Who doesn’t love the comfort of a cold room on a hot day? It’s especially important for RV owners who often travel in areas with hot and humid climates.
But sometimes their overzealous cooling systems can become too noisy. It can be the most frustrating when you’re trying to sleep. How to quiet RV air conditioner? Is there a way to fix it or is it time for a new RV AC?
An RV AC making loud noise generally happens when the system collects the experience of many RV trips. Over time, many components and connecting parts start acting up. Fortunately, there are several ways to overcome this annoying problem.
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How to Quiet RV Air Conditioner: The Best Ways To Silence
When you head out to the boonies with your trusty camper, you at least expect the AC system to work normally. But it will be a nightmare if it starts making an irritating noise.
How to make RV air conditioner quieter? Does it need costly repair? Maybe not. We’ve got 7 tips that will help you have a quiet RV AC unit, so you can get some much-needed shuteye.
1. Check for a loose rubber gasket
For a quiet RV air conditioning unit, you need to make sure that the rubber gasket is not loose. You will find it between the camper’s roof and the A/C unit. The gasket sits there with the help of some bolts. It’s normal for the bolts to become loose or the gasket to get damaged after traveling hundreds of miles of bumpy roads.
The rubber in the gasket can become fragile and chip out because of continuous exposure to light, heat, and rain. In this condition, the rubber cannot cushion out sound and vibration.
If you notice this part is damaged or has come off, replace the worn out gasket. Reseat it firmly against its sealing surface on both sides. Then, tighten all bolts so the gasket sits securely and absorbs the noise.
2. Tighten all bolts and screws
It’s also a good idea to tighten all screws and bolts on the AC unit. Loose bolts and screws are often the cause of many RV AC problems including rattling and banging noises.
When you’re tightening them, use the correct torque settings as specified in your RV’s manual. You don’t want to overtighten and damage any parts. Just make sure that all bolts and screws are properly fastened, so your camper’s AC is nice and quiet.
This is a preventive maintenance step that you should do every time before a trip. Also, don’t forget to do it before storing the trailer for an extended period.
3. Clean all AC components regularly
Another way regarding how to make RV AC quieter is keeping all components clean. Dust, dirt, and leaves can accumulate in the fins of the condenser coil. This will reduce the unit’s ability to dissipate heat and increase its noise level.
To clean it, you need to remove the cover of the AC unit. Turn off all power to the RV and let it cool down for a couple of hours. Then, remove any leaves or debris by hand or low-pressure compressed air.
A vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment will also work great. It will suck up the dirt inside the fins. Make sure that you hold the hose straight as you pull it out, so you don’t damage any fins.
4. Lubricate the sliding parts
This is a quite simple step for how to quiet RV air conditioner. If your AC unit sits on the roof, check if each joint has a small amount of lubricant to prevent it from making noise. The joints may wear out over time and start to squeak. If you notice this, add some lubricant to each one.
You can use a silicone-based lubricant or just WD-40. Apply it sparingly to the moving parts and joints. Don’t put it on the fins of the condenser coil as this will only attract more dirt and dust.
5. Add insulation to the AC unit
Adding insulation is another effective way for how to quiet RV AC. The noise from the unit’s compressor can be reduced by installing appropriate soundproofing material around it. This will absorb the vibrations and reduce rattling inside the walls of your camper.
You can get commercial-grade soundproofing material from a hardware store. Just get it according to the size of your RV. Use fasteners to attach it to the exterior wall where the AC unit is positioned. If you don’t want to drill holes in your walls, use heavy-duty mounting tapes.
6. Use an RV Air Conditioner Silencer
Are you still worried about how to quiet RV air conditioner? If you think that the above-mentioned tips won’t work for you, install an AC silencer. It can reduce the noise level by 8 to 10 dB, which is a lot.
Installing a silencer is a simple and quick job. Even if you try by yourself, it won’t take more than 15 or 20 minutes. Once set up, you can enjoy some quiet time again inside the camper.
If nothing works out for the RV air conditioner noise reduction, you may need to replace the old air conditioner with a new quiet RV AC model. AC units these days are quieter by design and do an excellent job in suppressing noises. For rooftop models, choose from Coleman, Dometic, or Jayco’s Whisper Quiet.
7. Seal all gaps and openings
Noise will also be reduced if you seal any opening or crack around the AC unit. Make sure that your camper is sealed tightly, from top to bottom. This will prevent any drafts from coming through and reduce rattling noise inside.
Conclusion
The AC unit is one of the most common sources of noise in an RV or camper. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to reduce its sound level and keep it quiet.
Just follow the guide above if you want to know how to quiet RV air conditioner. By following these tips, you can keep the unit running quietly all summer long.
