[VAC] Re: Refrigerator Question

["Harvey Barlow" <harveybarlow@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Margie,

I recently went through a failed refrigerator experience and will share what
little I learned.

One, it is possible for the refrigerator to work on gas but not electricity.
Gas or electricity simply provide heat which makes the cooling process work.
If it works on one, the cooling unit is probably okay but either the gas
burner or electric heater is bad.

Two, it may take more than four hours to reach its minimum temperature.  You
might try again and let it run for 24 hours.

Three, the temperature in the box will always be about 30 degrees warmer
than the freezer.  This means that the freezer must reach and maintain
pretty close to zero degrees in order to keep the box at a temperature which
will preserve food.

Four, components like leaking door gaskets can prevent adequate cooling.

Five, dirty coils on the back of the unit or blocked vents could prevent
cooling.

Six, the refrigerators are replaceable.  Dometic makes new units of a
similar size.  Discount RV retailers such as Camping World sell replacements
for less than $1,000.  Not cheap, but affordable.

Seven, replacement refrigerators usually turn out to be a wiser investment
than repair or replacement of "cooling units."  The refrigerator I recently
replaced had a new cooling unit installed by the previous owner about three
or four years ago.  It failed again.

The one I just replaced would cool to about 12 degrees in the freezer, but
would not cool below 48 degrees in the box.  It would make ice cubes just
fine but food spoiled.

Harvey