Best Portable AC Unit For RV Reviews And Buying Guide-2022

Top 7 Best Portable AC Unit For RV Reviews

What Should I Look For When Buying The Best Portable AC Unit For RV?

Are you in a dilemma of the best portable AC unit for RV to purchase? Relax! Here are full details on all the features that will help you get a high functionality air conditioner.

No more stories! Let get to the crux of the matter.

• Cooling capacity

Simply put, the cooling capacity of an AC is the measure of its ability to extract the excess heat in the air.

The cooling capacity is measured in British thermal unit, which is abbreviated as BTU per hour.  Consequently, the higher the BTU, the more powerful is the AC.

Further, the cooling capacity limits the amount of space that the AC can cool. For instance, an AC with a cooling capacity of 12,000BTU is recommendable for a room of up to 550 sq. ft.

• Functionality

Most of the current air conditioners are multipurpose.

Some of their standard functionalities are cooling, dehumidifying, or fan functionality. Typically a 3-in-1 unit has cooling, fan, and dehumidifying functionality, while a 4-in-1 goes a step further to include the heating functionality.

What is my point?

This is it; you should identify your current problem, for instance, if it is excess moisture or high temperatures and specifically look for a unit that can offer that. Otherwise, it wouldn't be a shock if you purchase an item that does not meet your expectations.

• Size

Do you have a small or large space to set up the unit? You need to get that clear before setting your foot to purchase the air conditioner.

If you have a small space, then the unit should have a small base area to take less space.

Still, if you will be regularly changing its location, you need to check on its portability. A portable AC unit usually has a lightweight design.

• Mode of operation

With the current advancements, most of the air conditioners have a silent mode of operations.  Nonetheless, you should confirm it for yourself.

But why is it necessary to check on the noise level of an air conditioner?

The big reason is that the noise may affect your activities, especially for indoor use. Will you be able to cope with the noisy AC while sleeping? But even before that, how will you concentrate in a loud house or even when riding in the RV?

If you are purchasing for outdoor use, you are likely to think that you got your way out?

But check this; most of the local authorities have noisy restrictions. Besides, while purchasing AC for RV, most camping sites have loud limits, mostly at night.

Without any doubt, a relatively silent air conditioner is highly recommendable.

The outdoor units have a noise range between 19db to 53db,while outdoor units have a noise rating ranging from 42db to 69db.

• Sleep mode

Ideally, an AC with a sleep mode is highly recommendable

Before that, what does 'sleep mode' refer to?

An air conditioner with sleep mode implies that it can regulate the airflow at night by automatically increasing the air temperature by up to 1 degree per hour, depending on its settings.

As a result, such an air conditioner ensures that you get comfy and maximum sleep. But that is not all.

To add on, an air conditioner operating in sleep mode consumes less power and energy, thus making it an energy-saving item.

• Fan speed

Before I jump right ahead, get this; the air conditioner fan is the main component that affects the room's cooling or heating.

Simply put, it is the heart of every air conditioner. Resultantly, failing to inquire more about it brings in many regrets

Let's get to the main deal now.

What Is A Portable AC?

A portable AC is a small-sized conditioner which has a compact design for mobility.  They are standardly designed to sit on the floor or have a temporal setup kit such that the installations and removal are so simple.

Portable AC's are commonly used in offices, bedrooms, living rooms, and vehicles. In simpler terms, their design is for situations where a central  AC unit is not convenient.

How Does This Portable AC Work?

Basically, the portable AC cool the room by taking in the warm air and moisture and exhausting it through the window kit. Resultantly, it has to be vented outside to provide a place to deposit the hot air.

It has a refrigerant that moves in the tubes while absorbing the excess heat of the indoor air. After absorbing the heat, the refrigerant condenses to a liquid and travels to the outdoor unit.

While on the outdoor unit, the excess heat is removed from the refrigerant, and it changes its state again to gas and travels back to the inner unit.

Types Of Portable Air Conditioner Units For RV

There are several types of portable air conditioners. They include;

• Window air conditioner

This type of AC is a single unit air conditioner usually mounted on the walls or windows. Actually, it is known to be the simplest form of an air conditioner.

