What you're probably noticing
It cools on shore power but not on propane, or the other way around. It never gets below 50 degrees. It works at home and quits on hot days. The freezer frosts solid while the fridge stays warm. There's a yellow stain or an ammonia smell at the back. The control board shows a fault and won't reset.
A fridge that quits after a long trip on rough gravel is a common story out here, and it isn't always the cooling unit.
What I do about it
I check the things that actually make an absorption fridge work: propane pressure and flame quality, the burner and flue for soot and spiders, the igniter and thermocouple, 120V element and 12V control power, the control board and thermistor, door seals, level, and whether the vents behind and above it are moving air at all.
Repairs I do regularly: burner and flue cleaning, igniter, thermocouple, and gas valve replacement, heating element replacement, control board and thermistor replacement, door seal and hinge work, and adding baffles or fans to fix a poor factory vent setup.
I also retrofit residential or 12-volt refrigerators, including inverter installation and custom trim work to fit the existing opening.
Most of this is on-site work. If the cooling unit itself is done, I'll tell you straight and lay out your options instead of selling you parts that won't fix it.
Why I do it this way
A lot of RV fridges never cooled well from day one because the factory vent path was an afterthought. Fixing the airflow often gains more than any part swap.
I test on both gas and electric before I call it fixed, and I tell you what I found either way.
Questions I get
Straight answers
- Why does my fridge only work on electric?
- Usually a gas-side problem: burner soot, igniter, thermocouple, or propane pressure. All common repairs.
- Does it matter if my camper is level?
- Yes. Absorption fridges need to be reasonably level to circulate. Running badly out of level can damage the cooling unit.
- Is a new cooling unit worth it?
- Sometimes, depending on the camper's value and condition. I give you the numbers and let you decide.
- Can you improve cooling in hot weather?
- Often yes, by cleaning the flue and improving the vent airflow with baffles or a fan.
RV Refrigerators across my service area
I bring this work to towns throughout the 100-mile radius around Roscoe, SD.
Throughout a 100-mile radius of Roscoe, South Dakota.