Rv fridge not getting cold but freezer is

While it may seem strange, RV refrigerators failing to cool correctly is a more common problem than you would imagine. If something similar happens to you, consider moving your RV before calling a professional or spending a lot of money on repairs. If the food in your RV fridge isn’t staying cold, it may be due to the way you are parked because RV refrigerators need to be perfectly leveled.

How Cold Should The Air Be?

The cold air temperature in the RV freezer is expected to be approximately 0 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas the temperature in the RV refrigerator should be around 34. The main compartment of an RV refrigerator, like any other refrigerator, should not be warmer than 42 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure you use a refrigerator thermometer to check the temperature and see if it is cooling properly. Despite their ability to handle rough roads, most RV refrigerator problems are similar to standard residential refrigerator issues.

If Your RV Refrigerator Is Not Cooling, Try The Following

One of the most common causes of RV refrigerator failure is driving on steeper terrain. Try to drive on straight highways and avoid going off-road too often. If you are parked properly and your RV is perfectly leveled but your RV fridges is still not cooling properly you can try checking the following things:

Air Circulation

In hot climates, insufficient air circulation is a typical occurrence. The refrigerator will not be able to deliver the cooling it should if the rate at which ammonia and hydrogen burn is slower than the rate at which the surrounding air warms up. The best thing you can do is install a fan behind the RV refrigerator’s opening area and make sure this fan has a higher PRM. The evaporator fan will increase the overall flow of air in the chamber of the fridge which will result in a temperature balance between the fridge and the surroundings. As a consequence, the refrigerated chamber will maintain a more consistent temperature.

Temperature Sensors

The temperature sensor is another source that causes issues with your RV refrigerator. They can shift, slip, and even tumble out of place if they are loosely fastened. Confirm that the sensor is correctly connected to the fin, and if it is, you may regulate the refrigerator’s temperature by spinning it.

Thermistor Problems

The thermistor is one of the more crucial parts of the RV refrigerator. It has a negative temperature coefficient, and this affects the cooling cycle of the fridge. The cooling effectiveness of these thermistors is harmed when the ambient temperature rises significantly. As a result, the heated mixture flows quicker, resulting in excessive cooling inside the freezer and a decrease in refrigerator cooling.

The most straightforward solution is to disconnect the thermistor and replace it with a new one.

This will allow the refrigerator to function efficiently and without any temperature regulating issues. Using a refrigerator without a thermistor for a lengthy period of time can be harmful to the refrigerator so don’t remove the thermistor unless it’s an emergency.

Blocked Exhaust On Your RV Fridge

It’s possible that the hot air trapped within the RV refrigerator will not be able to escape because your RV refrigerator’s exhaust gets blocked. The RV refrigerator’s ventilator is located on the backside and it exits your recreational vehicle through the vent cover, which is located on the roof.

The vent might get clogged owing to dust or other impurities, preventing the hot air from exiting. When this happens, the temperature in the refrigerator becomes out of sync with the temperature in the freezer. To fix this problem, start by removing the vent cover from the RV’s roof and then remove the vent cover and look for any obstructions that are preventing the hot air from exiting.

Coolants

An RV refrigerator, like any other household refrigerator, requires coolant. The ammonia combination used in an RV refrigerant is the same as the coolant used in a regular car.

Before reaching the refrigerator, the coolant is sent to the freezer and this is one of the main reasons why, in the event of a discrepancy, the refrigerator is affected first rather than the freezer.

The issue usually happens when the mixture of ammonia dries up and the fridge keeps running with an empty tank. The first thing you should do if this happens is get the tank replenished and make sure the cooling unit is switched off and not used when the tank is empty. Also, you need to make sure the refrigerator is defrosted before you fill up the tank. If the refrigerator remains frozen during the procedure, foul smells will develop in the chamber.

Bumps On The Road

It goes without saying that ammonia has a lower density than water because it moves at a considerably slower rate than water does. As a result, its delivery to the chamber must be quick and painless. However, you will be unable to avoid bumps in the road as you drive. The bumpy road can cause the refrigeration system to become inadequate because the supply of the burnt mixture goes out of proportion.

The angle at which the cooling unit and the supply vent are positioned is one of the major impediments to the flow of the ammonia mixture so you have the option to keep the entire structure straight or incline it up to 6 degrees maximum. 

Electrical Load

It is also possible that your RV refrigerator is working properly but the electrical load is faulty and causing the fridge to cool less. At this point the fridge works but it is not at maximum efficiency because the power source can’t provide enough electrical power for everything that is attached to it. Lights, fans, and other electrical appliances in your RV are frequently left on, resulting in an increase in electrical demand. When the pressure becomes too high, it obstructs the passage of power to the refrigerator, resulting in insufficient cooling. Because the freezer takes its share of electrical power first, the energy available for the refrigerator becomes even more limited and the RV fridge may not be cooling to its maximum capacity.

It’s a huge inconvenience when your RV refrigerator is not cooling properly because there is a risk that your entire food supply may go bad. Knowing what to do when you notice a change of temperature in your fridge can save you valuable time, money and headaches especially when you are out on the open road and ready for an awesome camping trip.

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