It has two fan motors, which are incorporated such that one is facing the evaporator side while the other one faces the condenser side. When installing it, the evaporator side should face the room while the condenser side faces the outdoor side.

It has a drain pan that contains the water from the cooling coil, which is later drained by the use of gravity.

• Vented-air conditioner

A vented AC is an air conditioner that uses ducts. Consequently, there have been many claims that usinga duct system leads to heat loss, which decreases the heating efficiency of the air conditioner.

 The ductless air conditioners are gradually replacing this type of air conditioner.

• Vent-free air conditioner

Vent-free air conditioner, also known as ductless air conditioning, is remarkably versatile. Its construction makes it possible to install it almost everywhere for cooling purposes.

Because of the bare fact that it does not use ducts, its operations are relatively silent. Consequently, unlike other types of air conditioners, you do not have to bear noise pollution.

Besides, due to its ductless nature, it is considered to be energy efficient. As air flows through the ducts, it is prone to losing some heat, thus lowering its temperature, which results in power loss.

What is the catch? Using a vent free air conditioner guarantees an optimally working device.

• Split air conditioners

Addedly, there is a split air conditioner that has two central units. That is the compressor on the outside and an air outlet on the inside part.

They use a set of pipes that connect the outdoor to the inner unit. For cooling purposes, this type of air conditioners uses a refrigerant in the copper pipes to cool or generate heat

• Self-evaporative air conditioner

This type of air conditioner was invented to do away with the need toempty the bucket manually. Consequently, it has bucket-less design.

Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner Vs. Single Hose

The hose is used to access the cooled air. Air conditioners can have a single hose or dual hose construction.

To get the main difference between the two, let's first understand the working of the hose.

The hose is functioned to remove the warm air in the room to the outside, thus creating a pressure imbalance between the room and the surrounding.

Consequently, to keep the air pressure at balance, the cold air from the outside environment gets into the room through the windows or other openings. Correspondingly, cooling the room.

As the name suggests, a single hose design has only one hose. Thus it has to work more intensively than a dual hose design to cool the room.

In contrast, the dual hose design has two functioning hoses—consequently, they cool the room much faster. Further, due to reduced work that each hose is handling, its filters' lifespan is immensely enhanced.

Dual hose design AC is recommendable for large spaces due to its quick and efficient way of cooling.

Portable Air Conditioner Vs. Window Unit

A portable air conditioner is a conditioner that has a compact design and an exhaust that connects to the window. By compact design, it implies that you can easily carry it along.

Why would you choose a portable air conditioner?

First is the mere fact that their movements are easy. Also, the installation process is very straightforward. And lastly, due to the compact design, it will cover a small space

And as fate has it, portable air conditioners have its demerits too. To begin, you will need extra space for the vent on the window.

Also, despite all the manufacturers' efforts to provide silent operations, the humming sound of the AC is likely to be audible.

On the other hand, a window unit is a type of air conditioner with a single box design. They are a good alternative when looking for a permanent central cooling system.

The main advantage of a window unit is that it does not use a vent, and most of its noise is directed to the outside. However, most people dislike the fact that they take ages to install and likely block the window.

Which is the best for RV? Portable or window unit AC

Personally, I would recommend a portable AC for RV.  Why?

Evaporative Air Cooler Vs. Portable Air Conditioner

A portable air conditioner is a mobile system that works to remove excess heat and moisture from the air using a refrigerant.

The refrigerant, also known as a coolant, is a special fluid that removes the excess heat or moisture from the air. This fluid moves through the copper coils and cooling tubes, which connect the outside unit to the internal units.

The fluid absorbs the heat from the indoor air and condenses to a liquid. It travels back to the outdoor unit, disperses the extra warmth, and evaporates back to gas.

An evaporative cooler, also known as swamp or desert cooler, is a device that cools the air by use of water evaporation.

Unlike the air conditioner, an evaporative air conditioner cools the air by vapor compression by a water-soaked medium.

When the air gets into the medium, it comes into contact with the cold water, which absorbs the extra heat in the air molecules—resultantly cooling the air.

When should you consider an evaporative cooler?

Evaporative air coolers are recommendable outdoor due to the need for plenty of fresh air. Also, they are recommendable when you are not ready to incur a high maintenance budget. That is because they are relatively cheap to maintain.

