How to Save Energy and Reduce Your RV Refrigeration Consumption

A refrigerator can be a big power draw in your RV. It’s important to understand what you can do to save energy and reduce your RV fridge’s consumption.

The most common type of rv refrigeration is the absorption style. The cooling process uses no compressor and relies on a mixture of water, ammonia, and hydrogen to power the fridge’s tubes that cool the food. These fridges can be powered by LP gas, AC power, or both. They tend to be more efficient than compressor fridges, but they don’t cool as quickly.

Another important thing to remember about rv refrigeration is that it takes 24 hours for the refrigerator to get cold, so start it the night before you go on a trip. This will minimize how much propane the fridge will use to cool down warm food. You can also help the fridge cool faster by putting cold food in and by making sure the air can circulate well. Some customers even buy a battery operated fridge fan to put on the bottom shelf. (Cold air sinks and warm air rises).

Another thing to think about is that the cooling system in an rv fridge depends on gravity. If your RV is out of level, the fridge will have trouble because the chemicals won’t circulate correctly. This can lead to the formation of crystals in the fridge that will restrict or block air flow. This is why it’s so important to level your RV.