With summer 2023 making records as the hottest summer to date (and year-round temperatures on the steady incline), it’s no surprise why RVers are struggling to keep their rig cool when temperatures peak.
Although RVs are insulated and often have roofs that reflect heat, the walls and insulation of an RV tend to be thin, which makes them prone to overheating.
As a result, the air conditioner often ends up operating all day, every day, resulting in high energy bills. If you want to avoid these high energy bills (and an overheated RV), finding other strategies to keep your RV cool this summer is important.
Optimal RV Placement for Shade and Air Flow
Where and how you park your RV has a big impact on how cool it will stay. For example, parking in direct sunlight with no shade throughout the day will force your AC to operate until the sun goes down.
To reduce cooling costs, look for campsites that get full to partial shade during the day. It’s also best to orient your RV so that the afternoon sun is on your rig’s left and front side. Finally, look for a spot with plenty of airflow so that you can open your windows and get fresh air in the afternoons.
Utilizing Awnings and Sunscreens
Your RV is designed with an awning for a reason, and it’s not just so that you can sit outside in the rain. While this is one of its purposes, your awning will also provide shade to a large portion of one side of your rig.
You can increase the amount of shade an awning provides by investing in a sunshade. Sunshades attach to the awning and extend to the ground, essentially offering double the shade. While an awning and sunshade won’t cool down your entire camper, it will do wonders for the side near the front door.
For insight into top-rated RV awnings, RV sunshades, and RV sunscreens, check out Camping World’s recommendations.
Enhancing Your RV’s Ventilation System
Your RV’s air conditioner is responsible for the bulk of the work when it comes to cooling down the inside of your rig. However, you can give your AC a break by investing in a high-quality ventilation system for your RV.
Unfortunately, the stock fan that comes in most RVs isn’t powerful enough to get the job done, so you should consider replacing it with one of the following:
Also, don’t forget to open a few of your RV windows to generate a cross breeze!
Reflective Insulation: A Barrier Against Heat
Generally speaking, RV windows are fairly cheap, thin, and usually single-pane. As such, heat from the sun penetrates them quite easily, making it extremely difficult to regulate the temperature inside your RV. Additionally, RV window shades are fairly thin and won’t be able to block direct sunlight.
To combat summer heat penetration, consider installing reflective insulation in each of your windows, especially those windows that are usually exposed to direct sunlight.
The Role of Portable AC Units in Cooling Your RV
If you feel like your RV air conditioner isn’t powerful enough to condition your RV, consider investing in a portable air conditioner. Portable ACs are free-standing and can operate anywhere inside your RV as long as the ventilation hose attached to it goes outside. They work very similarly to standard air conditioners but have the added benefit of being mobile.
Looking for the best portable air conditioners for your RV? See what USA Today recommends.
Cooking Al Fresco to Keep the Camper Cool
Another thing you’ll notice on a hot summer day is that any heat you generate inside your RV will magnify tenfold. Cooking tasks as simple as frying an egg in your RV kitchen can mean excess heat trapped in your RV’s interior. That’s why many campers prefer outdoor cooking to indoor cooking during summer so that the stove, cooktop, or microwave doesn’t generate extra heat and make it harder to condition your camper.
Upgrade to LED Lighting for a Cooler Environment
Traditional incandescent light bulbs, when switched on, produce heat, leading to a warmer RV environment. Upgrading to energy-efficient LED lights can significantly reduce heat and save power, resulting in a cooler and more comfortable RV. LED bulbs are also more environmentally friendly and have a longer lifespan than incandescent lights.
Dehumidifying Your Space for Added Comfort
Depending on where you have your camper parked, the humidity will be just as uncomfortable as the heat. While your RV AC removes humidity while it’s conditioning your camper, humid air takes a toll on the unit, making it harder for the AC to keep up with the rising afternoon temperatures.
Consider investing in a dehumidifier to remove some of the strain on your AC. That way, all your AC has to worry about is generating cool air, which it can do easier when there isn’t a ton of humidity.
Strategic Use of Ceiling and Portable Fans
In addition to using roof vents to pull air through your camper and generate a cool breeze, you can also use ceiling and portable fans. The key is to place your fans strategically near open windows so they pull air in from the outside and pass it throughout your rig.
Maintaining Your RV’s Air Conditioning System
While there are ways to take matters into your own hands and manually reduce your RV’s temperature (think opening the windows and installing window insulation), your AC unit will bear the brunt of the work. Therefore, it’s important to keep your A/C unit properly maintained by having a professional RV technician inspect it annually and recharge it as needed.
Alternative Cooling Methods: Swamp Coolers and Evaporative Coolers
In addition to RV and portable air conditioners, you can also invest in alternative cooling methods, including a swamp cooler or an evaporative cooler (see the differences between the two here).
Both swamp and evaporative coolers work by evaporating cold water or ice, which then cools the air and gives the air a cool, moist feel.
Seal and Insulate to Preserve Cold Air
On top of keeping cool air inside your RV, you also want to do everything you can to keep hot air outside. The key to doing this is to properly seal and insulate your motorhome, creating an airtight barrier between the indoors and outdoors. This may require installing new windows and insulation, as well as resealing around your slide-outs, doors, windows, and roof.
Adjust Your Daily Habits for a Cooler RV
Another great way to beat the hot weather of summer is to make small adjustments to your daily habits, including the following:
- Close windows in the morning to keep the cool air inside.
- Minimize door openings to prevent hot air from entering your living space.
- Cook outside to prevent heat buildup from indoor cooking.
- Close AC vents to unused spaces.
Relocate to Beat the Heat
If you’ve tried everything and simply can’t figure out how to keep an RV cool during summer, you should consider relocating. No matter what you do, summer temperatures can be unbearably hot and lead to high energy bills. Therefore, if it’s too much to handle, consider relocating to an area with milder summers.
Summary
In addition to keeping your RV cool while you’re using it, you should also try to help it stay cool while it’s in storage. Extreme heat can lead to mold, paint damage, and UV damage, so it’s important to store your RV so that it’s out of the sun and heat.
Consider using Neighbor, a peer-to-peer storage marketplace, to find the perfect storage accommodations for your RV. Neighbor has a wide range of RV storage options near you, from indoor, climate-controlled storage to outdoor covered areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Store an RV in Extreme Heat?
To store an RV in extreme heat, look for storage facilities with covered parking and climate-controlled storage options.
What Types of Reflective Materials Can Be Used to Block Heat and Insulate My RV?
Reflective materials such as Reflectix can be used to efficiently block heat from infiltrating RV windows, creating a hot and uncomfortable interior.
