Please help me get new fridge cooling better...

[DHart]

We just picked up our 2016 30' Airstream Serenity with 8 cu ft Dometic Gas/AC fridge.



The coach is parked outside our home while I am doing the test of the new fridge operation.

Here is the scenario:

-Outside temp is around 100 degrees daytime, down to 85 or so at night.
-Temp in the parked trailer (all windows open) is around 100 degrees daytime, 85 night tme.
-Fridge is empty
-Cooling setting is on HIGH (Coldest)

Empty fridge has been running on GAS, on HIGH, for 24 hours. Freezer temp is 16 degrees. Seems good to me! Fridge temp is 45 degrees in mid morning. Not so great.

So, early afternoon I switched over to running it on AC. Now, freezer temp is still 16 degrees, but fridge is at 52 degrees. (During the afternoon, the dropping sun has been beating on the fridge side of the trailer.)

The fridge side of the trailer is facing west, with hot western sun hitting that side of the coach all afternoon.

Obviously, we are not occupying the trailer. It is parked beside the house. And the heat of the environment and temps inside the trailer cannot be helping the fridge do its job at all. And the fact that the fridge is empty... may be a factor as well?

Considering all this, does it sound like our fridge is doing its job as best as can be expected, or should it be cooling the refrigerator section a LOT better than it is?

Freezer performance looks great. Fridge performance is really causing us some concern, but we're not sure how much the environmental factors are influencing the performance.

What should/can I do to improve the cooling of the fridge. Would just filling the fridge with pre-cooled stuff and running the AC in the coach to lower the inside temps in the coach make all the difference to bring the fridge temp down to mid 30's?

[lawrosa]

DHart wrote:
There is a drain tube with a perforated plug in the end of it. If water was in the tube, it would drain out of the perforations.

It would when the trap fills. The trap should be always filled with water.

[DHart]

There is a drain tube with a perforated plug in the end of it. If water was in the tube, it would drain out of the perforations.

[lawrosa]

Drain tube fix..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2olgFfBEAuo

[lawrosa]

Thermistor placement...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmzDYZFYmx0

[lawrosa]

manual for reference


http://www.dometic.com/QBankFiles3/EPiServer/Dometic/US/Manuals/RV-manuals/Refrigerators/Americana-A...

[lawrosa]

When starting this refrigerator for the very first time, the cool-
ing cycle may require up to four hours of running time before
the cooling unit is fully operational.

Any time the vehicle is parked for several hours with the refrig-
erator operating, the vehicle should be leveled to prevent this
loss of cooling.

Also look of the evaporator fins inside the fridge. there should be a temp probe clipped to one of them. Is it clipped on the fin? Slide the temp probe higher up on the fin. This will net colder temps...

[dougrainer]

DHart wrote:

dougrainer wrote:
As a Tech for an A/S dealer, I will bet the rear cooling fan is inop. A/S has Dometic add the rear 12 volt fan in their installs due to the way the roof curves and the fact of the aluminum sidewalls. To test, just open the rear outside door and install a 120 volt small fan blowing upwards for 24 hours. Then measure the temp again. You should also HEAR that fan if it is running. One of the biggest complaints we get from A/S owners is the sound of that fan running. They do not understand why they hear a fan. Doug

Looking in the outside mechanical compartment of the fridge, there is no fan anywhere to be seen, nor one to be heard.

The fridge is a Dometic DM2862LBX and the coach is a 2016 30' Serenity.

I just stuck a small 6" fan in there pointing upward. Hope to see if that makes a difference.

On your model, you will not see the fan easily. It will be up about 2 feet from the bottom and the lower coils will make it hard to see it. AS others have stated, there is NOTHING you can do. You need to get it back to the dealer and have them check it out to find the problem. You DO have a problem, and cannot be fixed by you. Doug

[dougrainer]

lawrosa wrote:
1. There should be a drain hose coming from the drip tray. Open the outside refridge panal and look. This hose should have a loop in it to act as a trap. There should be water in there or water added.

If theres no water then the hot outside air is just entering the inside of the refridge through the tube.

Just doing this you can probably lower the temp 10 dgrees..

2. New RV refridges all state AFAIK that the unit needs to be operated 40 times before it reaches its proper cooling capibilities. Read your manual. I bet it states that.

3. Its a new camper. Take it back to the dealer to get it checked....Im sure you have a 2 yr bumper to bumper warranty with that airstream.. They cost a pretty penny...

Let us know your findings with the hose and manual..

Even though my camper is an 2003 the refridge as not even been close to being used 40 times.

My temps are 40 refridge .. Never took temps in freezer as everything stays frozen..

40 times????????? WHERE is the world did you read that? What about people that buy and then use full time? I have never seen that and have never heard that you have to use 40 times. Of course, I only have 36 years as a tech. Maybe that was for an OLDER Pre 70's RV refer:B How about 24 HOURS, not 40 times? Doug

[Bird_Freak]

GMandJM wrote:

Bird Freak wrote:
Listen to Doug! He is a certified Airstream tech. Others here just give opinions and there is nothing wrong with that but I would listen to the Pro

That last bit should include Chris, as well.

Just saying....

Would have if I had known he was a tech also.

[lawrosa]

1. There should be a drain hose coming from the drip tray. Open the outside refridge panal and look. This hose should have a loop in it to act as a trap. There should be water in there or water added.

If theres no water then the hot outside air is just entering the inside of the refridge through the tube.

Just doing this you can probably lower the temp 10 dgrees..

2. New RV refridges all state AFAIK that the unit needs to be operated 40 times before it reaches its proper cooling capibilities. Read your manual. I bet it states that.

3. Its a new camper. Take it back to the dealer to get it checked....Im sure you have a 2 yr bumper to bumper warranty with that airstream.. They cost a pretty penny...

Let us know your findings with the hose and manual..

Even though my camper is an 2003 the refridge as not even been close to being used 40 times.

My temps are 40 refridge .. Never took temps in freezer as everything stays frozen..

[Hornnumb2]

Wow what a rig, Congrats!

[GMandJM]

Bird Freak wrote:
Listen to Doug! He is a certified Airstream tech. Others here just give opinions and there is nothing wrong with that but I would listen to the Pro

That last bit should include Chris, as well.

Just saying....

[DHart]

Thank you, everyone, for your comments (and compliments).

[DHart]

dougrainer wrote:
As a Tech for an A/S dealer, I will bet the rear cooling fan is inop. A/S has Dometic add the rear 12 volt fan in their installs due to the way the roof curves and the fact of the aluminum sidewalls. To test, just open the rear outside door and install a 120 volt small fan blowing upwards for 24 hours. Then measure the temp again. You should also HEAR that fan if it is running. One of the biggest complaints we get from A/S owners is the sound of that fan running. They do not understand why they hear a fan. Doug

Looking in the outside mechanical compartment of the fridge, there is no fan anywhere to be seen, nor one to be heard.

The fridge is a Dometic DM2862LBX and the coach is a 2016 30' Serenity.

I just stuck a small 6" fan in there pointing upward. Hope to see if that makes a difference.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

And I am not going to pollute a sarcastic post with a compliment about how beautiful your rig is - breathtaking. Saludos!