Which is the best for RV users?

How To Calculate The AC Size Or BTU

Air conditioners have different sizes, which determine their cooling capacity. Typically, an AC size will not refer to its dimensions, but rather the amount of space it can cool.

The cooling capacity is measured in British thermal units abbreviated as BTU.

But how will you know the right size or BTU efficient for your RV or house?  That will need you to perform a mathematical calculation.

Don't freak out! I am here to guide you on how to perform the calculations. And if you are not ready for some calculations, I will offer a table to guide you. Let's dive in

Before jumping right ahead, the calculations are dependent on some factors.Hence, some adjustments are recommendable on certain conditions such as;

• For a heavily shaded room, increase the capacity by 10%
• In scorching areas, increase the capacity by 10%
• A room with more than two regular occupants add 600BTU for each extra person.
• For kitchen use, increase the BTU by 4,000btus

To the calculation;

Step1; get the room or RV measurement

To get the room area, measure its length and width. After, multiply the two measurements.

Note; the measurements should be in feet units. If you are using any other units such as meters, you will have to convert them.

Step 2; get the BTU

The BTU of the air conditioner should be minimally 25 times the room area.

Thus, multiply the area of your room from the first step with 25.

For example

Assume that you have a room whose length is 12 feet and the width 10 feet.

Hence the area will be;

12x10= 120sq.ft

The BTU for the air conditioner;

120x25= 3000BTU

Which Are The Factors Considered To Calculate The Size Of A Portable AC?

Before I jump right ahead to the factors to consider, I need to clear up something.

By now, you are aware that a lower BTU isn't recommendable for obvious reasons of inefficiency. But the same applies to a higher BTU. You may think that getting a higher Btu will quicken the process but not at all.

Here is the explanation.

A too high BTU makes the unit cool faster and causes a continuous cycle to maintain the temperature that you have set. The repetitive cycling leads to inefficient moisture removal as expected.

You can now guess the results, a humid environment perfect breeding of bacteria and mold, and a significantly stretched energy bill.  

To the critical matter now;

Considering that no room has the same structures, the cooling capacity for every room varies. Some of the things to consider are;

• Number of occupants

In a room with more than two regular occupants, the AC's standard cooling capacity should be increased by 600BTU.

For the RV, check on its capacity and multiply by 600 BTU. For instance, if it is a 14-seater, there are ten extra persons. Thus you should increase the cooling capacity with 6000BTU.

• Room shading

In a place with heavy shading such that most of the sunlight is blocked, the cooling capacity should be increased by 10%.

• Application

This factor is to be considered when purchasing an air conditioner for home use.  When setting it on kitchens with quite heavy appliances, or any other extremely warm room such as a server room, the BTU should be increased by 4,000BTU.

• Natural climatic condition

Keeping all other factors constant, how would you describe the area's natural climatic conditions, too hot or cold?  For extremely sunny areas, then the BTU should be increased by 10%

• The ceiling

How far is the ceiling or the upper part of the RV located? If it is beyond 8 feet, then increase the BTU by 10 percent for each foot.

What Makes A Portable AC Great For RV?

A portable AC is an excellent option for maintaining a cozy environment in a recreational vehicle. In fact, most of these devices will cool the air and remove excess moisture, which is the leading cause of mold and mildew.

Nonetheless, there are things that you should regard to ensure that you get an excellent AC for an RV. The factors include;

• AC type: There are several AC types, including vented AC, evaporative, window unit, and portable AC. Most RV-ers opt for a portable ventless AC. That is to avoid the need for regularly draining the tank.
• Size- most portable ACs have a mini-sized to ensure they take less space in your vehicle
• Cooling capacity- the cooling capacity of an AC is measured in BTU. You should ensure that the cooling capacity of the AC will cool all the parts of the RV effectively
• Installations- portable AC for RV should have straightforward and fast installations and removal.

Benefits Of Investing In A Portable Air Conditioner

Portable air conditioners are indispensable devices for every RVer.  Or are you ready to let the sunny day ruin your trip? I guess not.

Portable AC ensures that you enjoy a favorable condition while traveling to your destination. Even better, if you are going camping, you can remove it and use it at the camping site.

