RV Refrigerator Repair: How to Check the Coolant Level

  • 0.5-2
  • Intermediate
What You'll Need
RV Refrigerator
Ammonia Detector
What You'll Need
RV Refrigerator
Ammonia Detector

If you have an RV refrigerator, repair is something you may have to deal with. Luckily, there is a simple way to diagnose and check the coolant level. A major problem with some RV refrigerator units is that they are not level. When they are not level, they do not spread the coolant around enough in the coils. Leveling out the refrigerator will fix this. Another problem is that the coolant may be leaking. Here is how to check to see if the coolant level in your RV refrigerator is where it should be.

Step 1: Test for Ammonia Leak

The coolant in an RV refrigerator is a combination of ammonia and sodium chromite. If the coolant is not working properly, you can check the levels by simply using an ammonia detector. If the detector shows that the ammonia is leaking, that will mean the coolant level is down.

Step 2: Check Heat

The coolant in the RV refrigerator works when the coils are heated. This makes the coolant flow through the tubes to cool off the refrigerator. If you notice that the heat is central, or that one part of the coil, or boiler, is exceptionally hot, then there is not enough coolant in the fridge to be able to run efficiently through the tubes.