When it comes time to buy a new RV AC, or upgrade the one you’re currently using, you will need to know the BTU of the unit you’re interested in. Most RVs, from the most compact models all the way up to larger 5th-wheel vehicles will have an AC installed in it. Some might even have more than one.
Is there a few ways you can find out how many BTUs your air conditioner is. You can check on the spec sheet, or find the unit model number. Another surefire way to check your air conditioners BTUs is to take a look at what the amperage is. Finally you can also verify depending on if your RV AC system is ducted or non-ducted.
How Many BTUs Is My RV Air Conditioner?
BTU, or British Thermal Unit, is a measurement of the amount of heat an AC unit can remove from a given room. An RV AC with a higher BTU will be more powerful. Typically, many modern RV manufacturers are equipping their vehicles with 15,000 BTU air conditioners, but this isn’t always the case.
With very few notable exceptions, your RV AC will be 13,500 BTU, or 15,000 BTU. These are the industry standards that can give you a ballpark range to work with. If you are repairing or swapping out your AC, you will want to know the precise figure.
Every way that you can possibly determine the BTU of your unit is rather straightforward.
Spec Sheet
Far and away, this is the simplest method to see how many BTUs are in your air conditioner. If you locate the spec sheet for the specific brand, style, and model for your unit, it ought to list the BTU.
Unit Model Number
Say that you don’t have the spec sheet, however, and you still want to know with absolute certainty the BTUs for your RV AC unit. This requires a shred more physical effort, but won’t take up too much of your time.
Climb to the roof of your RV and head to the air conditioning unit. There will be an enclosure around the AC known as a shroud. You will remove the shroud by unscrewing and carefully lifting it up, setting it to the side so you can verify the unit model number. It will be printed somewhere on the unit itself.
When searching for this, don’t jot down the very first number that you see, unless you are positive it is for the AC itself. To elaborate, you might see numerous model numbers scattered throughout the unit, as various parts might have their own, specific serial codes.
Check Your RV’s Amperage
If you’re familiar with your RV’s amperage, you’ll know if it’s 30-amp or 50-amp. These will line up with your RV air conditioner’s BTU in a rather simple measure: 13,500 BTU for 30-amp, and 15,000 BTU for 50-amp.
Ducted Or Non-Ducted
Finally, if you are not sure how many BTUs are in your RV air conditioner, there is one more way that you can check. All you have to know is whether or not your RV air conditioning system is ducted or non ducted.
If your system is ducted, you should be able to see circular events scattered throughout the ceiling of your rv. Alternatively, non ducted RV AC units will only shoot air out of the main vent located directly under the AC unit.
Non-ducted systems, for the most part, will use a 13,500 BTU AC or smaller. As for a ducted system, it is a little bit harder to tell, as there is some discrepancy. You have a 50/50 chance of the system being 13,500 or 15,000 btu. If you are unable to verify using any of the other methods, this will at least help you narrow it down.
Conclusion
When you want to find out how many BTUs are in your RV air conditioner, there are fairly easy ways to check. When it is all said and done, the BTUs in your RV air conditioner depend on what was ordered from the factory at the time of manufacturing.
It is more common to find a 13,5 00 BTU RV AC unit, but that does not mean that yours might not be $15,000. When you need to take a look either check the spec sheet, the unit model number, or decipher your av’s amperage. Whether or not the system is ducted or non-ducted will give you a further clue as to your RV air conditioner’s BTU.
