Your Complete Guide to RV Refrigerator
The acronym RV stands for Recreational Vehicle. It is a mobile home normally used for vacation or camping, but there are some people who use this as their regular home. The typical RV has kitchen, bathroom, living room and bedroom. Since the kitchen is part of this vehicle, getting a fridge for it is more of a necessity than luxury.
A fridge inside an RV is called an RV refrigerator. People living in RVs store as much food in their fridge as possible because they travel a lot. It is therefore important that they get RV refrigerators based on their storage needs, whether they are brand new or used RV refrigerators.
RV Refrigeration Process
Gas and propane power up RV Refrigerators and they use ammonia as refrigerant. There are two popular brands that manufacture these fridges: Dometic and Norcold. When it comes to operation, they share the same principles. In fact, Dometic RV Refrigerator Parts and Norcold RV Refrigerator Parts undergo the same absorption process.
RV Refrigerator Parts:
• Generator
• Separator
• Condenser
• Evaporator
• Absorber
Water and ammonia fill the generator of RV refrigerators. Once heat is applied and raised to a boiling point, the mixture passes through the separator wherein water and ammonia are separated. The ammonia then flows to the condenser while the water goes to the evaporator. The ammonia in the condenser dissolves the heat and condenses back to liquid then goes to the evaporator mixing with hydrogen gas and evaporates into vapor. This vapor produces cold air in the fridge. The vapor then goes to the absorber joining the water and then the cycle repeats itself.
Well Known Brands of RV Fridges
1. Dometic RV Refrigerators. Dometic is one of the trusted companies when it comes to RV fridges because of its modern gas absorption technology. Many people buy brand new or even used RV refrigerator from Dometic because of its sophistication and durability.
Listed below are more modern features of Dometic RV Refrigerator:
• automatic temperature control
• reliable cooling system
• easy installation
• interior lighting
• standby feature that keeps the fridge operating even if the temperature sensor or control is not working properly
2. Norcold RV Refrigerators. Norcold is one of the leading manufacturers of RV fridges. All of their RV fridges are made in the USA. Norcold has gained the trust of consumers because of their flexibility and high-quality products.
Below are some of the advanced features of RV fridges:
• greater storage because of its removable bins and adjustable retainers
• LCD controls are easy to use
• automatic alarm system that signals if the door is left open
• adjustable thermostat
• adjustable and reversible doors
Tips on How to Store Food Properly in an RV Fridge
1. Before going out on a trip, you need to chill the fridge first for at least 12 hours. Some people turn on the fridge two hours before they travel.
2. Do not store glass bottled items like wine, milk, and sodas to avoid breakage. Instead, transfer them in plastic containers with tight lids.
3. Store only the food you will need for the trip.
4. All food items should be arranged closely together, so they will not move around the fridge during travel.
Tips on How to Maintain Your RV Fridge
Usually, RV refrigerators last for about eight to 10 years. However, if properly cared for, they last even longer.
1. Always clean your RV fridge after every trip or whenever necessary. Use dry or wet cloth to wipe out the dirt inside. Remove the shelves and wash them. Make sure that everything dried out completely before putting them back in the fridge. You also need to clean the flue or the burner with rubbing alcohol. Make sure that there are no rust or loose soot.
2. Always check if the seal around the door has no tears. If there are, you need to replace it immediately.
3. It is recommended to have a technician inspect if there are leaks in the refrigerant system.
4. You also need to turn on the fridge for 12-24 hours before using it again.
5. Always defrost your fridge as needed.
6. Never use butane or butane mixture as a gas supply. Instead, always use LP gas.
Some Common RV Refrigerator Repair Problems
The most common problem with RV refrigerators is cooling unit malfunction. There are noticeable signs when your cooling unit is leaking or has blockage. If you can smell ammonia coming from the fridge, it is an indicator of a leaking cooling unit. If there is no ammonia odor but the fridge is not cooling, it means there is leak in the boiler area. If there is no light on the electronic ignition, it means that the control board failed to work.
Once you have noticed some of these signs, it is a good idea to have a technician check on it. There are issues that could be repaired, but an expert technician is the one who can give you diagnosis and solution. He is the one who will advise you whether you need to replace some parts of the fridge or the entire unit itself. If the problem is already in the cooling unit, it is not advisable to repair it. Instead, you have to buy another unit as soon as possible.
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