Top 7 Must Knows For Your Absorption Style Refrigerator

Welcome to Todd’s Two-Minute RV Tech Tip Tuesday, brought to you by the National RV Training Academy! Today, we’ll dive into the top seven tips for maintaining your absorption-style refrigerator to keep it running efficiently and extend its lifespan. These refrigerators are vital for your RV trips, and with the right care, they can keep your food fresh and safe.

1. Keep the Refrigerator Level

One of the first things you’ve likely heard is that your absorption-style refrigerator needs to stay level, but why?

On the back of your RV fridge are coils containing ammonia and water. These components work together to cool the refrigerator. However, water and metal can lead to corrosion, so the coils are coated with sodium chromate, a fine powder that protects them.

When your RV isn’t level, this sodium chromate doesn’t flow properly down the coils, which can lead to it crystallizing and forming a blockage. If this happens, the ammonia won’t circulate correctly, and the coils can become damaged. Keeping your RV level ensures proper flow, preventing costly damage to the refrigerator.

However, if you’re traveling down the road, it’s safe to keep the refrigerator running. The movement won’t harm the coils—just remember that when parked, the RV must be level.

2. Maintain the Seals

Seals are critical for keeping warm air out of your refrigerator. Over time, the seals on your absorption-style fridge can weaken or lose their shape, especially if food or sticky substances get caught in them.

To ensure a good seal:

• Clean the seals regularly—about once a month—on both the door and the refrigerator itself.
• Keep the seals free of dust and stickiness to maintain their integrity.

By keeping your seals in good shape, you prevent warm, moist air from getting inside, which can lead to condensation and spoilage.

3. Avoid Putting Warm Food Inside

The biggest mistake people make is loading their refrigerator with warm food, especially when using an absorption-style fridge. Unlike residential refrigerators, which cool quickly, absorption-style units can take up to 12 hours to cool down from room temperature.

Loading warm food will significantly increase the time it takes to cool down. Even worse, placing hot leftovers inside raises the overall temperature, risking food spoilage. Pre-chill your food before putting it inside and try to avoid loading it with warm items.

4. Defrost Regularly

Every time you open your freezer door, you’re allowing warm, moist air to enter. That air turns to ice when it hits the cold surfaces inside. Over time, this ice buildup can block the cooling fins, reducing your refrigerator’s efficiency.

To prevent this:

• Defrost regularly to avoid excessive ice buildup.
• Avoid using tools like ice picks or hair dryers, which can damage the delicate plastic surfaces inside your fridge.

A quick tip: use thin cutting boards or Saran Wrap on the back wall to make removing ice easier during defrosting.

5. Don’t Overpack the Refrigerator

While it’s tempting to load your RV fridge with as much food as possible, overpacking can block airflow, preventing heat from escaping.

Leave about two inches of space between the food and the back wall of the fridge. This will allow the heat to rise and be absorbed by the cooling fins, ensuring your refrigerator operates at maximum efficiency. Proper airflow is key to maintaining an even temperature.

6. Check the Drain Tube

The drain tube is responsible for carrying out condensate that forms when warm air meets the cold fins inside your refrigerator. However, if the tube is damaged or the cap is missing, warm air can flow into the fridge, causing excessive moisture buildup.

Here’s what to do:

• Regularly inspect the drain tube for cracks, brittleness, or missing caps.
• If you notice excessive condensation or sweaty food, this could be a sign that warm air is entering through a compromised tube.

By keeping the drain tube in good condition, you’ll avoid unwanted moisture inside your fridge.

7. Inspect Exhaust Vents

Finally, it’s important to check the exhaust vents for blockages. These vents allow heat from the cooling coils to escape. If they’re blocked by debris, dust, or grime, the heat can’t escape, leading to poor refrigerator performance, especially in warm weather.

Make sure to:

• Clean the vents regularly to maintain proper airflow.
• Pay special attention to these during warmer months, as a blocked vent will cause your fridge to struggle on hot days.

If your refrigerator works fine in the winter but struggles during the summer, airflow could be the issue.

Conclusion

By following these seven tips, you can ensure your absorption-style refrigerator remains in good working order for years to come. From keeping the refrigerator level to maintaining proper airflow, these simple tasks will help you avoid common issues and keep your food cool, fresh, and safe throughout your RV adventures.