Air Conditioner/ Open Vent

MOKID · 06-23-2010, 06:43 PM

We just arrived home from a small camping trip in a local SP in exteme heat (95 with heat index of 103) but it was for our Grandson so it was worth it. We ran our Air most of the time and I noticed that most of the other campers were running their Air and also had a roof vent open. What is the opinion of this group on running the Air with a open vent.

264SRinPA · 06-23-2010, 07:27 PM

We close the vents. The A/C pulls hot air in through the vents.

kanyonkitty · 06-23-2010, 07:29 PM

We also keep our vent closed when the AC is on.

MACK C-85 · 06-24-2010, 08:52 AM

The vent should be closed when the A/C is on. The A/C is trying to remove the moisture (aka Humidity) when it's running and opening the vent will allow more humid air in and make the A/C work harder.

On the other hand, when the heat is on it is good to slightly open a vent to allow the moisture to escape. It will keep windows from fogging and moisture from condensing on them.

Mack

Sunline1 · 06-24-2010, 02:12 PM

When you first get to the campground etc.

If the (inital), inside temp of the camper is warmer than the outside temp.

I usually run the air for several minutes with the vents open a little bit.

Then close all roof vents, and also insert the foam (vent cover), insulators that are usually used for cool wether camping as well.

Happy Camping !!!

Sunline1

precorguy · 06-25-2010, 03:06 PM

Ok, i don't understand why anyone would keep the vents open - it would be like using the home central air and leaving a door open ---- that being said, i do open and run the bathroom vent fan when i am showing as i figure it helps to remove the shower steam and hopefully reduce the load on the air condition.

MOKID · 06-25-2010, 03:33 PM

I agree 100% but I must say that at least 1/2 of the campers had a vent open. I just wondered if there was a reason for it that I wasn't aware of. Thanks for the reply's.

Sunline1 · 06-25-2010, 05:42 PM

My thinking on leaving the vents open a little bit, during the "inital" start up at the campground. if the temp inside the camper is "higher" than the outside temperature, warm air rising it will exit the camper.

The Temperature of the cold air comming out of the airconditioner vent/vents is, of course is determined by the air temperature going in to the warn air return.

Therefore leaving the vents open a short spell, will let some of the warm air out of the camper, hopefully dropping the temp of the air going into the warm air return makeing the air outlet temp cooler. Also by getting the air out temp a little cooler you also gain in speeding up the cooling process of the ceiling ductwork if you have a system like that. Can you imagine if the camper temp might bre be in the mid 90's what the attic temp would be.

Depending how hot the camper is I usually only leave the roof vents cracked open for about 10 min. Then everything gets closed up as indicated in my earler post.

EMD_Driver · 06-26-2010, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOKID

I agree 100% but I must say that at least 1/2 of the campers had a vent open. I just wondered if there was a reason for it that I wasn't aware of. Thanks for the reply's.

Perhaps all those camper owners had a chili cook-off and were venting the methane from their rigs....

tedontario · 06-26-2010, 05:30 PM

We always close all vents and windows when the AC is on we also have thermal drapes over the windows and doors and insulated bag in vent hole. Makes it very effective I remember the first time we went to Disney world with or 2499 having been there several times with an old PU. We left for the day and when we came back expecting a nice cool TT we did not see a water puddle from the AC and knew we had trouble. Found out we had only turned on the fan and had not set it to cool.

Ted: Have a Great 4th of July

Gene · 06-26-2010, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EMD_Driver

Perhaps all those camper owners had a chili cook-off and were venting the methane from their rigs....

That was a "Lemonade through the nose" moment, good one.

.

EMD_Driver · 06-26-2010, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gene

That was a "Lemonade through the nose" moment, good one.

.

Just as long as you didn't get your keyboard all sticky!

**JohnB** · 06-27-2010, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOKID

I agree 100% but I must say that at least 1/2 of the campers had a vent open. I just wondered if there was a reason for it that I wasn't aware of. Thanks for the reply's.

Hi Mokid

We too keep the vents closed. May have the door open for a breif period if it is hotter in then out when 1st started to force some of the hot out. Then we close up.

And we do vent the when we shower to keep the hot moisture out. then close back up.

Now for seeing people with the vents open.... Well what can we say.

I often time see people running the AC with the door wide open... all day long...

John