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Post Info TOPIC: Refrigerator Question/Advice


RV-Dreams Family Member

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Refrigerator Question/Advice


OK since you all assisted so well on the smoke detector situation here is my next dilema.........the refrigerator.

We live in central Florida, where it is hot as blazes in July & August so I am wondering if this might be part of the situation but I am not sure.

We are weekend campers only at this point in our lives.  We plug the RV in on Wed when we are leaving Friday night so the refrig can get cold.  The last two weekend outings I have noticed that the ice cream does not stay "hard" like it does in the house freezer.

Our RV is level and I use a small battery operated fan in the refrig for circulation.  The refrig is turned to "coldest" level and I have read the owner's manual and all appears to be in line so I am wondering if it is the fact that it is in the 90's outside with 100+ humidity as well since the AC unit runs a lot as well.

Has anyone had a similar situation I hate to leave the ice cream at home!

Susan

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Do you have a thermometer you can put in the freezer to check the temp? This might be a good purchase to make.

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Roz


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I understand about leaving the "cream" at home.  We have not had a problem with this.  We too use a small fan in the refrigerator section.

Why not move this up to the freezer section with the precious cargo.  By stacking the carton where air can flow underneath and around the carton may well help.  This is what is done in deep freeze highway transportation trailers.  Without good air flow, the cold air may not reach the "creme de la creme" adequately.



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Is the outside (of your coach) on the refer side in the sun or shade?

-- Edited by NorCal Dan on Monday 27th of July 2009 09:42:10 AM

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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NorCal Dan wrote:

Is the outside (of your coach) on the refer side in the sun or shade?

-- Edited by NorCal Dan on Monday 27th of July 2009 09:42:10 AM






Morning = shade
Afternoon = sun
At least that is how it was this past weekend.

I will purchase a thermometer great suggestion and I will also try placing the portable fan in the freezer.

I will provide an update after our next weekend outing which will be Aug 7th!

NorCal Dan.........I am so jealous see you are in the Branson area, love that area! Someday.............

Susan

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Susan & Gary

2017 Honda Pioneer 1000-5
2017 Cyclone 3611JS
2016 Dodge RAM 3500 Cummins Dually



RV-Dreams Family Member

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I am still researching freezers...I want to put one in the basement. I don't think NorCold RV refrigerators do a very good job in the freezer department, and the sun hitting the outside wall in the hot afternoon doesn't help...

We are workamping in Branson this summer...be sure to bring your wallet when you come...everything costs money here, and they tax everything. I'm just saying...

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Hi Susan: along with what Dan mentioned about keeping the fridge side away from the direct sun, try lowering your fridge setting by one or two positions. I know it doesn't sound like the right thing to do but when the ambient temperature is that hot  and the sun is on that side of the rig the fridge can't keep up. You may also want to put a fan in the back of the fridge so it will help the vent the heat up through the top vent. If you awning is on the same side as the fridge extend it out to block the sun. I hope this helps. Gummy

-- Edited by Gummy on Monday 27th of July 2009 05:23:46 PM

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All of the above suggestions, especially the fans inside the frig and at the back to cool the coils.

We have found about the only way to keep Ice Cream hard is to put it in the top deep freeze section. Any other location and the Ice Cream will be soft serve to liquid state.

Here's how we pack the freezer.
> Anything we want frozen hard goes in the top section.
> Semi -hard goes on the second shelf (meat, ice, frozen veggies & fruit) to be used within a week
> very cold goes on the 3rd shelf (water bottles, hot dogs, meat, veggies, fruits) to be used in 2 days
> Colder than the refrigerator section on the bottom shelf- (thawing meat, candles, stuff that wouldn't fit on the 3rd shelf) to be used today or by tomorrow.

We tend to be in 80 plus heat with little shade and have found the fans help.

However the most important tip is to keep the refrigerator and freezer lightly packed with plenty of spaces for air circulation. Once you pack the RV refrigerator full, (even with a fan)you end up with less than perfect cooling. They need air circulation to operate properly.

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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All very interesting indeed!

When I got out the Owner's manual for the refrig it stated to keep things on the bottom shelf of the freezer that we wanted the coldest but the previous post says the opposite.

I am going to try a small fan in the freezer and a thermometer as well.

More and more I think it is just the miserable Florida summer heat/humidty.  It is difficult to keep the sun off the exterior of the refrig part of the trailer because of campground site assignment and our awning is on the opposite side of the RV.

This past weekend we noticed Friday evening the ice cream was like soft serve and come Sat. evening it was more like ice cream..........such a dilema to have in life!

Our refrig/freezer is never packed tight as right now we are weekend campers, the small fan seems to do the trick in the refrig so I shall try one in the freezer as well and will let everyone know how it "freezes out"!wink
Thanks again
Susan


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2017 Cyclone 3611JS
2016 Dodge RAM 3500 Cummins Dually



RV-Dreams Family Member

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I was having the same the problem with ice cream. Everything else froze nicely but ice cream turned into softserve overnight. It turned out to be a leak in the cooling unit of the fridge. Open the outside door and check for a yellow stain around the cooling unit. If you see one, or smell ammonia call a repairman cos the cooling unit is toast. BTW, I'm just outside of New Orleans so I know what you mean about the heat and humidity.

-- Edited by Footsiebear on Wednesday 4th of November 2009 03:51:02 AM

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