Help…My Refrigerator Isn’t Running
02-16-2016
You’re getting ready to head out on a trip with the entire family for an exciting Easter campout and all of a sudden…your refrigerator stops working. Now, it’s time to grab your ice chest and buy all the ice from the corner market. Before you rush out the door, take a minute and run through these steps to see if it could possibly be something simple or if you need to start mulling over the crucial RV refrigerator dilemma. Fix or replace?
Is It Really Broken?
There are several easy to answer questions that you can answer relatively quickly. Is your coach level? It seems silly to consider, but it is best to double check. Once that is checked off, consider how much time you have given the refrigerator to get cold and how often it was opened to check the temperature while cooling. RV refrigerators are much different than your regular household refrigerator and they do not cool as well when opened often. Take some time to read your manual if you are concerned and follow the initial set-up instructions.
Check All Operation Modes
RV refrigerators run on different types of power. They run on propane and electricity. If your refrigerator is not working, it is important to try to run it while using 110 volt, 12 volt, and on propane. If the electricity is working but it does not work on gas, you will need to check to see if the refrigerator is lit at the pilot. If it is lit, check to see if the flame is strong. If it is not staying lit and almost going out right away, the thermocouple might be bad. You can also check to make sure that the port is free of debris and rust which can cause blockage of the flame. If the refrigerator is running on gas, but not electricity you may have a blown fuse or circuit breaker. This can be fairly easy to check and fix, if that is the issue. If the fuses are fine you will want to check voltage at the plug behind the refrigerator. If the plug has voltage the problem may be the electric heating element or even at the PC board and will require some help from your local RV shop.
The Nose Always Knows
If your refrigerator is not getting cold enough, follow your nose. If your refrigerator has an ammonia smell, it is quite possible that your cooling unit may be leaking. Your RV refrigerator cools by running an ammonia mixture through cooling tubes. If there is a blockage or a leak, your refrigerator will not cool. You can also check to see if there is a green or yellow looking substance behind your refrigerator or open the outside refrigerator vent to see if there is any type of leaking coming from the cooling unit.
Fix or Replace
The opinions vary depending on the person. Some people prefer to have the latest and greatest gadgets and some love the oldies but goodies. Whichever area you fall into, make sure that you make an informed decision as to whether you repair or replace. If your refrigerator needs a new PC board or thermocouple, well the repair may not take too long therefore, causing you less labor charges. If your cooling unit is leaking, a new cooling unit may be cheaper than replacing the entire refrigerator, but it will cost you hundreds in labor. Replacing the refrigerator may seem to be more costly upfront, but the labor time is typically less than replacing the cooling unit. It will be up to you to make the call. I suggest upgrading to the newer fancier refrigerators with the ice makers, but make sure to check on the dimensions of your old model versus your new model to be sure that it will fit. The last thing you may want to do is to pay to redo or remove a cabinet to fit that new fancy model in the spot where your oldie but goodie used to sit.
Either way, always weigh your options and make the choice that best fits you and your space. Happy Trails!
If you do need a new refrigerator, tax time might be the perfect time for that upgrade! Read more about upgrading at tax time HERE.
Is It Really Broken?
There are several easy to answer questions that you can answer relatively quickly. Is your coach level? It seems silly to consider, but it is best to double check. Once that is checked off, consider how much time you have given the refrigerator to get cold and how often it was opened to check the temperature while cooling. RV refrigerators are much different than your regular household refrigerator and they do not cool as well when opened often. Take some time to read your manual if you are concerned and follow the initial set-up instructions.
Check All Operation Modes
RV refrigerators run on different types of power. They run on propane and electricity. If your refrigerator is not working, it is important to try to run it while using 110 volt, 12 volt, and on propane. If the electricity is working but it does not work on gas, you will need to check to see if the refrigerator is lit at the pilot. If it is lit, check to see if the flame is strong. If it is not staying lit and almost going out right away, the thermocouple might be bad. You can also check to make sure that the port is free of debris and rust which can cause blockage of the flame. If the refrigerator is running on gas, but not electricity you may have a blown fuse or circuit breaker. This can be fairly easy to check and fix, if that is the issue. If the fuses are fine you will want to check voltage at the plug behind the refrigerator. If the plug has voltage the problem may be the electric heating element or even at the PC board and will require some help from your local RV shop.
The Nose Always Knows
If your refrigerator is not getting cold enough, follow your nose. If your refrigerator has an ammonia smell, it is quite possible that your cooling unit may be leaking. Your RV refrigerator cools by running an ammonia mixture through cooling tubes. If there is a blockage or a leak, your refrigerator will not cool. You can also check to see if there is a green or yellow looking substance behind your refrigerator or open the outside refrigerator vent to see if there is any type of leaking coming from the cooling unit.
Fix or Replace
The opinions vary depending on the person. Some people prefer to have the latest and greatest gadgets and some love the oldies but goodies. Whichever area you fall into, make sure that you make an informed decision as to whether you repair or replace. If your refrigerator needs a new PC board or thermocouple, well the repair may not take too long therefore, causing you less labor charges. If your cooling unit is leaking, a new cooling unit may be cheaper than replacing the entire refrigerator, but it will cost you hundreds in labor. Replacing the refrigerator may seem to be more costly upfront, but the labor time is typically less than replacing the cooling unit. It will be up to you to make the call. I suggest upgrading to the newer fancier refrigerators with the ice makers, but make sure to check on the dimensions of your old model versus your new model to be sure that it will fit. The last thing you may want to do is to pay to redo or remove a cabinet to fit that new fancy model in the spot where your oldie but goodie used to sit.
Either way, always weigh your options and make the choice that best fits you and your space. Happy Trails!
If you do need a new refrigerator, tax time might be the perfect time for that upgrade! Read more about upgrading at tax time HERE.
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Author: Tammy Daly
