RV Doctor: fridge works poorly. What to do?

Dear RV Doctor,
How hot does the boiler on the back of a refrigerator get? We have a propane/electric refrigerator. Last weekend we used the fridge on electric power and noticed that it was not cooling properly. A metal box on the back of the fridge was hot to the touch. It almost seemed too hot! The ambient temp outside was 95 degrees. Any advice is appreciated. –Rod Goins

Dear Rod,
The rear components of any absorption refrigerator will get extremely hot. That’s why leveling and correct venting of that heated air is crucial to its proper operation. Cleanliness also plays a part in the overall effectiveness of operation. An outside temperature of 95 degrees will put a huge load on any absorption unit to transfer the heat from inside the box. It’s probably not realistic to expect the refrigerator’s temperature to sink much lower than about 30 degrees below ambient in such conditions. Plus the heat buildup out back will be amplified as well, adding to the detriment. The boiler section of the cooling unit will always be the hottest under normal situations since that’s where the heating element and LP burner are located. Blocked cooling units will experience hotter than normal temperatures at the absorber vessel and along the absorber coils as well, but typically the entire rear of the refrigerator will get quite warm. As long as you’re level and there is a clear chimney effect behind the refrigerator, there’s not much that can be done until the ambient temperature drops some.

The addition of an auxiliary exhaust fan will help if you continue to experience such high temperatures. Also an internal fan inside the refrigerator is beneficial. Try not to open the door to peruse the contents like I do when I’m searching for a quick snack. Open the door, remove the item and close it right away. There could be a thermostat issue at work here, too, but you did not provide enough information for me to delve into that. Chances are, the high ambient temperature is the cause of the seemingly inefficient operation of your RV’s refrigerator.

Gary Bunzer, The RV Doctor is the author of technical articles, troubleshooting tips, installation guides and owner’s manuals for RV owners, suppliers and manufacturers. He is the host of RV Roadtrips, the DIY Network cable television show. He is one of the RV industry’s most sought after speakers and the host of the popular DVD, Do It Yourself RV Care.