The Best RV Air Conditioner Covers (Review & Buying Guide)

Traveling the country in an RV is a great way to see new sights and explore. RVs are a moving home, fitted with everything needed to enjoy life on the road, including an A/C. However, you may not always need the A/C on your trip and you’ll need to protect it when it isn’t turned on. The best way to do so is by covering it.

Air conditioner covers function in the same way a cover for a car, motorcycle, or RV would. Like a vehicle, the air conditioning unit spends a lot of time outside in the elements. All that time outdoors can damage the device. Having a cover prevents things like dust, rain, dirt, and other grime from entering it when it isn’t in use.

There are a lot of major benefits to owning a cover for your air conditioning unit. The main one being it will protect it from the elements while it isn’t in use. The weather can cause a number of serious issues with an RV A/C unit, and ensuring it is kept safe will allow it to function again when you need it.

It isn’t just weather-related problems that can damage the unit. The sun’s UV rays can weaken it as well. Setting out in the heat all day without protection can cause the machine to malfunction or damage the paint. Any amount of damage to an A/C unit can break it, and repairs can be costly.

The cover can also protect the device against animals as well. It’s not something you normally think about, but a bird, bear, or bug can harm your air conditioner. The cover will prevent any critter from crawling around, on top of, or even inside the machine into your RV.

There are a few different types of air conditioner covers you can find to place over the unit. The most popular kind you may come across is vinyl. However, you will also be able to buy ones that are made out of either polypropylene, polyester, or polyethylene. Each one functions in the same basic way.

Vinyl is one of the most common forms of air conditioner covers you may come across. Our top three choices are made of vinyl. Vinyl is considered a fabric and is wound up together with tiny pieces of synthetic fiber to create the finished material. It may also be considered a plastic as well.

A large majority of things are pieced together out of vinyl including clothing, sporting equipment, vehicles, and tents. It is one of the most versatile fabrics to work with and can be used to create just about anything. It is also highly waterproof and can resist water droplets so the A/C unit will stay dry in a downpour. 

Polypropylene is a thermoplastic developed out of a combination of propylene monomers. That’s a fancy way of saying the fabric is made out of dense and thick material. This helps prevent water, snow, and dust from seeping through the fabric to the air conditioning unit and into the RV itself.

Polypropylene covers are better designed for colder weather climates as well. However, this doesn’t mean they aren’t great for warmer environments either. They just function more effectively by preventing colder air from traveling through them. The material can also be found in shirts, tents, and heavy-duty RV covers as well. 

Another synthetic manmade fiber is polyester, one of the most popular fabrics in the world. It is used to create thousands of different items, including shirts, tents, car tires, ropes, and cushions. There is bound to be something made out of polyester within a few feet of you.

You can even find polyester RV or car covers that are rather similar to A/C covers. These covers will be made up of several different layers of yarns or fibers. They work best by protecting the air conditioning unit from the sun, but can also be waterproof as well.

Polyethylene is a different type of fabric than the others mentioned above. It is a thinner plastic material that works best at preventing wind and dust from passing through it. It can also protect the A/C unit from rain and the elements as well. However, it may not be the most sturdy of materials, as it is thinner.

Polyethylene is most commonly used to create grocery store bags, bottles, and toys. Although it isn’t a thick material when compared to our other choices, it is typically woven together to form thicker strands. This helps make it more resistant to tearing and ripping.

As for features to look for when considering an air conditioning cover, you should look for a few main things. Aside from the size of the cover, which is something you should measure beforehand, look for covers that provide good airflow and ones that are waterproof. Both of these features will help prevent any damage to your A/C while it isn’t being used.

It really goes without saying, but finding an air conditioning cover that is waterproof will save you a major headache. Since RVs spend the majority of their lifetime outdoors, they will encounter a lot of water and other elemental factors. Rain inside the A/C unit is a sure way for it to falter. Water doesn’t mix with electronics well and you don’t want to risk leaving the vehicle outside without a cover for long.

You may even be able to survive with a water-resistant type cover, depending on where you spend the majority of your time. If you park the RV in a place that doesn’t see a lot of wet weather, you should be fine with a water-resistant cover. However, if you park in areas where it tends to rain more often, you should consider a waterproof cover. Any of the types mentioned above should work fine.

Ensuring the cover is locked or latched in place will prevent it from blowing off in a strong gust. Also, making sure it is locked in place will keep water from soaking underneath it. Bugs and animals won’t be able to crawl beneath it as well. The majority of air conditioning covers come with a bungee cord or strap of some kind to tie it down and hold it in place. If not, you can attach your own bungee to it as a safety measure.

You should avoid driving the RV with the air conditioner cover on for a few reasons. First, it could fly off at high speeds and land in the road or on another car, blocking their view. The second main reason is it could damage the device by banging against it, or the strap could come off and collide with the machine. Always check to see if the cover is off before setting off on any adventure. 

It doesn’t seem like you would need a good breathable material for the A/C unit, but it will make a difference. A cover that allows good airflow will prevent any water from forming and staying inside the cover. This will also prevent any rust or corrosion from forming on the paint or even inside the unit itself.

A good breathable material will also cut down on the chances mildew forms inside the air conditioner. Once it gets trapped inside the coils or machine, it will grow and spread. Once you’re ready to turn on the unit, the smell will seep through the RV, making for one unpleasant experience.

Once you’ve selected the best A/C cover for your RV’s air conditioner, you may be left with some questions. For example, how do you put it on, or will it damage the paint of the unit or the RV itself? We’ve put together a few questions so you can better understand your new cover.

A: Installing an A/C cover is quite simple; all it takes is a bit of time. You should be able to slip the cover over the unit, and then use the strap to secure it in place. The strap may run around the entire thing or be placed over the top of it.

A: If you are careful when installing it, then you should be fine. You should ensure the cover is secure before you leave the RV parked, as a gust of wind could blow the cover or strap around, causing it to damage the paint.

A: The cover should come with instructions on how to properly and effectively clean it. The best way to wash the cover is to spray it with a hose then brush or scrub away dirt and grime with a brush.

The Classic Accessories 77410 RV AC Cover is our choice for the best overall air conditioning cover for a few reasons. It’s reasonably priced and comes in two colors to match your RV. It can be placed on the unit in seconds and ties down easily and securely. Plus, it can be folded down conveniently and quickly to be stored away.

The Classic Accessories 77410 RV AC Cover is the best overall and comes in two different colors, while the Camco 45392 Vinyl Air Conditioner Cover is a reliable name brand choice for protection. However, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly cover, the ADCO 3021 White RV Air Conditioner Cover is a great choice as well.