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As the weather gets warmer, more and more people want to take their RV out for a fun summer getaway or a beach trip. The last thing you want to worry about is if your air conditioner is working properly or not. It can ruin a day quickly when you turn on your air conditioner to cool off and it doesn’t blow cool air hard enough to keep cool.
So, why is your RV air conditioner not blowing hard?
Your RV air conditioner isn’t blowing hard, either because the air filter or coils are dirty, or vents are blocked or damaged. The fan motor might be broken or the motor isn’t powerful enough. Proper maintenance of the filters, vents, coils, and motor, including cleaning, removing blockages, and replacing old parts should fix the issue.
Let’s explore the reasons why your air conditioner isn’t blowing hard and how to make the necessary repairs to get it working again.
Why Is My RV Air Conditioner Not Blowing Hard?
A hot day with an air conditioner that’s not working properly is not anyone’s idea of a good time. Air conditioners aren’t necessary but they are a nice luxury to have. It’s important to remember that the interior heat of your RV can get much hotter than the outside.
Luckily, there are a few common reasons why your air conditioner isn’t blowing hard and most of them can be prevented with proper maintenance.
Reason 1: Dirty Air Filter
A dirty air filter can keep the air from flowing freely out of your unit. Small pieces of dirt can build up and clog the filter. To fix this issue, you can wipe down the filters or replace them if needed. After this, air should be able to flow freely from your unit.
Reason 2: Problems With The Fan
The fan motor can break or get damaged which will make the air stop flowing. It can happen every once in a while and is often due to the motor wearing out over time. If that’s the case, the best option is to replace the fan motor.
Reason 3: Dirty Coils
The coils are located near the roof, so they do tend to get dirty. If you have a dirty filter, your coils are likely dirty as well. A dirty filter will allow more dirt to get through to the coils, so if you clean or change out your filter and the problem persists, then you can bet that the coils need cleaning as well.
Reason 4: Blocked Vents
Blocked vents are nobody’s favorite problem to come across. You can try all you want, but small critters can still sometimes make their home inside of your vents. They will build nests and that will create a blockage. Your vent can also be blocked by other dirt and debris. This issue can be fixed by removing the blockage.
Reason 5: Damaged Vents
Air vents can sometimes be damaged. Rough and bumpy roads can really do a number on your air vents. Sometimes they can even collapse in on themselves, which would block the airflow. You need to locate the damaged areas and either repair or replace them to restore airflow.
Reason 6: Motor Not Powerful Enough
If your RV or trailer is on the longer side, it’s possible that the vent for your air conditioner is too long for the fan motor to push the air all the way to the end of the vent. If this is the case, then you need to replace the fan motor with one that is more powerful.
Air Not Blowing Out Of All Vents
When the air is not blowing hard enough, it could be because the air is not blowing out of all of the vents.
If you have a ceiling unit with no vents, then you can move the sliding tab between the dials on the unit. This should increase the airflow.
If you have vents, there are a few more things you may need to do in order to troubleshoot the issue.
One potential source of the problem is the partition that sits between the supply and the return. The partition could be loose or not installed correctly. This can cause you to lose airflow.
In order to fix this issue is to repair the partition.
It’s also possible that the issue is due to a blocked or damaged vent. As previously described, removing the blockage and replacing the damaged vents will solve this problem.
If you can’t seem to get the air flowing out of all the vents, then you should look for a small piece of cardboard piece located underneath the AC cover. This can be left by the manufacturer and is a common problem with RV air conditioners. It’s also possible that styrofoam was left behind by the manufacturer. Cleaning styrofoam can be frustrating because it can break up into pieces and take a while to fix.
These can be difficult issues to run into, but they are relatively easy to fix.
How Do I Increase Airflow In My RV Air Conditioner?
Increasing airflow in your RV air conditioner can be fixed by following the simple instructions outlined above, but there are other ways to increase the airflow.
It may sound like a strange suggestion, but changing your incandescent light bulbs to LED light bulbs can make a difference. Incandescent bulbs throw off more heat than LED bulbs and the extra heat can negatively affect the air conditioners cooling power.
The sun doesn’t decrease the airflow of your air conditioner, but it does make the air conditioner work harder to produce the same amount of cooling. Parking in the shade can make a difference in your air conditioner’s performance.
Generally, the cooler your RV is, the better performance you’ll get from your air conditioner. You don’t have to worry about how long you run your air conditioner, because they are designed to run all day long.
Below is a video that goes in-depth on how to troubleshoot and fix your RV air conditioner when it’s not blowing hard.
Conclusion
If your RV air conditioner is not blowing hard enough it can be a frustrating problem to face, especially on a hot day. The good news is that the fixes are not too difficult to implement. RV air conditioners are necessary for comfortable travel and knowing how to maintain them is important for every RV owner who plans to travel in hot weather.