Frost/Ice build up Dometic Refrigerator

I full time.

1. I have a small fan in the Refrigerator part that runs all the time. It clips on the fins and moves the air in the refrigerator part so that there is no hot or cold spots in the refrigerator. It also keeps ice off the refrigerator fins.

2. I have an indoor/outdoor thermometer in the refrigerator part to make sure the temp is between 35 and 42 degrees.

3. I do not worry too much about ice build up in the freezer part. I wait until the ice is about 1 to 2 inches thick. When it is time to defrost (on a nice hot day) I have a fan that will fit inside the freezer with the freezer door open. This blows the hot outside air into the freezer. After about 15 to 30 minutes the fan has melted the ice from the back of the freezer so the ice falls off (with a little help from me) in one big sheet.

4. I grew up in the days before auto-defrosting refrigerators so I am use to ice in the freezer. The first auto-defrosting refrigerators simply had a timer that turn off the refrigerator for about 20 minutes a day to allow the ice to melt. Now I think (?) they have a heater strip to melt the ice.

Another approach to frost buildup is to "head it off at the pass." Warm air can enter the cabinet through the drain tube and contribute substantially to the problem. The simple solution is to extend the drain tube 8-10" with some appropriate tubing and a barbed connector and form it into a loop creating the equivalent of a p-trap. The tube will drain normally and the bit of water trapped in the loop will block any warm air from entering the cabinet. The difference was quite dramatic for very little cost and effort.

On a three or four month trip we need to defrost the fins in the fridg part. We use a tall fan on the top rack with everything else still in the fridg. Just almost close the door and every thing will stay cool.

I am surprised no one recommended some sort of circulating fan inside the frige. My fins don't frost.

There are a bazillion posts on the subject.

I don't have this problem but I'd suggest the use of hot water to melt the frost and to put your frozen stuff in a cooler with some very cold ice on top.

Your fridge probably needs a cleaning and the hot water will help with that. If you put the frozen food back into the chilled fridge, it will help to keep the temp low.

We had no need to defrost it during our multi month trips, yet. I do know folks who have done so and used a hair drier with no ill effects, which is what I'll do if needed.

WE FTd and our Dometic was ON for years.......defrosted about 3-4 times a year

As suggested.......
Open door get item close door. Lookie louing WILL allow warm moist air in and a lot of the cold air out.

Hot/steaming items will contribute to moist-warm air

Loose/poor door seals also (dollar test to check)

Freezer was easy to defrost.
Warm towel in bottom, then lightly scrap frost off using PLASTIC scrapper
Spray hot water on frost while scrapping.

Rarely had to do the fins in food section

My fins quit freezing after raising the temp one notch. Still quite cold however.

First is don't keep the door open any longer than necesary.
Second make sure all foods are securely covered and cooled before putting them in the fridge.

I believe Dometic reccomends a pan of warm water with the doors open in the freezer compartment to help defrosting.

I use a hair dryer on the lowest heat setting and high on blowing and keep it moving over the frost from a distance. Warning Dometic does not recommend this as damage may occure.
Takes me about an hour to do both freezer and fridge fins.