Besides size and build, a recreational vehicle differs significantly from a standard SUV or pickup. It’s distinct even from vehicles in the same category, such as buses and vans. One feature that sets it apart is the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
An RV’s HVAC is better suited for a home than a vehicle, thanks to its home-like cabin that needs more cooling and heating than a regular vehicle.
Think about it – when you’re driving your car and suddenly feel the need to turn up the AC, you reach onto the dashboard, click the AC button, and adjust the vent. But with an RV, you can have it on the dashboard or a separate control panel on the wall.
The extra control panel is for the additional AC and furnace necessary to regulate the temperature of such a large cabin.
You need a thermostat
The AC and furnace can be configured separately via individual control panels or remote controls. However, that can be inconvenient, especially if you’re the type who quickly forgets and loses things.
That’s why, like a traditional home, an RV has a thermostat, as a more complex HVAC installation requires a central regulatory device. Also, you’ll unlikely lose a thermostat fixed on the wall.
There are two types of thermostats – mechanical and digital. A mechanical (or analog) thermostat uses a bimetallic coil or strip to regulate current flow into the HVAC.
To make it work, turn the knob clockwise. This will turn on the equipment. The bimetallic strip will then expand or contract as the temperature rises or falls. At some point, this expansion or contraction will break the current flow, shutting off the equipment.
On the other hand, a digital thermostat has sensors that detect the temperature inside the cabin. It then regulates the flow of electricity within the HVAC system accordingly.
That’s how it automatically shuts off the HVAC when the cabin has been adequately cooled or heated. This is more convenient than an analog thermostat because it lets you get precise temperatures.
Airxcel Thermostat
Most RVs come with an analog thermostat, which isn’t a problem since current models work efficiently. Even if your RV is a recent model, there’s a good chance you have an analog thermostat.
But you can always upgrade to a digital thermostat for better control and aesthetics if you want to. After all, a digital thermostat looks more appealing and adds more value to your RV should you decide to sell it in future.
Airxcel is one of the leading manufacturers of RV HVAC systems and appliances. Of course, they also provide digital thermostats compatible with various HVAC brands.
If you’re looking to upgrade soon, order an Airxcel thermostat directly from Airxcel’s website. Or, you can buy an aftermarket product if you want to save money. There are tons of them on Amazon.
Airxcel Thermostat Not Turning On
There’s nothing eerier than waking up to a chilly rig. I assure you it’s not paranormal, but it will be if you don’t get the furnace working soon.
Thankfully, there are easy fixes to a malfunctioning Airxcel thermostat. But before we get to that, let’s first find out how to configure it because that’s essential in diagnosing and fixing the malfunction.
The Airxcel thermostat only has three buttons: an oblong-shaped one for changing the mode, an Up button for turning the temperature up, and a Down button for turning the temperature down. Above them is a screen that shows the temperature and mode.
To wake up the thermostat, click either the Up or Down button. It goes back to sleep mode if no button is pressed within five seconds.
Let’s go back to the issue at hand: what if your Airxcel thermostat isn’t turning on? First, you must confirm a few things to determine what to do next.
1. Faulty Wiring
If nothing appears on the screen, not even the backlight, faulty wiring is almost always to blame. Your thermostat may seem complicated, but its installation is straightforward.
The device is attached to the wall with screws, and if you unscrew it and check the backside, you’ll find six wires of different colors that go from the electronic board into the wall.
Sometimes, one or more of these wires are loosely or incorrectly attached to the relays. If so, all you have to do is reinstall the wires to secure the connections.
If nothing happens after that, and you’re pretty sure it’s a wiring problem, the disconnection probably occurred within the wall. The hole where the wire runs is rather narrow, so you need to think of a way to access those wires.
2. Not added to the app
A newly installed digital thermostat must be paired with the RV Climate app should you decide to control it via other devices, such as your smartphone.
It’s possible that your thermostat isn’t turning on or doesn’t work on the app because you haven’t added it yet. It’s like Bluetooth; you need permission to access one system through another.
To pair your Airxcel thermostat with the RV Climate app, download the app on your phone (it’s available on Google Play or Apple Store). Open the app and select “add new thermostat.” This should ready your thermostat for pairing.
Then, press and hold the Up and Down buttons simultaneously to pull up the pair mode option. Go back to your app and select “pair new thermostat.” That should allow you to control the thermostat remotely.
3. Not awake
The simplest explanation for your Airxcel thermostat’s sudden malfunction is it’s still asleep. Maybe you haven’t pressed the Up or Down button long enough and proceeded to push the mode button.
Unfortunately, that would not kick-start the electronics and display information on the screen. So try to wake it up once more, but this time, hold the button a little longer.
If this doesn’t work, there’s probably something wrong with the buttons themselves. The sensors bellow them may have sunk too deep that they can no longer detect the push of your fingertips.
This typically happens after years of hard pressing, permanently damaging the thermostat’s electronics.
4. Tripped circuit breaker
It’s also possible that there’s no electricity going into the thermostat because the circuit breaker was tripped. This happens during a power surge.
The circuit breaker protects the thermostat by disrupting the current or voltage flow. Look for the 12-V circuit breaker linked to the thermostat to confirm if it’s been tripped.
To reset the circuit breaker, switch it off first, wait for at least five seconds, and then switch it back on. The same problem may occur in the future, so you better check the electrical system for the risk of a power outage.
Dealing with those risks reduces the chance of thermostat malfunctions.
Conclusion
Devices like the Airxcel thermostat are made to make your life as a traveler much easier. Taking advantage of these innovations, in addition to owning an RV, is a reward you deserve.
Installing an Airxcel thermostat also helps you save energy as it automates your HVAC system. There’s nothing more economical than knowing your AC or furnace is consuming just the right amount of power.
But remember that, like any other device, the Airxcel thermostat is susceptible to damage and will deteriorate eventually. But with proper maintenance, you can extend its useful life by several years.
And when it breaks down, you should know basic troubleshooting techniques so you won’t end up buying a new one every time. Besides, installing a new thermostat is as complicated as repairing one, so you should learn both.
If you need to replace the mechanical thermostat that comes with your RV, keep it in a safe place. But snip the wires at least one inch from the backside. Then, if you decide to sell your RV, you can reinstall the mechanical thermostat and take the digital one yourself.
Of course, you can keep the digital thermostat and just add its value to the RV’s final resale price.
