How Long does it take for a RV Fridge to get cold? Plus 4 Quick Tips

Keeping your food, drinks, and items cold while out camping is important to provide you with the best experience and from eating spoiled food. Before you start packing, you will want to cool your refrigerator.

How long does it take for a RV Fridge to get cold? It typically takes 24 hours for your refrigerator in your RV to get cold. As the fridge is an absorption style, it takes more time to exchange the heat out of the refrigerator than a typical residential fridge. It helps if your fridge is empty when you first try and cool it down for airflow.

Many factors play a part in cooling and keeping a refrigerator cold. It initially takes the refrigerator about 24 hours to cool down. It is recommended that you turn the refrigerator on a day before you plan on using it. This allows enough time for it to get cold.

Also, when packing the refrigerator do not overpack it and make sure all items are already cold. If not, this will cause the refrigerator to overwork and have a harder time cooling. The outdoor temperature can also be another factor in keeping your refrigerator cold. If it is extremely hot or if the RV is parked in the sun, this could raise the temperature in the refrigerator. Also, if your refrigerator is not level this could prevent it from running efficiently.

The reason why it takes so long for these refrigerators to cool down is that they run differently than yours at home. The RV refrigerator does not blow and circulate cold air like the one at home. There are small fans that can be put inside the refrigerator to help circulate the cold air. These fans can be purchased at any camper store or online. They also absorb the hot air quickly when the door is opened.

Generally, RV refrigerators can either run on 120 volt electric or gas. There are two buttons on the front of the refrigerator, which are auto and gas only. It is best to keep it on auto because while the RV is stationary and plugged in, your RV will automatically turn the refrigerator on 110 volt power.

Once you are on the move and the RV is unplugged, the refrigerator will automatically start running on the propane. If the refrigerator is on gas only, it will never use the electricity even if the RV is plugged in. It will only use the propane and it will use a lot of it.

Tips to get it Cooled Down Faster:

1. Empty it out

Cool down your refrigerator Empty. If you have items in your refrigerator, they can slow down the process of cooling down your fridge and block airflow.

2. Use a refrigerator circulating fan:

We use this fan and it has drastically reduced our cool down time. Now, it can be cooled down within 6 hours or so instead of overnight.

3. Put Ice In

If you put ice packs in your refrigerator and freezer, you can quickly cool down your refrigerator.

4. Keep Space Between Items

Lastly, keep space between your items as it will help promote airflow to keep everything cool throughout your trip.