Random Question - Why Black Rooftop A/C Covers?

[Pointyears]

Why are so many rooftop AC units black since black converts so much energy to heat thus making the unit work harder and adds to expansion/contraction? Seems silly to me, especially when plopped on a white roof. Just saw a Vista with a white rooftop unit and was tone envious.

 

[Eagle5]

I have wondered the same myself.

 

[Bnystrom]

One of the first modifications I made to our View was to paint the A/C covers white with Krylon Fusion. I'ts held up well for three years. Just make sure you prep the surface carefully before painting.

Black covers made no sense to me, but sometimes they're used to match a color scheme, or perhaps the manufacturer couldn't get white units at the time the RV was built.

 

[Cooperhawk]

Ours are black as well as the vent covers. The reason is to match the paint scheme of the unit. They also work as heat pumps so the black is probably useful then.

 

[Pointyears]

Ours are black as well as the vent covers. The reason is to match the paint scheme of the unit. They also work as heat pumps so the black is probably useful then.

Ain't no heat pump on my unit. And anything black matches what white matches since they're the same color (and both go equally well with my grey unit....)

 

[creativepart]

It’s purely a cosmetic choice. You can paint it white or even purchase a replacement cover in white. But a white cover for my RV’s two A/C units was about $150 each. No thanks. I got over it.

It makes as much sense as the total disregard for air resistance on the outside of 99% of all RVs. They know we’re going to drive these things at highway speeds and yet they make zero attempt to make any concessions to aerodynamics. It’s as if they think fuel is free so why bother?

 

[Pointyears]

It’s purely a cosmetic choice. You can paint it white or even purchase a replacement cover in white. But a white cover for my RV’s two A/C units was about $150 each. No thanks. I got over it.

It makes as much sense as the total disregard for air resistance on the outside of 99% of all RVs. They know we’re going to drive these things at highway speeds and yet they make zero attempt to make any concessions to aerodynamics. It’s as if they think fuel is free so why bother?

Not entirely true. I envy a little bit the rounded edges of the front of the View whereas my Vita is totally squared off, aka The Brick on Wheels. Of course, they may have done that for purely aesthetic reasons.

 

[bigb56]

As I mentioned on a sister forum, black plastic is more resistant to UV damage so there's that.

 

[Pointyears]

As I mentioned on a sister forum, black plastic is more resistant to UV damage so there's that.

Really? I'd think it'd be more susceptible since it absorbs it instead of reflecting it.

 

[bigb56]

Really? I'd think it'd be more susceptible since it absorbs it instead of reflecting it.

Yes it would seem so but if you do some research you will find that UV resistance in plastics usually involves black carbon based additives.

 

[creativepart]

Not entirely true.

Hence my comment “99% of all RVs.”

 

[Russ-USA]

Many products are UV resistant and not black. We switched our black AC cover for a white Maxxair, which is a much sturdier construction. I also added a soft start. No issues since I did that 2 years ago.