Fridge is getting colder and colder

[JoanE]

Has anyone had this problem and what did you do to correct it? My fridge, which has worked just fine till now, is getting colder and colder. In fact, it is freezing my food! I have reset my temp setting twice but it is getting worse. I noticed that my freezer has some frost in it. Is that causing this problem? Do these things need to be defrosted?

[Irmi]

Joan, I'm not sure about all RV freezers/refrigerators, but I know ours needs defrosting. In fact, I just defrosted ours two nights ago. I've never had problems with the refrigerator getting colder, as yours is, but I'm sure they're all different. Good luck and let us know what you find out.

[Bethers]

First, I'd check to see if it needs defrosting (freezer will let you know that) - and then if the coils are freezing (frozen up) (you'd see that inside the fridge). Occasionally, I have to turn the fridge off and let the coils deice - just leave the food in, and keep the door shut. Also look to make sure you haven't somehow "relocated" the piece near the coils that sends the info to the fridge brain about the temp. If something is keeping that warm, well, it'll stay on and on and on.

[kdmac]

Yes, it is one of the "funny" things about the RV lifestyle and that is that our sophisticated fridge/freezers are a thing of the past. The RV fridges are a very simple design that serve us well most of the time but I too have noticed it will freeze things sometimes when it needs defrosting. Good thing is that defrosting is NOT THE CHORE IT WAS WITH OLD FRIDGES FROM OUR YOUTH, these little fridges melt if off so nice and quickly. I lay a towel in there over the food and turn off the fridge and let the ice fall onto the towel and it's quickly over with. So, never a big deal at all. I make sure my eggs are down low so they are not up near the colder top where the mechanism is. Nothing more surprising than cracking a frozen egg over a nice hot frying pan...changes the breakfast menu to oatmeal in a hurry

[JoanE]

Yes, I guess I assumed my RV fridge would just take care of itself...NOT! Did exactly as you both described. Shut it off. Put in a towel but it took overnight and half of today to get it out. Lost some food that froze solid..mostly produce..but all is well. Thanks gals.

[Bethers]

Yes, I guess I assumed my RV fridge would just take care of itself...NOT! Did exactly as you both described. Shut it off. Put in a towel but it took overnight and half of today to get it out. Lost some food that froze solid..mostly produce..but all is well. Thanks gals.

You can easily defrost it with help. I take everything out of the freezer and put some in the fridge, the rest in the freezer bags to bring things from the grocery stores, etc. With the fridge door shut, I open the freezer door and use a hair dryer (from a distance) to help soften things. I let it sit about 1/2 and hour, use the dryer again and pull off the ice as I can. From a bad freezer to done - never more than 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Doing it with the towel - you'll want to do that more often before it gets bad

But turning off and getting the coils unfrozen if they get bad - I will turn the fridge off for an hour or so at a time, then back on - so nothing goes bad. And just keep a watch on the coils, like you do the freezer.

Glad you got 'er done.

[Liz]

I use my hair dryer too.

[JoanE]

Latest update on the recalcitrant fridge..it was still freezing the food compartment. I've defrosted it a couple of times. I checked my level indicator and the bubble was still mostly in the circle but I had my SIL come over with his really really big level. We adjusted the leveling, I defrosted again and fingers crossed, so far it is working fine. So if you are having this problem, check your leveling too.

I read my manual and I should not have to defrost. My unit will automatically heat and melt ice. If the re-leveling doesn't work, I'm calling the service guy.

[Bethers]

Fridge has to be really off level for that to make a difference. Have you checked to make sure you haven't moved the sensor? It should be somewhere near the coils - and have you tried simply turning the fridge down - what do you have it set on. Sometimes I can set mine on 2, usually keep it on 3.

[JoanE]

Fridge has to be really off level for that to make a difference. Have you checked to make sure you haven't moved the sensor? It should be somewhere near the coils - and have you tried simply turning the fridge down - what do you have it set on. Sometimes I can set mine on 2, usually keep it on 3.

If by coils you mean the fins in the back, the fins have a clip connected to wires that run to the slide control. I cannot even budge the thing so doubt very much that it moved. The unit is on its warmest setting - cold as opposed to coldest. I just moved to a new space. My previous space had sun on the fridge side all day. Possibly it made the unit run too much. Now the sun is on the opposite side. Doesn't seem to be icing up although my frozen almond milk hasn't defrosted yet. Bought a few more groceries tonight. See if they freeze by tomorrow.

[WickedLady]

The sun on the back of the fridge definitely affects its operation as it will run way too much.

[AlmostThere]

The sun on the back of the fridge definitely affects its operation as it will run way too much.

Never would that have crossed my mind. Guess with more camping under my belt I will get more knowledgeable. Well, I can hope.

[JoanE]

That sun may have been my real issue. No freezing of the food compartment yet. Yay!

[Bethers]

That sun may have been my real issue. No freezing of the food compartment yet. Yay!

YAY - I forgot - I have times in the southern states when my coils will start to freeze. I simply turn off the fridge for an hour (when I don't need to open it) now and then - and that takes care of it. Probably has always been the sun, also.

[mitch5252]

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Well, thanks for the tips...first, about the sun on the outside of the fridge, and second, turn it off for an hour when you're not going to open it. I've had the dang fresh food compartment freeze, too - frozen eggs and lettuce are not appetizing!

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