Dear Dave,
My absorption refrigerator is always frosting up, requiring me to spend hours letting it defrost. What is the best method or product to reduce the moisture? Someone suggested using toilet paper! —Warren, 2016 Winnebago Vista
Dear Warren,
Your 2016 Class A Vista has a Norcold absorption refrigerator that will run on either 120-volt power or liquid propane (LP). Unfortunately, it is not a “frost-free” design, as there would need to be a very high-amp-draw heating element designed into the evaporator and condenser fins. So, defrosting has to be done the old-fashioned way.
What causes the moisture
Typically moisture or condensation inside a refrigerator is caused by warm, moist air entering and making contact with the metal fins of the evaporator or condenser coils. This can happen when the door is opened repeatedly, or the seal/gasket is not making contact. Most RVers place heavy bottles of water and other items in the door shelves for easy access. The constant banging down the road makes the door settle and not seal tight against the gasket.
I recommend periodically testing the seal by placing a dollar bill between the door and the gasket, shutting the door, and pulling on the dollar bill. There should be some resistance with a properly sealed door. If it slips out, warm, moist air can penetrate the inside and you will see much more condensation than normal. If you have a diesel pusher or larger 5th wheel, you will need to use a $100 bill, as maintenance on those units is much more expensive!😉
Another issue could be an abundance of metal containers/cans placed in the fridge while still warm, that can cause a similar reaction. That, combined with poor air circulation, can cause excess condensation. Reduce the number of metal containers, don’t overfill the shelves, and do not cover the shelves with plastic or other material which blocks airflow.
How to reduce condensation and frost
As stated earlier, limit the number of warm items placed inside a cold refrigerator, and don’t block the airflow. Installing a circulating fan not only helps reduce condensation but makes the refrigerator run more efficiently. One of the best I have found is an evaporator fin model that can be purchased here.
To help defrost faster
There are times when you will not be able to get rid of all the moisture and will get frost, especially in the freezer. A simple trick to help defrost faster is to place flexible plastic cutting boards on the bottom of the freezer shelf. When the frost develops, simply pry the corner of the plastic up with a table knife and the whole frozen sheet comes up easily.
Many RVers that I know use a moisture trap such as Damp Rid. However a new trick that is getting much play on social media is to place a roll of toilet paper inside the refrigerator and freezer. Toilet paper is not only very absorbent for moisture but also absorbs nasty smells from last night’s fish dinner leftovers. Trust me, it has gone viral. However, I would rather use baking soda!
Imagine my confusion when I open the door for my late night snack and forget what trip I was making!
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Another good way of checking the Fridge and Freezer Seal is to put an LED cordless light inside then check for light on outside. (Better at night or darkness)
We used the 2-fan version of the fan Dave recommends for 7 winters in Texas Hill Country – meaning roughly 6 continuous months times 7. It made a HUGE difference in fin icing in our full RV sized absorption refrigerator. We defrosted once a season – at shut down.
We had the RV for 9 seasons and the first two we melted big ice blocks 2-3 times a season.
A roll of TP takes up a lot of space. Can you put it in the microwave or set it in the sun to dry it out and use it for the intended purpose? RV TP or regular TP? That is always a question. Paper products are so expensive today. I loved defrost day as a kid as I got to play with the ice chunks.
Just imagine someone half asleep and taking that frozen TP to the bathroom with them. Talk about cheap thrills!