Whether it’s blazing hot or freezing cold outside, extreme weather can substantially affect your quality of life in an RV. Most RVs start out with single-pane windows that take in whatever temperature it is outside and magnify that feeling for the interior of the RV. Insulated windows can help greatly with this issue, and what’s better is that it is a job you can do yourself! We’re here to break down the step-by-step process of how to insulate your RV windows.
RV windows (and other parts, like your water pipes) aren’t typically designed for protection against the elements when it comes to extreme temperatures. Hot summers and cold winters can have a major impact on your living conditions in your RV, amplifying the conditions outdoors. Letting your heated or cooled air escape through your windows is also costly, especially if you are relying on a generator to power your RV.
Thankfully, there are options out there to protect you from this in the form of insulation! Insulating your windows can stop the weather from affecting your comfort inside your RV and keep out mold and mildew as well. There are multiple ways to insulate your windows, and you can take care of all of them yourself.
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Insulating RV windows may sound tricky but it’s actually pretty easy, and there are lots of options out there!
Most methods simply require you to go to any general store and purchase the required materials, so before you head out to take care of the job, make sure to make a list of what you’ll need.
With that being said, here are several ways to insulate RV windows:
You can either purchase heavy curtains for your RV windows or make them yourself if you have quilted material and a sewing machine handy. However you choose to do it, all you have to do is hang up the curtains in front of your windows to provide an added layer of insulation. It’s best to measure the windows you’ll be putting curtains in front of beforehand so you can get curtains that are the proper size, but as long as they cover up the space of the window, you should be good to go.
If you’re a real DIYer, using shrink wrap plastic to create a layer of insulation on the inside of your RV windows can be a great move for those chilly winters.
For this, you’ll need a heat-shrink plastic wrap kit (you may be familiar with this if you’ve ever insulated a home, it’s the same kit!) and a hair dryer. Place double-sided tape on the borders of the RV window frame, then take the plastic from the kit and attach it to the tape, covering the window. You’ll then use the hair dryer to blow hot air on the plastic, causing the plastic to shrink and the edges around the window frame to be sealed. This will create a layer of air that acts as the insulation from the exterior climate, keeping you comfortable.
This may not be the best option for many people because it’s more tedious than a lot of the other choices. It is, however, highly effective if you’re able to do it right.
Putting up Reflectix on your RV windows can be a great option for insulating your RV, but it isn’t the right choice for everyone.
Reflectix looks similar to silver bubble wrap and can help keep your RV cool in the summers and warm in the winter. However, a big downside to Reflectix is that it will completely block out the sunlight from your rig, which may be an issue if you’re looking to use natural light to illuminate your rig.
In a pinch, ordinary bubble wrap will also work. Thick, 24-inch wide bubble wrap can be a good way to insulate RV windows. All it takes is a spray bottle or rag to lightly wet the glass so that the bubble wrap can stick to it. A pro tip is mixing a small amount of dish soap into the water spray bottle for extra adhesion. If it doesn’t stick, you can secure it with the usual suspects like tape, Command strips, or velcro.
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Using plexiglass is one of the more expensive options on this list, but it solves most of the disadvantages of the other options.
It provides great insulation and doesn’t obstruct your sight at all. This method does require a few tools, including a utility knife, mounting tape or Velcro, and of course, the Plexiglass itself.
Not much effort is needed to cut through the Plexiglass if you have a decent utility knife, so the process is pretty easy. Just measure the window size, mark those measurements on the Plexiglass, and cut away! Following this, secure the Plexiglass to the window using the aforementioned Velcro or mounting tape, and you’ll have an excellent insulated window on your hands.
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A nice, permanent option for RV window insulation is to simply have your windows tinted. This can be costly depending on the quality of the job and where you get it done, but you’re unlikely to regret it. This method is sure to keep your RV cool in the midst of a hot summer, and a high-quality tint may even keep your RV warm in the winter too!
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