How to Choose and Maintain an RV Refrigerator

A refrigerator is one of the most important appliances in your RV. It should be reliable, sized properly and well-maintained to ensure you get years of great camping adventures with it.

There are a lot of different RV refrigerators on the market. Some are small, others are large. Some are propane powered, others use electricity. Many are made to be a fridge or freezer – and some are even dual-zone. You can find one to suit your needs and your budget from tons of online and local stores.

One of the most popular types of RV refrigerators are absorption fridges. These are very energy efficient compared to compressor fridges but they do have some drawbacks. For example, they take longer to cool down and need to work harder to keep food cold when it’s hot out or if you are at a higher altitude. You may need to install a small fridge fan inside your RV refrigerator to help with this.

Another type of RV refrigerator is the residential-style fridge. These work on electricity and are ideal for those who camp primarily at developed campgrounds with electric hook-ups. They can be heavy and require a heavier battery bank to power them.

If your RV fridge is not keeping its temperature, make sure the thermistor clip is set in the correct position. Also, check the airflow and be sure there are no obstructions in the lower access panel area. Lastly, if your fridge isn’t getting any power at all, you may need to replace the fridge circuit board or the refrigerator heat element. rv refrigerator