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Old 08-17-2022, 11:13 AM   #1
Randallf
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Cool Its hot in my rv

I only have 1 air conditioner and it’s 101 out side and inside its 86
I can’t get my RV any cooler
Doses anyone have some ideas for me
No I can’t afford another air conditioner
Thanks
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Old 08-17-2022, 11:36 AM   #2
dutchmensport
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Others will chime-in on different types of insulation for windows and such, but for an immediate "help", reduce the foot print of the camper. What that means is, pull the slides in making the living area "box" smaller.

Another thing you should do: Turn the AC on in the morning while the camper is still cool. Those RV air conditioners do a great job at maintaining a cooler temperature, but once all that space gets hot, they just don't have enough "umph" to overcome and exchange the hot air with cold. The space is just too big.

If you have a thermal thermometer, check the temperature of the air blowing at the ceiling vents. Of if you have the style with no vents, check the temperature where the air blows out of the AC. I think you will find the actual temperature of the air is pretty cool. There is just too much space for that one AC to cool, with the outside temperatures that hot. Under normal conditions, the most you can expect the inside of an RV temperature to be with the AC running is around 15 to 20 degrees less than outside. So, yours is doing about right.
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Old 08-17-2022, 11:39 AM   #3
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And keep the door SHUT. Nobody needs to keep running in and out.
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Old 08-17-2022, 12:25 PM   #4
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And get a couple oscillating fans proto.
I remember the ole 2010 Springdale 291RKSSR days....
We made it work and actually the trailer served us very well, it just had one 13.5 BTU AC .
Make sure your inside blinds are blocking the sun rays; insulate areas that are not tight, cover door window area, etc..
Sounds like your unit is working fine.
I never pulled the slide in, but in theory sounds like a good idea[emoji106]Click image for larger version

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Old 08-17-2022, 12:44 PM   #5
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Wet down the exterior especially the roof. Evaporating water takes heat with it. I do it on my house in the summer heat.
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Old 08-17-2022, 12:54 PM   #6
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As already mentioned/eluded to, space management. You have too much area for one AC. Reduce the area it’s trying to cool. If you can shut off areas that don’t get used much during the hottest parts of the day, bathroom/bedroom and limit the amount of space you’re trying to cool, that’ll help. You can also open the vents on the side of the AC unit and dump the air in the main living space instead of pushing the air through the ducts. Be careful, if you do that for too long, you can ice up the AC.
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Old 08-17-2022, 01:11 PM   #7
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"I only have 1 air conditioner and it’s 101 out side and inside its 86"

That's about right. You can expect about 15 degree variance from outside temps with the one A/C. Definitely try to get ahead of the inside heat by starting the A/C early.
In addition to the other suggestions, Use your awning as much as possible to cool at least one side of the trailer.
When not using the bedroom, close those vents and use the A/C "dump" vents to push as much air as possible into the living area. Just the opposite at bedtime.
Turn off any unused accessories. Even charging cell phone batteries generates heat.
Park in the shade if you can.
Pray for rain
Camp in the mountains during the summer
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Old 08-17-2022, 01:14 PM   #8
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I have Reflectix for all the windows when rig is in storage. Depending on how you are positioned in relation to the sun, placing reflectix over the "sunny windows" makes a HUGE difference.
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Old 08-17-2022, 01:35 PM   #9
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Lots of great suggestions above........plus shades down, run ceiling and/or portable fan, consider rvairflow https://rvairflow.com/, take cold showers and find a swimming pool to cool off in during the afternoon.
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Old 08-17-2022, 01:45 PM   #10
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I read somewhere that a fan actually increases air temp. I understand that since there is a motor and friction involved. Don’t recall the amount/percentage. I wonder what the payoff is between slightly increased air temps vs air movement which helps the air feel cooler therefore feeling more comfortable.
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Old 08-17-2022, 01:50 PM   #11
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Whenever we run the AC in our home, whether hot and humid (south Texas) or hot and dry (central and southern California), running a seperate fan (celing and/or portable) always increases the cooling effectiveness in my experience. As a result, we are able to set the thermostat higher than without it.
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Old 08-17-2022, 01:59 PM   #12
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I've got that wonderful sky light over the kitchen area, which in the summer is like an easy bake oven!?[emoji15]
We cover that thing year round-lol
Got back a couple weeks ago from an RV Campground that had our trailer right smack out on a frontage road to an exit ( not great ) and we were in full sun. I mean the awning didn't diffuse the situation.
I had to break out the full bag of AC cooling tricks....which is pretty much all of the above except bringing a slide in, and I've got 2 AC's!
Soooo it is what it is.
Start the AC early and often[emoji6]
I have yet to install the RV Airflow System for the Coleman Mach that insults and redirects the AC flow through the ducts more efficiently....its about $170 so not too expensive.
We shall see!Click image for larger version

