There are two main types of refrigerators that you will see in an RV. An absorption refrigerator or a residential refrigerator. And they are usually either a Dometic or Norcold. Because we are RV technicians, we have to give you a little science lesson. The first thing to understand is one of the laws of thermodynamics, the second law to be precise, which says that hot moves to cold. So all those times where your ma yelled at you to close the fridge while you were looking for your favorite snack as a kid because you were letting the cold out, well now you can go tell her that Camper Alex taught you the second law of thermodynamics. Heat goes to cold not the other way around. Sorry ma, it’s science.

Without getting too deep into the how’s and why’s of absorption refrigerators and how they work just know that there are liquids moving around on the back of your fridge that expand and contract. When that happens, heat is pulled through those metal fins in the fridge and a metal plate you can’t see in your freezer. The better everything is working the faster your beer gets cold. Sadly, if there are issues in the unit or the install, you may not be experiencing the max cold temperatures for your unit. A couple things that you can easily do on the business end of fridge (the side that holds your beer) is make sure that it is not overstuffed. Allowing air flow to happen around the sides as well as the metal coils will allow for your fridge to get closer to extreme cold. Another is checking the thermistor. You may have not even noticed it but it is the little tab that is attached to the metal fins in your cooling unit. Move it up to make things colder and down to make things warmer. I know you are going to get all excited at this point of reading and run to your fridge and go looking for your thermistor but please slow down and just move it incrementally…that means not all at once. You don’t want to go freezing everything and having a milk slushie. Move it up a little bit, finish your next beverage and see if you like the temperature of the next one you drink.

Airflow isn’t something that only happens on the inside of your fridge but on the backside of it as well. No matter what brand of refrigerator (even in the new 12v Furrion or Everchill) limited airflow equals less heat transfer and less heat transfer equals warm…I know we are getting to know each other well. If you have tackled the couple things inside, outside can be little more demanding. Feel free to get in touch with us and we would love to help you out.