflect "cold" for the reasons K9 stated. "Cold" isn't a thing in itself; it's just the absence of heat.
Wouldn't it be better to put the reflective window coverings on the outside?
I need to see out
I have done all the things suggested in this video. My only question I have is covering the silver reflection with black cloth will that help reflect sun more and not blind other’s?
Like so many, you do not understand the "drop" in temp an AC is capable of.
A 16 to 21 degree drop AS THE AIR PASSES THROUGH THE AC is normal. NOT in ambient temp.
A well insulated RV with good AC can easily drop the temp inside 40 to 50 degrees LOWER than the temp outside the RV..
Ambient temperature was a bad choice of words, but my point was an AC unit that
is operating properly has a 16 to 22 degree difference in temperature between
the air immediately entering the return air grill and the air immediately
leaving the supply air louvers. And unfortunately there are lots of larger size
RVs, equipped with one AC unit, that do a poor job cooling the inside of the RV
during the hot summer months.
RV 101® thank you, we're on 30 amp with one a.c. and yes we've come to realize it does a poor job cooling our rv in summer
Great tips! Thanks for sharing.
Nice video
What, no links to the products??? Get me all worked up and now I have to go look for them. Good ideas though, that's for sure.
We have an article here with product links. rv101withmarkpolk.com/2017/08/05/5-inexpensive-products-to-help-keep-you-cool-in-your-rv/
Thank you so much for getting back to me RV 101. I really like the awning shade. Have to get me one of those. I am Grateful for the Education.
yes, all of the above.
Nice god bless
I bulk cook early in the morning, or late at night. Then, just reheat in the microwave.
We have a new 38 FT. Class A Coach that has two 15,000 BTU A/C 's in it. I actually had to go purchase a 14,000 LG portable A/C and run the hose out a window hence, I don't like doing that because now I can't lock the window. But it had to be done just to be able to enjoy this coach. Do you think that's a good idea? Also, do you know if a way to lock this drivers seat window ? It's the window by the driver and it slides to open and close. I had put a piece of wood along the bottom seal.... but then I all anyone would have to do is just push the a/c panel/ hose inward or out and then just open the window. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge and videos I honestly enjoy each and every one. I don't know where I'd be today with this brand new coach without your help.
Hello Latada, I know exactly what you mean. We have an RV lot at the beach that we keep a 5th wheel trailer on. We added a 10 X 20 screen room enclosure and we use a portable AC to keep it cool. The hose goes out a window just like yours. The only thing I can think would be if you could figure out a way to route the hose down through the basement, but because the hose is large it would be difficult. Wish I had a better answer for you.
RV 101® Thanks! I will look into that idea. I just don't understand why these manufacturers run the A/C in the roof. There's not much insulation up there anyway, the cool air has to come down through the vents only after it cooled the entire roof. Why don't they install the a/c in the basement area then the cool air would come up through the floor.( but really, what do I know) lol... At this moment, my new coach is in having warranty work done. Of course right? They did find that the vents were cut too short and fell over hence, freezing up the unit. I'll never understand how they get away by just throwing this units together. Then we keep buying them for ( in my case ) hundreds of thousands of dollars. But, what do ya do when you got the RV Fever! Lol... Thanks again for all your knowledge and time. Wishing you happy and safe travels!
Since cool air falls, it's better to mount an a/c unit on the roof and have the cool air come through the ceiling. It's gonna head to the floor anyway, but at least it will pass through the middle of the interior of the RV (where *you* are) and hopefully mix somewhat with the interior air before it gets there. If the cool air were introduced through the floor, it would mostly just stay there and you wouldn't get the full cooling effect. (And likewise, you want the heater vents in the floor because hot air rises. If the warm air came from a vent near the ceiling, it would just stay up there, limiting the warming effect to the ceiling area.)
If the roof insulation is inadequate, that's an insulation problem, not a problem with having the a/c on the roof.
Captain Quirk if it's a Brand new A/C maybe your warranty would cover the cost of having them take a look at the A/C they installed??
Two 15,000 btu and it don’t cool it enough there’s some wrong with them they should keep it cold 30,000 btu even in sun it should keep it 70? Easy
Thanks , good job.
❤
Thx for the tips. I was concerned about running a small "honnneywell" house fan in rv. I thought I would blow the power. Are my concerns unfounded?
Ps... newbie 😁
It's good to have an idea of the total amps/wattage you are using, especially if
the RV has a 30 amp electrical system. However these small portable fans use
very little electricity. You should be able to find a label on your fan that
tells you what the wattage is, then you can use this formula to find the amps.
Wattage /voltage = amps
Goal zero yeti 3000 powers my 800 watt aircon for 4 hours ,6 hours with solar
What solar panels did you buy?
❤️❤️❤️
How does an awning keep you cool,as far as I know it doesn't change the outside temperature.
It provides shade from the sun.
I clicked "up" soon as I saw the flag. America
Just wish they had displayed the Flag properly.
That was my mistake, it fell down while filming and I quickly put it back up. I have it back to the proper position now. I love my country and the American flag. Mark is a retired CWO 3 in the United States Army. ~Dawn