But wait-there are more reasons as to why you will never regret investing in a portable AC.

• Easy installations

Unlike the window unit AC, the portable AC has temporal installations. Thus making it quite simple to install it or remove it. Therefore, you can easily use it across many rooms or recreational vehicles.

Actually, in most cases, you will only be needed to hook or unhook the AC. Or even better, just place it on a surface.

• Noiseless

Over the recent past, most portable AC manufactures are incorporating a silent mode of operation.

Do you get what that implies?

You no longer have to bear with the humming sound of an air conditioner.

• Mobility

And above all, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a portable AC to an RVer, because of its enhanced mobility.

Do you remember that we said that its installations and removal are effortless? Good. But to add on-

After removing the unit, it will not take you tons of energy to get it to the other RV or room. That is as a result of the usual compact design in most portable AC. Consequently, they are lightweight or even with carrying handle fitted.

• Multipurpose functionality

Beyond, that most of the portable ACs have up to 3 or four functionalities.

That is, cooling, fan, heating, and dehumidifying. Standardly, the AC will cool as well as remove the excess moisture.

Purely, portable ACis focused on ensuring that you get maximum comfort while traveling.

• Affordable

In contrast to the window unit or evaporative cooler, portable ACs are quite affordable.

Honestly, checking on its price, you got no reason to be a victim of humidity or a hot day.

To sum up, getting the best portable AC for RV will never be anun-regrettable investment. That is because it will negligibly affect your budget and guarantee maximum comfort for every traveler.

Further, with the easy installations and portability, you can easily use it across many recreational vehicles or rooms.

How To Install A Portable AC In An RV

Did you just purchase your portable AC for RV? Perfect, only in a few, we will help you get it installed?  If not, I wonder what is keeping you from purchasing it.

To begin, you can install the portable AC in an RV either on the rooftop, sidewall, or just place it on a surface.

If you are not placing the AC on the floor, follow the following steps

Step1; get the tools

The first step is to have all the needed tools nearby. They include;

• The air conditioning unit
• Manual,I.e.,RVand AC unit manual
• Gloves
• Screwdriver
• Bolts
• Wirecutter
• Sealant
• Knife

Step 2; switch off the power

While installing the unit, you will be in contact with live wires.

Thus you should switch the power off to avoid electric shocks, which may even lead to death.

Step 3; identify the installing point

Now, it is time to identify the appropriate point to install the AC.

The location should be sturdy to ensure that it can hold the unit securely. It should also not be directed to a source of heat, especially when installing in the kitchen.

Step4; makes holes

The holes are to place the wires from the ceiling to the air conditioner. That is why you should have identified the installation location priory.

You should drill the holes carefully to provide a secure fit. You can use this chance also to identify the points where you will insert the bolts.

Step 6; insert the bolts

The bolts are to hold the conditioner on the wall.

After drilling the holes, take the conditioner and place over the wall, and secure it by inserting the bolts.

Step7; seal the holes

The AC needs to be held securely on the surface

How?

Take a sealant, and apply it to the points the AC is in contact with the wall

Step8; make the necessary connections

Now with the AC on its location, you need to make the necessary wire connections to get it set for functioning. No physics is required here! Don't freak out!

The wires are usually coded with colors. For example, the blue wire is likely to connect with the other blue wire.

Else, you can seek more information on the user's manual.

Step 9; hurray! Get it functioning!

You are such a brilliant person if you have managed up to this far.  Congrats! Now all is left is getting the AC functioning and you beating the road. How do you do that?

Where To Place The Portable AC In The RV

The location point of an AC unit affects its functionality. Ideally, you should place it near outlets

You can install the AC on the wall, rooftop, or just place it on the floor.

While placing the AC on the floor, the ground surface should be quite hard and at least 8 feet away from obstructions.

Some of the places that you can place the AC unit in the RV are the rooftop or the wall.  All you should ensure is that the unit is at a place with minimal shading or obstructions.

How To Clean A Portable Air Conditioner

It is recommendable that you clean the  AC at least once a month and at the beginning and end of every summer season. But even before that, why is it necessary to clean the AC regularly?

