RV Cooling tip. Easily Overlooked.

Welcome to another Tech Tip Tuesday, brought to you by the National RV Training Academy—the largest hands-on RV training academy in America! Whether you’re a first-time RVer or have been on the road for 15+ years, knowing how to properly set your RV air conditioner thermostat can make all the difference in keeping your rig cool during those hot summer months.

I’m Jeremy Wagers, a Master Certified RV Technician and Instructor of Advanced Air Conditioners & Heat Pumps at the National RV Training Academy. Today, I’ll walk you through some basic tips and tricks to help you avoid common thermostat mistakes and ensure your air conditioning system is working at its best.

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Understanding Your RV Thermostat

Your RV’s thermostat is the key to controlling your air conditioner and keeping your rig cool. There are different types of thermostats, but today, I’ll focus on two common Coleman-Mach models:

1. Analog Thermostat (Dial-based)
2. Digital Thermostat (Button-based)

Each type has specific settings that control your AC unit. If these are not set correctly, your air conditioner might not cool properly—even if the fan is running.

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Common Mistakes When Setting Your RV Thermostat

Mistake #1: Fan Running but No Cold Air

A few weeks ago, I received a service call from a first-time RVing couple. Their RV air conditioner wasn’t blowing cold air, but they could hear the fan running. When I arrived, I found they had an analog Coleman-Mach thermostat, just like this one:

• The fan speed was set to high, meaning the fan was running, but…
• The temperature setting was at 90°F, so the compressor never turned on to cool the air.

This is a super common mistake! If your temperature is set too high, the AC won’t start cooling because it thinks the RV isn’t hot enough. Always check your thermostat settings!

How to Fix It:

✔️ Set the thermostat to “Cool” mode, not just “Fan.”
✔️ Lower the temperature to your desired setting.
✔️ Check your fan settings—if it’s on “High” or “Low,” the fan may run without the compressor. Set it to “Auto” if possible.

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Mistake #2: Digital Thermostat Temperature Not Adjusted

Many RVs today have digital thermostats, like this Coleman thermostat made by Airxcel. These thermostats show the ambient temperature inside your RV, but sometimes people forget to adjust the temperature setting.

• Just because it says 72°F on the display, doesn’t mean it’s set to 72°F.
• You must manually lower the temperature using the arrow buttons.

I see this mistake all the time! I personally love my RV to be a cool 68°F, while my wife prefers a balmy 72°F—we still haven’t agreed on that one! 😂

How to Fix It:

✔️ Use the up/down arrows to set your desired temperature.
✔️ Double-check that it’s set to “Cool” mode and not just displaying the current temperature.

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Final Thoughts: Stay Cool This Summer!

Keeping your RV comfortable in the summer heat starts with understanding your thermostat settings. Whether you have an analog dial or a digital display, small mistakes—like setting the fan to “High” instead of “Auto” or forgetting to lower the temperature—can leave you sweating in frustration.

Always double-check your settings, and if you’re ever in doubt, refer to these tips to get your RV air conditioner working properly.

For more RV maintenance tips, stay tuned for more Tech Tip Tuesdays from the National RV Training Academy.

Have questions? Drop them in the comments below!

🚐💨 Happy RVing & Stay Cool!

RV Cooling tip. Easily Overlooked.