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Old 08-18-2022, 07:47 AM   #13
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Take the inside cover off and make sure the divider between the hot and cold sides is in place and sealed. Then check the ducts for leaks and obstructions. Here is a link to what I did to improve efficiency.
https://www.keystoneforums.com/forum...ad.php?t=48171
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Old 08-18-2022, 08:21 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dutchmensport View Post
for an immediate "help", reduce the foot print of the camper. What that means is, pull the slides in making the living area "box" smaller.
Keep in mind that the manufacturer warns you against actually using any of the furniture in the slide unless it is fully extended, because the floor is unsupported. In my rig, that eliminates all possible seating other than the bed, and the bedroom gets cut off from the AC dump by the slide.
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Old 08-18-2022, 08:54 AM   #15
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Originally Posted by bsmith0404 View Post
I read somewhere that a fan actually increases air temp. I understand that since there is a motor and friction involved. Don’t recall the amount/percentage. I wonder what the payoff is between slightly increased air temps vs air movement which helps the air feel cooler therefore feeling more comfortable.
A fan cannot lower air temperature. The heat from the motor would be negligible. A fan will help distribute the air more evenly within a space. The cooling effect felt from a fan is the air moving over the skin and facilitating more rapid evaporation of sweat which cools the body. I can't image any rational person being concerned over the heat caused by friction or the heat loss from a small fan motor. IMO anyone wishing to calculate the "payoff" can spend their time as they see fit.
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Old 08-18-2022, 11:25 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by flybouy View Post
A fan cannot lower air temperature. The heat from the motor would be negligible. A fan will help distribute the air more evenly within a space. The cooling effect felt from a fan is the air moving over the skin and facilitating more rapid evaporation of sweat which cools the body. I can't image any rational person being concerned over the heat caused by friction or the heat loss from a small fan motor. IMO anyone wishing to calculate the "payoff" can spend their time as they see fit.
I listen to a San Antonio classic country AM station and CPS energy buys time and says operating an overhead fan counter clockwise will make the air temp feel 4-6 degrees cooler. Not saying they are correct but they are trying to get folks to turn up thermostats to conserve since the insane and unregulated growth of that city allows building thousands of new homes every year which is taxing the grid (and water supply). CPS stands for city public service.
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Old 08-18-2022, 12:23 PM   #17
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I followed this guys work and noticed a significant improvement in my airflow thus making it more efficient.

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Old 08-18-2022, 04:31 PM   #18
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I cover all the floor vents and the return cold air vents in the stairs! Makes a world of difference... give it a go! And it's a free hack if you use cardboard that is laying around.
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Old 08-19-2022, 04:34 AM   #19
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I followed this guys work and noticed a significant improvement in my airflow thus making it more efficient.

I did the same thing. Made a huge difference.
Also, pulled the vent covers and taped around the inside to cover gaps letting cool air go into the ceiling. When I had the vent covers pulled I used foam to block the duct that was going past the last vent in the bunkroom and bedroom.
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Old 08-19-2022, 11:00 AM   #20
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Originally Posted by flybouy View Post
A fan cannot lower air temperature. The heat from the motor would be negligible. A fan will help distribute the air more evenly within a space. The cooling effect felt from a fan is the air moving over the skin and facilitating more rapid evaporation of sweat which cools the body. I can't image any rational person being concerned over the heat caused by friction or the heat loss from a small fan motor. IMO anyone wishing to calculate the "payoff" can spend their time as they see fit.
The admonition is usually directed to people who leave a fan running inside an unoccupied room to "cool it." It just wastes power and adds heat. Running a fan to distribute cooler air from one room into another is a valid use.
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