Purchasing a New AC for Your RV

Here are a few features to consider when purchasing a new AC unit for your RV 

 

Height & Weight

Height: It’s important to know if the added height of a rooftop AC is going to be an issue for your specific rig. If your RV is already reaching maximum height limits for common driving areas, it might be useful to consider a unit that is described as “low profile” like the Penguin II.

Weight: While weight mainly comes down to preference and vehicle size, a lighter weight unit can be beneficial to reduce drag and therefore save on gas mileage. If this is important to you, consider a lighter option when choosing your RV AC unit.

Noise Level

All of Dometic’s ACs are some of the quietest available, ranging from 58 to 62.2 dB. For perspective, the conversation level at a restaurant is around 65 dB.

However, if noise is a top concern, consider the FreshJet AC unit, which is our quietest model, with one-third less perceived noise than most competing rooftop air conditioners.

BTUs

BTU stands for British Thermal Units and refers to the overall cooling capacity of an air conditioner, or the speed in which it is able to cool down your space.

If you want to feel a drop in temperature as quickly as possible, then choose an air conditioner with a “high cooling capacity” (15,000 BTU or more). Like the Blizzard NXT 15K.

If you have a smaller rig or won’t be in extreme heat, you can save a little bit of money and power by opting for a model with fewer BTUs (13,500 BTU or fewer). Like the FreshJet3 Series 13.5K.

Ducted / non-ducted

All of Dometic’s AC Units can be installed with a ducted OR non-ducted application, depending on your size and vehicle type.

Non-Ducted:

Non-Ducted air conditioning units blow air directly out of the ceiling through a large vent, or distribution box, that sits directly below the AC unit on your roof that is pulling air from outside. This is very similar to a window AC unit you may have at home.
These will be more common in a smaller vehicle like a camper van, a class B, or a truck camper. These can still perform great in larger vehicles, but you may find you want multiple units to cool multiple rooms if the vehicle is very large.

Ducted:

A ducted RV air conditioner distributes air through vents placed in various areas throughout your RV using installed ducts to carry the air from the main unit. These work similar to a central AC system you may have at home.
These are usually more common in class A or higher-end, larger fifth wheel campers, as they do a better job of cooling a larger area since the AC can travel through the vents. However, they can also be installed in smaller vehicles.

Manual vs Electrical

A manual AC will have controls mounted right onto the air distribution box installed in the ceiling of your vehicle. An electrical AC will be operated from a wall thermostat that is installed separately.

Warranty

Dometic offers a 2 Year+ Warranty on all AC units, as well as specific extended warranties for parts and labor.