• Staying with a clogged filter may result in odor.  Filters are constructed to filter away all the debris from getting to the cooling unit. If left there for long, they are likely to decompose and result in odor.
• Growth of mildew and mold- when the AC is left un-cleaned for a long time, dust accumulates in the unit. Such an environment becomes perfect breeding for bacteria, mold, and mildew.
• Reduced efficiency- how would you expect the filter to function well with a lump of debris? Still, the unit's dust is likely to reduce its efficiency, leading to a low running unit.

With that now, let's look at the cleaning procedure of an AC.

Step1; unplug the unit

To begin, switch off the power source and unplug the unit from the socket.

Step2; drain the tank

One of the functions of the AC is dehumidifying the air. Thus, it collects excess water and stores it in a tank.

The next step is to drain this water to set it ready for cleaning.

Step 4; switch to fan mode

The fan mode helps to dry the inner components of the AC altogether.

Subsequently, run the AC in the fan mode and leave it for approximately 2 hours

Step 5; empty the filters

The filters ensure that no debris or dust particles get into the cooling unit.

To empty it, carefully remove it from the unit and shake off the dust. However, in some cases, the filter may require replacement.

Step 6; vacuum the vents

The vents are the main air pathways. Thus they also need regular vacuuming.

To do that, you can use a vacuum or the hose.

Step 7; clean the coils

Cleaning of the coils requires a weak acid. You can purchase it or use a homemade acid from lemon or vinegar.

Pour the solution into the coils and leave it for a few minutes. Later you can rinse with some clean water.

Step 8; clean the external housing unit

Lastly, the external casings of the AC also need to be cleaned.

Conclusion

To sum things up, a portable AC for RVs is here to ensure comfort for every traveler. It has quite simple installations, affordable and intuitive controls.

Even a step further, this article simplifies everything for you. It highlights the review of the best portable AC unit for RV and every other detail that you need to enjoy favorable weather despite the unfavorable climatic conditions.

FAQs

Is Portable Air Conditioners Safe in an RV?

Short answer; yes

Portable air conditioners' construction keeps them efficient and safe for RVing. They have a lightweight body for mobility as well as take less space. They have no track record of affecting the vehicle functionality

Can you use a portable AC unit in an RV?

Portable ACis efficient in putting the cold air right where you need it and absorbing the excess moisture. Thus they are a perfect tool for RV ersliving in hot or extremely humid areas.

How Much Power Does a Portable Air Conditioner Use?

The amount of power consumed by an AC is usually noted in the manual. However, you can still calculate it by using the following formula;

Power(in watts)= amps x volts

Standard outlets have a voltage outlet of 240 volts.  The amperes are indicated on the AC body or the manual.

How Often Do You Have to Drain a Portable Air Conditioner?

Ideally, a portable AC should be drained after 8 hours. However, that is dependent on several conditions, such as the regional climate and the number of occupants.

How to Vent a Portable Air Conditioner Without a Window

There are several alternatives to vent the air conditioner without a window. They include;

• Venting through the door
• Venting through the wall
• Venting via the ceiling
• Venting via the dryer vent

What happens if you don’t vent a portable air conditioner?

It is quite dangerous to fail to vent an air conditioner.

In such a situation, the hot air remains locked up in the unit. Thus the moisture continues to build up in the room, which results in the growth of mold.  Worse, it will not even cool the air.

What is the smallest portable air conditioner on the market?

When this article was written, the smallest available portable AC is the Edge star AP10002BL air conditioner, rated to have the smallest base area. Its dimensions are 13" x15" with a cooling capacity of 350sq.Ft.

Can I use a portable air conditioner in a room without a window?

Yes, you can use a portable AC in a room without a window.

However, you will need to find an alternative option on how to vent the unit. You can use the door, wall, or ceiling to vent it.

Do All Portable Air Conditioners Have to be Vented Out a Window?

No, not every portable AC that must be vented through the window.

Essentially, you should just have a venting alternative; you can drill the wall or find a space in the doors to vent.

Though, window venting remains to be the best way to vent a portable AC.

How much is a Portable Air Conditioner?                            

A portable air conditioner can cost as low as below $50 and as high as over $400.

The pricing depends on the number of functionalities it offers, and it's quality. Standardly, the higher the number of functionalities, the expensive is the unit.