RV fridges work overtime in Vegas. Does your RV absorption refrigerator act like a heater instead of a cooler? Is your milk going sour too fast?
Summer heat doesn’t sit too well with RV refrigerators. The heat makes absorption refrigerators appear to be very lazy, when actually they use heat to make cold and they are working overtime. There are a few things that you can do that will help cool it down a few more degrees in this desert heat.
Cool the same?
Does it cool the same on both gas and electric? If one cools better than the other, then perhaps an adjustment or two will help. A cleanout by our technician may also make the burner work better. A new propane tank regulator often is an inexpensive cure. See our RV repair service center.
Keep it level
Make sure your refrigerator is level. Sometimes leveling the coach does not mean the refrigerator is level. Use a round bubble level in the freezer compartment to check the level. Remember, you must also keep it level if you are operating on electric (115v). An RV absorption refrigerator cooling unit does not have a compressor and operates on the same “heat” principle whether operating on gas or electric.
Insulated properly?
Does your insulation around the box have any air gaps? Check around each side and top of your refrigerator to make sure that no hot air from the back side can get through. Make sure your insulation is tight all around the top and sides of the box. Hot air allowed in these areas will make the inside temperature several degrees hotter.
Obstructions in the exhaust?
Check the exhaust passageway for obstructions. Many times a piece of insulation or a bird’s nest will obstruct the hot air from escaping rapidly out the vent.
A small exhaust fan may help
Install a small exterior fan on the back. Moving air up the back of the cooling unit may make it operate more efficiently. A great place to install it is just below the coils towards the bottom and back of the refrigerator with the fan blowing upwards. For larger refrigerators, an area where a fan works well is at the top of the vent on the roof. The rain cap has to be taken off and the fan installed pointing up. This helps exhaust the unwanted heat collecting at the back of the refrigerator. Getting that heat out faster helps the cooling unit dissipate heat faster.
Get in the shade
If you are parked with the back cooling unit facing the sun then try to arrange your RV so that it is in the shade. Because it makes heat to cool, the added heat of the sun won’t let the poor thing keep up.
Tight door seal?
Is your door seal tight? Take a slip of paper or a stiff dollar bill and close the door on it. Pull it out while the door is closed. If you feel no resistance then the seal is not tight. On new fridges sometimes a slight “tweaking” of the door will help the door seal all around. A new seal costs a lot and many sizes are not available at any cost. Try getting a new latch or installing a frig-i-lok. The frig-i-lok can be adjusted so the door closes tighter. Pick one up soon, we stock single door and two door latches.
Small interior fan
Try putting one of the small battery operated fans near the crisper in the bottom of the inside of the refrigerator. This moves the air around past the cold fins. The fan also helps even out the temperature. Many RV’rs say it helps noticeably on hot days.
Caution!
DON’T take out your valuable refrigerator and turn it upside down. This is an old wives’ tale, and usually does more harm than good to the cooling unit---and to your pocketbook. I am told that even on new refrigerators the factory won’t guarantee the temperature to get below fifty degrees if it is above 90 degrees outside. Most refrigerators will do better than that, however. Sometimes it’s just not a cool situation to operate your RV fridge in the desert heat. Try some of these tips and your milk may stay cooler a little longer.
Have a cool summer.
