Do the refrigerators need to be serviced? Went camping this weekend and it seems that my fridge didn't get cold. I put a thermometer in it and it never got under 43 degrees. It was on high and I also switched it to shore power and still didn't seem right. Do they need serviceing like per say an ac unit?
Posted 2009-07-12 4:17 PM (#107914 - in reply to #107913) Subject: RE: Refridgerators
Veteran
Posts: 188 Location: Ingalls, Ks
I've had to clean the burner tubes on my trailers to get them to burn properly. They get rust in them and it plugs the flame off. It'll still burn but not enough heat to cool the fridge enough. Take it apart and use a brass brush and compressed air to clean it. Has worked both times I've had to do it.
Posted 2009-07-12 7:21 PM (#107919 - in reply to #107913) Subject: RE: Refridgerators
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
If your fridge is not getting cool with either propane or electric, the cooling system's ammonia gas refrigerant may need to be serviced. If it works on electric, then the gas supply is compromised. But if it doesn't work on either, the cooling system will need attention by a qualified technician,
Posted 2009-07-12 7:47 PM (#107922 - in reply to #107913) Subject: RE: Refridgerators
Elite Veteran
Posts: 662 Location: Vanzant, Missouri
I tend to lean towards Gard's answer. It's 5 yrs old and as far as I know never been serviced. So i guess I will have to get that done..I will also get the burner parts cleaned first and try that. THX
Posted 2009-07-12 9:11 PM (#107927 - in reply to #107913) Subject: RE: Refridgerators
Veteran
Posts: 188 Location: Ingalls, Ks
I certainly don't disagree with Gard, but considering one of mine is 7 years old and the other is 17 and never been serviced I would try the cheap route first. One thing I had on a smaller fridge once was one of those little fans. I really don't need it where I live because the wind blows all the time but when I went to a nicer climate I found that it did seem to help. May be just my imagination as the mountains are cooler anyway. Just a thought take it for what it's worth.
Posted 2009-07-12 11:42 PM (#107932 - in reply to #107913) Subject: RE: Refridgerators
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by mingiz on 2009-07-12 4:07 PM
Do the refrigerators need to be serviced? Went camping this weekend and it seems that my fridge didn't get cold. I put a thermometer in it and it never got under 43 degrees. It was on high and I also switched it to shore power and still didn't seem right. Do they need serviceing like per say an ac unit?
If mine is not pretty close to level it does not get that cold!
Posted 2009-07-13 7:22 AM (#107939 - in reply to #107913) Subject: RE: Refridgerators
Elite Veteran
Posts: 648 Location: Coconut Creek, FL
how hot was it outside and was it cold when you put the food in. I find that if it's cold out, I have to lower the temp as some food with freeze. If' it's 80's or so, the fridge has a hard time keeping cold unless the trailer is under shade.
I'm in Fla and the temp outside really makes a difference for the fridge. I have th 3.0 size and bring a cooler for drinks as they generally stay colder in the cooler.
Posted 2009-07-13 10:45 AM (#107949 - in reply to #107913) Subject: RE: Refridgerators
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Something else that will make it off temp is if it is humid outside. It has been in the 100's here with a heat index of 105 plus and even the a/c is working harder!
Posted 2009-07-13 3:23 PM (#107954 - in reply to #107913) Subject: RE: Refridgerators
Elite Veteran
Posts: 736 Location: Western WA
I'd like to hear more about auxillary fans for RV fridges too. Do you put one outside the fridge to move air around the cooling baffles, or inside the fridge to move the air around inside? I've seen both.
I have a little 3.0 fridge and the only time it didn't cool properly was at a show with no shade and the daytime highs were 110 every day, one day getting to 124, and it only got down to 80 or so at night. So I can't really complain, but if a fan would help I'd sure consider getting one.
Posted 2009-07-13 4:47 PM (#107963 - in reply to #107939) Subject: RE: Refridgerators
Elite Veteran
Posts: 662 Location: Vanzant, Missouri
I had the fridge on for 2 days on electric then switched it over before I hit the road. The temps were in the 80's but low humidity. I was parked in an open field. Some things in the freezer stayed frozen others weren't. Even touching the inside of it it didn't feel cold. Cool maybe but not cold.
