Camping is one of the best ways to get away from it all and enjoy nature. But one of the most challenging aspects of camping can be keeping your food fresh. If you’ve ever had your camper fridge freeze everything, you know how frustrating it can be. So, what’s the deal? Why does my camper fridge freeze everything?

Your camper fridge may freeze everything if there is ice buildup in the fridge, dirty condenser coils, overstocking, low refrigerator coolant, or a defective thermistor. Sometimes this problem is caused by a bad door seal, wrong temperature settings, or blocked air vents.

In this blog post, I’ll explore the causes of refrigerator freezing and offer some solutions that will help keep your food cold – and your stomach happy.

Causes of Your Camper Fridge Freezing Everything

The common causes of your camper fridge freezing everything include:

Leaky Door Seals

When camping, your camper fridge door is opened and closed more often than usual. This can cause the door seals to loosen and develop leaks. If there is enough of a leak, cold air will escape from the fridge every time the door is opened, causing the refrigerator to work overtime to cool down.

This will make the fridge run less efficiently and can cause everything inside to freeze. Inspect your door seals regularly and replace them if damaged or worn.

Overstocking

Your camper fridge is smaller than your home refrigerator, so you must be careful not to overstock it. The air vents can become blocked when the refrigerator is too full, preventing cold air from circulating correctly. This can cause the fridge to overcompensate by producing too much cold air, making everything inside freeze.

Wrong Temperature Settings

If the temperature inside your camper fridge is too low, everything inside will freeze. Check the fridge’s temperature settings regularly and adjust them as needed.

Blocked Air Vents

As I mentioned before, if the air vents in your camper refrigerator are blocked, the cold air will be able to circulate correctly. This can cause the refrigerator to overcompensate by producing too much cold air, and everything will freeze.

Ice Buildup in Fridge

Sometimes your camper fridge may freeze everything because there is ice buildup inside the fridge. When this happens, especially to the thermostat, the refrigerator will think it is already cold enough and will stop producing cold air. As a result, everything inside the fridge can start to freeze.

Dirty Condenser Coils

The coils at the bottom and back of the fridge are responsible for releasing the heat. If these coils are dirty, the refrigerator will have to work harder to remove the heat, making it less efficient. Over time, this can cause everything inside the fridge to freeze.

Low Refrigerator Coolant

If the coolant levels in your fridge are low, it can cause the refrigerator to strain to produce cold air. This can lead to everything inside the fridge freezing.

Defective Thermostat

This part is designed to turn the fridge on and off to maintain a consistent temperature. If it is defective, the refrigerator may fail to trigger cooling or trigger too much, thus making everything inside the fridge freezer.

The Damper is Stuck Open

The damper is a small flap that regulates the amount of cold air entering the fridge. Too much cold air can enter the refrigerator if stuck open, causing everything to freeze.

Bad Gasket

The gasket is the rubber seal that goes around the fridge door. This seal prevents heat from exchanging between the fridge and the outside world. Heat can enter the fridge if the gasket is damaged, causing everything inside to freeze.

How to Fix Your Camper Fridge Freezing Everything

Now that I’ve explored the common causes of your camper fridge freezing everything let’s look at some solutions.

Tighten or Replace Door Seals

When you suspect your fridge is freezing everything because of a leaky door seal, you should first inspect the seals. If they are loose, try tightening them. If they are damaged or worn, you will need to replace them.

Reduce the Amount of Food You Store in the Fridge

If your camper fridge is freezing everything because it is overstocked, try reducing the amount of food you store. This will allow the air to circulate freely and fix the problem.

Increase the Temperature Settings

Increasing the temperature settings inside the fridge will cause the refrigerator to produce less cold air. This can help prevent everything from freezing.

Clean Air Vents

If you suspect your camper fridge is freezing everything because the air vents are blocked, try cleaning them. You can use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment to remove any dust or debris blocking the vents.

Defrost Ice Buildup in Fridge

Ice can sometimes form on the fridge’s shelves and walls, blocking the air vents and causing everything to freeze. To defrost the ice, turn off the refrigerator and leave the door open for a few hours. You can also use a hairdryer to speed up the process.

Clean Condenser Coils

If you think the condenser coils are dirty, you can clean them with a brush or vacuum cleaner. Be sure to unplug the fridge before you begin cleaning.

Check Refrigerator Coolant Levels

The coolant levels should be checked by a qualified technician. If they are low, the coolant will need to be refilled.

Replace Defective Thermostat

A thermostat that is not working will need to be replaced. This is a job that should be done by a qualified technician.

Fix Stuck Damper

If the damper is stuck open, you can try to fix it yourself by lubricating the hinges with WD-40 or another similar product. If this doesn’t work, you will need to replace the damper.

Replace Bad Gasket

You will need to replace the gasket if it is damaged or worn. When replacing the gasket, clean the surface where it will be mounted. This will help ensure a tight seal.

FAQs | Why Does My Camper Fridge Freeze Everything?

Why does my camper fridge keep freezing everything?

Several possible causes for this problem include a faulty door seal, overstocked fridge, blocked air vents, or dirty condenser coils. Try cleaning the air vents and coils and checking to see if the door seal needs to be replaced. If the problem persists, you may need to replace the thermostat.

What is the best way to prevent my camper fridge from freezing everything?

The best way to prevent this problem is to ensure proper air circulation. No food blocking the air vents should be blocked, and the fridge should not be overstocked. You should also check the door seal to ensure it is tight and free of any damage.

Does cold weather affect my camper fridge?

Cold weather can cause the fridge to work harder. The refrigerator is designed to operate in a wide range of temperatures, but if it gets too cold, it may have trouble maintaining the proper temperature.

Final Thoughts

Your camper fridge is essential to your RV, and you must ensure it works correctly. If you find that everything is freezing, there are several possible causes. Check the door seal, clean the air vents and coils, and increase the temperature settings if necessary. This article has helped you troubleshoot the problem and get your fridge back up and running.