I had read a thread last year about blocking the sun, thus heat, coming into
the RV through the windows. I have tinted double pane windows, and when the morning sun hits the side of the RV, I could feel the heat on my fabric shades. The windows themselves were hot to touch.
I live in the Mojave Desert, so I wanted to help keep the inside of the RV cooler, and lower my electric bill, by not having to run the AC full blast all day.
Last summer I made and installed some cardboard pieces for the windows on the East facing side that gets full sun until it gets straight above the RV. The West side only gets about one hour of direct sunlight a day, so not an issue.
Naturally I placed them on the inside, under the shades. It made a difference in keeping the inside cooler, and I no longer felt the heat on the shades.
But yesterday I was reading another thread on this subject and a person posted NOT to place the sun blocking materials on the inside of the windows, as it would create too much heat on the glass and frames, and cause damage to the double pane window seals.
Well I just checked the glass, and low & behold, it was too hot to touch. The frame & glass actually burnt my hand. I got out my lazer temperature gun and the upper part of the glass was 173*F.
I now have removed the cardboard, and will temp test the glass again tomorrow at the same time to see if there is a difference.
If the temps are much lower, then I won't reinstall the cardboard. I know that repairing windows is a lot of $$$, and I don't want to cause myself to waste $$$ that needs to be spent elsewhere.
I will post an update tomorrow, as I know this is important to everyone here.
Fulltime livin' & lovin' it in '94 Bounder 32h.
Chevy 454ci Retire in 3yrs.
The curtains help in winter or summer. At the rear window, I originally had a cheap thermal lined curtain from Walmart. But they didn't hang well. Once I replaced with the Bleeker's, there's a noticable drop in temperature in the summer with everything closed. I use a 2nd set for behind the loveseat.
2009 DRV Mobile Suite 38TKSB3 (38RSSB3)....our custom home w/2011 upgrades
2010 Ford F450 KR CC 4x4......his office
Working Fulltimers since 3/2005
"Shoot for the Moon! Even if you miss it, you will land among the Stars."
The IR comes in through the glass, turns to heat, is reflected by your cardboard shades, hits the window and can't escape(because it is now heat) so heats it instead.
Since my greenhouse project is on my mind (and I am starting to worry about summer over heating), would it be possible to put shade cloth on the outside of your windows? I know you would have to remove it when you move, but maybe you could hold it on with that sticky back Velcro tape?????
Anything installed on the inside does very little to stop the heat transfer. Even the aluminum frame transfers heat as you have found.
The best solution is to block it before it can transfer through the frame and window.
Test it again with some cardboard covering the window and frame on the outside, you will be amased at the difference.
Harold and Linda
2009 CT Coachworks siena 35V
W-22 Workhorse 8.1L
Explorer toad
Thanks for the replies so far.
I have awnings for all the windows, which solves the problem of the sun even hitting the glass. Bedroom window is not a problem because it is small, and I can leave it out all the time.
But... The wind can get pretty nasty here sometimes. I can't leave the big awning out all the time or it would get torn off or shredded.
So its the 3 windows on the passenger side I need to block.
20 yrs ago I personally gutted my 18' openbow boat and re-upholstered it. I remember now what to do. Yeah !!
I will get some beige (to match RV paint) vinyl marine upholstery material with cotton backing and secure it to the outside of windows using stainless steel snaps. The marine stuff will last in the sun, and stainless will last if it gets wet.
One thing about vinyl vs shade cloth, you can see out and some light will come through shade cloth. The vinyl could give you the feeling of living in a cave.
Think of the windshield covers you see that are a shade fabric.
Ray, Cheryl, Cory & of course Miss Molly the four-legged child
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