Whether you are a weekend RVer or a full-timer, having a reliable fridge is essential for keeping your food and drinks cool. Dometic fridges are built to withstand the vibration, harsh conditions, and extreme temperatures experienced on the road. They use less power than residential fridges and are ideal for confined spaces. However, like any appliance, they can experience problems from time to time. It’s important to understand how your refrigerator works so you can troubleshoot problems and repair them before they become more serious. Here are some tips on how to do that, as well as some spare parts you may want to have on hand.
The Fridge Thermistor
The thermistor is a small metal piece that clips onto the fridge fins inside. It communicates temperature changes to the circuit board via a change in its resistance. When a thermistor goes bad it can cause over cooling and a loss of efficiency. To test your thermistor, disconnect it from the main circuit board and place the sensor end into a glass of ice water. The resistance should be between 7,000 and 10,000 ohms. If your thermistor isn’t close to those numbers, it’s time to replace it.
If your refrigerator isn’t keeping its contents cold, it could be a sign that you’re packing too much in it. This will prevent air from flowing around the food, preventing it from being evenly cooled. In addition, the extra weight of the food will cause the fridge to overheat, resulting in that tell-tale ammonia smell.
Make sure you are not using too much propane as well, as this can also impact your fridge’s performance. Another common problem is a broken seal, which can let in warm air and spoil your food. It’s a good idea to check the seal frequently to ensure it is still intact.
Fortunately, most Dometic refrigerator problems are easy to troubleshoot and resolve. Sometimes a little maintenance will do the trick, other times it might be necessary to purchase replacement parts. Whatever the case, it’s always a good idea to have some spares on hand so you can get back in business quickly.
For more advice on maintaining your Dometic fridge, be sure to contact us. We can help you find the best cooling unit for your van or campervan, and we can install it for you! We offer remanufactured Arctic fridge cooling units that are a better alternative to expensive OEM or Aftermarket replacements. Our units are made with heavier wall seamless tubing that won’t fracture, and they have a boiler design that won’t fail, unlike other aftermarket units that often suffer from thermal stress, leading to tube ruptures and the telltale ammonia smell. Contact us today to learn more.. dometic cooling units