Refrigerator replacement, Dec. 12, 2018

The day after thanksgiving this year, we had our typical left overs and then topped that off with our small ice-cream treat for our late night snack. On this day, we found that our ice cream was a little softer than normal. So, we checked the refrigerator and found that the Freezer was only at 30 degrees. We placed a thermometer in the refrigerator portion and found it was running at 50 degrees. This was not a good sign. Since it was late in the evening, there wasn't much we could do about it, but the next morning, Eric had to hop on getting to the bottom of what the problem was. A quick inspection on the back side of the refrigerator, Eric found that the control board (which had failed in the past) was not the problem. So, next, he checked the insulation around the burner that heats the Ammonia to cause the cooling process that takes place that allows RV refrigerators work even with burning propane. Eric found a yellow deposit the key indicator of a coolant leak on a RV refrigerator.

The refrigerant on RV Refrigerators can not be refilled except when done at the factory, so Carol and Eric had to decide if they wanted to have a new coolant unit installed, replace the refrigerator, and if that was done, would we go with a new RV refrigerator or a residential one. We decided that we wanted an RV refrigerator so that we can still easily boon-dock, so we either had to replace the coolant unit or the whole refrigerator. Well, we knew the seals on the existing doors were shot as well and that the only way to replace the seals is to replace the doors. So, now it seems like we are replacing most portions of the refrigerator, we might as well replace the entire unit.

So, we had a couple options to consider. We could get a new Norcold, or a Dometic unit. We found by looking at the specs that the Dometic unit was two inches deeper and would not fit through the doorway. And we were told that if we they had to take the refrigerator in and out of the window, we would need to leave the rig for 3 days. Well, we didn't want to live in temporary housing for two nights so we decided to go with the Norcold unit which is over $1,000 more than the Dometic unit. After much thinking about the issue, we decided to go with the Norcold unit to simplify the process.

Well, we are very happy with he outcome of having the new unit, because additionally, the existing wood panels from the old refrigerator fits in the doors of the new one. The funny thing we found out is that the technicians were not able to get the old refrigerator out through the door, they had to use the window. Well, they removed the window anyway, so we could have gotten the Dometic if we had known that in the first place. Oh well, we are very happy with the new unit.

Safe travels all!

Eric and Carol Anderson