Whether you’re traveling in your RV full-time or just using it for weekend getaways, cooling units are an essential part of keeping your food and drinks cold. If you’ve ever had to deal with the frustration of a broken refrigerator, you know how important it is to keep your RV in working order.
The best way to do that is by learning how the rv cooling unit works and how it can be repaired. We’ll also cover a few tips to help you save money on energy and reduce the amount of time your fridge is running.
Unlike residential refrigerators, RV fridges are designed to handle being bumped around while on the road and can run on different power sources. They also keep your food cold and frozen while on the go, so you can enjoy your meals on-the-go.
Most RV fridges are absorption, which means they use a combination of heat and chemical reactions to cool the food. The process takes longer than compressor models, but the results are quite good.
First, the cooling unit boils water to create ammonia vapor. That vapor then combines with water vapor in the regeneration chamber to form a liquid water ammonia solution, which drips down into the storage bins and keeps the food cold. The cycle repeats over and over again to cool the contents of the fridge.
This process is efficient and silent, which makes it a great choice for RVs where space is at a premium. However, there are some drawbacks to an absorption fridge that may be a problem for you if you’re planning to camp or boondock in remote areas. For one thing, you’ll need a level spot for the fridge to work properly, and that can be difficult to find when camping in the woods or at a state or national park.
Another issue is that absorption fridges are much more expensive to operate on electricity than compressor models, and they take longer to get cold when you turn them on. They’re also more susceptible to outdoor temperature fluctuations, which can cause them to overheat and break down.
If your rv refrigerator isn’t getting cold or making that telltale ammonia smell, it’s likely that the cooling unit needs to be replaced. Nordic, the premier remanufacturer of Dometic and Norcold cooling units, offers replacement units that are more efficient than factory originals, and they’ll save you money on your electric bill. Plus, they’re easier to install than the OEM units they replace. rv cooling units