Raining Inside Refrigerator
We have a 2009 41-foot diesel pusher with a Norcold four-door refrigerator. It runs on 120-volt-AC electric or propane. The ceiling inside the refrigerator is always wet, and the water drips down inside. It’s almost as though it’s raining inside when the door is opened. We wipe it dry, but the moisture comes right back. We tried using a small fan inside to circulate the air, but it did not help. Any suggestions? Other than this annoying problem, the refrigerator works great.
Donna Gorshe, F294988
Knoxville, Tennessee
What you describe is commonly known as the “iced tea glass” phenomenon. Moisture condenses on a cold surface. Humid air contains lots of moisture, and the inside of the refrigerator has a cold surface. When moist air enters the refrigerator, it collides with the cold air already in the refrigerator and is pushed to the top of the cabinet where it condenses on the cold surface, resulting in the moisture you see.
The key to resolving this problem is to determine the source of the moist air. The most likely place would be the door seals. I suggest that you open the door, place a dollar bill against the door seal, and close the door. If you can easily pull out the dollar bill, the seal against the refrigerator’s face frame is not tight, and outside air can enter through the opening. Perform this test all around the door to determine whether the seals are bad. If the seals test okay, use a flashlight to inspect the sealant between the plastic liner and the metal face frame. If a penknife blade can enter, so can air. Reseal any gaps with clear silicone. Another tip is to quickly open the door, retrieve the item you want, and close the door. The door should not be kept open for any extended length of time.
These are the two most likely areas of air leakage, unless the cooling unit has been replaced. If so, the cooling unit needs to be properly sealed by the installer.
Fridge Facts
My Norcold 1200 series refrigerator does not work well in warmer weather. The freezer works fine, but the refrigerator doesn’t get cold. I installed one of the new “Amish” cooling units (twice) and it’s still struggling to get cold. Any suggestions?
Larry Anson, F211601
FMCA Mail Forwarding
Many things can cause poor refrigerator performance, and to diagnose the exact problem would require a hands-on inspection. Here are several questions that may help you prediagnose the problem so you can talk knowledgeably about the situation with a service technician if necessary.
Does it have the same problem when operating on gas as it does when powered by electric? Is it in a slideout room? If so, is it properly vented? Are the fans working? What are the outside temperatures? Is there 12-volt-DC power (not 10.5 volts) at the control board?
If the fins have more than 1/4-inch of ice buildup, the ice can inhibit refrigerator heat transfer. Also, make sure the door is sealing properly by doing the classic “dollar bill test,” and verify that the condensate drain restrictor is in the end of the condensate hose.
You indicated that you’ve had an off-brand cooling unit installed, and I am not an advocate of these products. If the manufacturer of that brand claims that its product is equal to or better than the factory replacement unit, you should demand that the manufacturer make good on its promise.
Residential Refrigerator
In the November 2012 issue of Family Motor Coaching magazine, there is an article about the 2013 Thor Motor Coach Palazzo (page 50). In the article, it mentions that the motorhome has a residential refrigerator. How is the refrigerator powered when the motorhome is moving? Can the RV refrigerator in older coaches be replaced with a residential refrigerator?
Jim McDowell, F359700
Cerritos, California
The July 2012 issue of Family Motor Coaching included an article titled “Installing A Residential Refrigerator In A Motorhome” (page 50), which provides step-by-step instructions for replacing an existing RV refrigerator with a residential model. An inverter would make it possible to operate the refrigerator while traveling. The article appears in the Back Issues section at FMCmagazine.com. You will need to establish an FMCA member sign-in account to access the article.
Inverter Info
I have a question regarding the usage of inverters. I have a Winnebago motorhome with a built-in inverter, and I have had others tell me to leave the inverter on all the time. I usually keep it off unless I intend to run off the house batteries, then I turn it on. What is the proper usage?
Jim Stoodley, F389890
Hollywood, Florida
You can leave the inverter on all the time, except during prolonged storage periods. It also can act as a backup energy provider in the event shore power is lost when camping. When dry camping, you may choose to turn it off to conserve as much energy as possible, because the inverter will draw some current to remain in the standby mode. However, I suggest that you verify this information in your inverter’s owners manual.
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