| Your gas powered RV refrigerator is hard to | | | | things first. Is your RV level? A completely level RV is |
| understand because it has no fan or other moving | | | | not as critical now as it was with the older models, but |
| parts, and uses heat to cool the inside. It has ammonia | | | | your refrigerator will work better if the RV is level. |
| in the cooling unit, and uses water and hydrogen gas | | | | Check the settings. Sometimes the gas is turned off at |
| with ammonia for circulation. The ammonia is heated | | | | the bottles, or the camper is not plugged in. Then |
| with gas or liquid propane, and rises in the cooling unit | | | | check your fuses and breakers. There may be a PC |
| coils. It then mixes with the hydrogen and evaporates, | | | | board located on the back of the refrigerator that has |
| cooling the inside of the refrigerator. Trust me, it works! | | | | a fuse, so check that one. Make sure that the air flow |
| Maintenance of your refrigerator will extend its life. | | | | from the side vent to the roof vent is not blocked, and |
| Cleaning is easy. Simply wipe the interior and door with | | | | the rear of the refrigerator is not clogged with dust. |
| a soft dry cloth. If more cleaning is needed, use a cloth | | | | Feel the cooling coils. Be careful to avoid burns. If they |
| moistened with warm water and mild detergent. Do | | | | are hot to the touch at the bottom but cool at the top, |
| not use hot water to clean your refrigerator! Dry with | | | | it means you have a blockage. If you smell ammonia, |
| a clean soft cloth. Be careful when wiping the gasket. | | | | you have a leak. If ammonia is detected, close the |
| Too much moisture here can cause a temporary loss | | | | refrigerator door and ventilate the camper. Ammonia is |
| of insulation. The shelving and bins can be removed if | | | | not toxic, but the smell is unpleasant, and is known to |
| needed and washed in soapsuds. Dry before | | | | make people sick. You can not fix a cooling unit |
| reinstalling. Always leave door open during storage to | | | | problem yourself. In most cases, it is more economical |
| avoid mold and mildew. | | | | to replace the entire refrigerator than to have a repair |
| Did you know that it takes one hour for your RV | | | | facility replace the cooling unit. |
| refrigerator to recover each time you open the door? | | | | New RV refrigerators come in lots of sizes and styles. |
| So, it makes sense to use a cooler for frequently used | | | | You can get anything from a 4 door model that |
| items such as bottled water and soda. | | | | measures approximately 63" x 32" x 24" with a built in |
| There is a limited amount of troubleshooting you can | | | | ice maker, to a small 17" x 19" x 31" cooler type |
| do if you are having a problem with your refrigerator. | | | | refrigerator - freezer. Most new RV refrigerators |
| First, know that it takes approximately 3 hours for the | | | | come with a 3 year warranty. When replacing a RV |
| ammonia to circulate enough to be able to feel it | | | | refrigerator with the same size unit, the front door |
| cooling. The freezer compartment will cool first. Your | | | | panels are interchangeable. A different make and |
| refrigerator should be up to temperature in about 24 | | | | model can be used with little or no problems. |
| hours. An RV refrigerator will default to electric when | | | | Remember to get your new door panels at the same |
| plugged in, if it is set on auto. When no electric is | | | | time you order your refrigerator if you are changing |
| detected, it will try to light on gas. Remember, you will | | | | size, make, or model. |
| not hear the refrigerator working, because it has no | | | | You can expect your RV refrigerator to last between |
| motor or moving parts. | | | | eight and ten years, but there are many units 20 years |
| If you are problems with cooling, check the simple | | | | or older out there still working away. |