An RV refrigerator can make or break a camping trip, so it’s important to keep it well-maintained. This article offers some quick troubleshooting tips to help you if your rv fridge isn’t cooling.

First, confirm that the fridge is powered on and that any other appliances plugged into it are operative. If the fridge isn’t running and other appliances are, then you might have a problem with your 12-volt DC coach battery or the fridge’s cooling coils. It’s also possible that the fridge circuit board isn’t working and the solution could require a professional RV tech.

Next, check the thermistor clip on your RV fridge to ensure it’s set correctly. The thermistor is the sensor that determines whether your fridge needs to cool more or less. If it’s positioned incorrectly, then you might have an airflow issue that’s not allowing the refrigerant to circulate properly.

Finally, inspect the back of your fridge and its roof vent for obstructions like nests or leaves that might be blocking excess heat from escaping. This can significantly reduce your fridge’s performance. You can purchase a 12V thermostatically controlled refrigerator vent fan to remove this heat and improve the fridge’s performance by up to 40 percent.

If your rv fridge is an absorption model, defrost it on a regular basis and don’t overpack it. This will keep the internal temperature more evenly cooled. Finally, be sure to bring a thermometer with you on the road and monitor the temperature of your food to ensure it’s below 40 degrees.