Posted 2009-07-13 4:54 PM (#107964 - in reply to #107963) Subject: RE: Refridgerators
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 368 Location: Georgia
I had something similar happen to a 3.0 fridge I had in a trailer I previously owned. We pulled the outside panel and one of the dillies
(highly specific technical term) had come unplugged. There were four small color coded plug things and somehow the blue one had worked loose. We plugged it back in and whalah..fridge worked. I was so relieved that it was something so simple. Might be worth at least checking.
Posted 2009-07-13 6:33 PM (#107969 - in reply to #107963) Subject: RE: Refridgerators
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Originally written by mingiz on 2009-07-13 5:47 PM
Some things in the freezer stayed frozen others weren't. Even touching the inside of it it didn't feel cold. Cool maybe but not cold.
From your previous posting, I thought that the electric setting was also inoperative. If some things were frozen, obviously there was a cooling affect from the electric heater. If both systems were weak, I would still suspect the refrigerant. It's very difficult to diagnose problems with varying statements.
Posted 2009-07-14 12:43 AM (#107983 - in reply to #107913) Subject: RE: Refridgerators
Veteran
Posts: 188 Location: Ingalls, Ks
The little fan I'm referring to was mounted on the outside of the fridge just inside of the bottom inlet grill. It was set to blow the air upward as heat rises. I'm sure a 12v computer fan was about all this was. It was very quiet and you could just barely hear it at night if you listened. It had a switch for it mounted under the grill. You had to open the grill to turn it on. It was either on or off, no fancy automation. I only used it when it was very hot outside or there was no wind, which is not normally a problem around here. Hope that helps, I haven't put one on any others because they seem to be fine, as is.
Posted 2009-07-14 5:45 AM (#107987 - in reply to #107969) Subject: RE: Refridgerators
Elite Veteran
Posts: 662 Location: Vanzant, Missouri
Sorry for the misunderstanding. Both the electric and propane work It's just not cooling and doesn't get below 43 degrees. Which to me isn't safe for any food..Some stuff in the freezer was frozen some wasn't. It was all frozen solid when I put it in there...I'm going to have someone check it over. I still think it amy need a charge...THX
Posted 2009-07-14 8:40 AM (#107999 - in reply to #107913) Subject: RE: Refridgerators
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Normally the gas side of your fridge should be able to cool the unit better than the electric. The gas flame can put out more heat than the electric heater. In especially hot weather, this would be more noticeable. Many people will start the fridge on propane, and when it's cool, switch to electric.
Your electric heater is working and able to freeze the contents. This would tend to support the claim that the coolant may be sufficient. The gas is not working, which heats the same coolant, so the gas supply may be compromised. As was previously stated, this can be the orifice which is the most common problem, or a supply problem which involves a few components.
Here's a couple of recent links about similar problems:
Posted 2009-07-14 6:49 PM (#108032 - in reply to #107913) Subject: RE: Refridgerators
Elite Veteran
Posts: 662 Location: Vanzant, Missouri
Well I stopped by the RV place today and they told me that the unit I have has the amonia in it and it's not rechargable. So they basically said to clean the burner componets. So I guess tomorrow it will have an appt. to get serviced. Thx Again
Posted 2009-07-15 6:57 PM (#108081 - in reply to #107913) Subject: RE: Refridgerators
Regular
Posts: 70 Location: Temecula, CA
If you refer is working on both 110 and propane (even though it's not getting cold enough) that pretty much rules out any problems with the burner assembly. In my younger days I was an RV tech. When we had these problems we burped the refer. This is done by pulling the refer out, turning it upside down for about 30 minutes then turning right side up for 30 minutes (need to do this at least 3 times). This helps unclog any clogs in the cooling coils and evenly redistributed the gas within the coils and this procedure fixed the problem about 95% of the time. Good Luck!
Refridgerators
