Learning how to insulate a tent for AC is critical since many summer tents aren’t designed to keep cool air inside.
Camping in the summer can be unpleasant for some as finding a way to cool down while around camp can be hard. Having a shaded area is great but being able to have AC is a game changer.
Why do you Need to Insulate a Tent for AC?
Most summer tents are designed to let air freely flow in and out using mesh roofs and windows, making it necessary to insulate the tent if you want the AC unit to be effective.
Having a properly isolated tent means the AC unit can easily keep your tent at a comfortable temperature. This will help you save money by trapping the cold air allowing your AC unit to greatly reduce how hard it has to work.
Different Ways to Insulate a Tent for AC?
1) Use a Tarp
Tarps are one of the best ways to keep the heat on the outside and the cool air inside of a tent. They are able to be used however you want whether that be on top of the tent, under your tent, or both if you have multiple.
Reflective tarps will work the best as they reflect the sun’s UVs away from your tent, but any tarp will work great. Most people have old tarps laying around the house that can easily be used for this.
Covering the top of the tent is the most crucial part, especially if you have a mesh ceiling, as that is where the sun is which produces a lot of heat on a summer day.
If that isn’t enough for you having a protective layer under the tent-like a tarp can also make a big difference. The sun heats up the ground all day and the ground begins to slowly release the heat upwards which can make your tent hotter even if you have isolated the top of it.
Set up
Putting a tarp under your tent is simple, but if you have a reflective tarp put the reflective side towards the ground as that is where the heat is coming from.
When putting a tarp on top of a tent for insulation you will want it as tight as possible around the tent so there aren’t any places for the cold air to escape to the outside of the tent.
Remember to steak it down so the wind doesn’t blow it away. Tarps are also waterproof and wind-resistant so they can help protect you from the elements of the outdoors as well.
2) Seel Leakes
It will be important to spot all areas that are allowing air to escape like holes, zipper malfunctions, and other mesh linings.
Being able to limit all areas where the cold air could be escaping will greatly increase the efficiency of any AC unit.
Begin, setting up a tent and thoroughly looking on the inside and outside of the tent for any possible leaks. Focus along all seams and sippers as they are the most commonplace for small tears.
Once you have found all the possible leaks mark them all and begin to patch them. For small tears, duck tape is a simple and effective option. For larger holes, look into a tent repair kit as they will be more reliable and long-lasting than just duck tape.
3) Use an Air-Conditioned Tent
If you plan on camping in hot weather consistently these fixes might not be enough. The best way to keep cool in your tent is to find a tent design that supports an AC unit. These tents are designed to reflect outside heat and contain cool air within as well as having a built-in AC port.
Check out our guide for the Best Tent with AC Port
How to Avoid Condensation on a Tent?
Condensation can be created when the humid air comes in contact with a colder surface (like your tent). Condensation usually forms on the walls and top of the tent.
If you or some of your belongings are up against the tent wall when there is condensation it may cause an uncomfortable sleeping situation or get some of your stuff damp.
The best way to limit condensation is to allow airflow in and out of the tent, but since insolating the tent just reduced all airflow into the tent to keep it cool it may be difficult to have no condensation especially if you are in a humid climate.
- Keeping all wet and damp things like clothes and towels outside of the tent will greatly reduce the change of condensation.
- Wipe it down with a cloth. Trying to keep it dry will slow the rate of condensation as it will limit the amount of moisture around the tent.
- If it is not too hot at night turn off your AC unit. This will allow the temperature of the inside and outside to be similar which will prevent condensation.
Condensation is built off of humidity and moisture so try to limit anything that produces moisture around your tent.
