How to Adjust Temperature on Dometic RV Refrigerator?

For a pleasant camping experience, it is important to know how to properly adjust your RV refrigerator’s temperature. That way you can simultaneously enjoy the beauty of nature and the comfort of home by having a cold drink and fresh food everywhere you go. People can have problems with setting the ideal temperature for their RV fridges. Therefore, in this article, we’ll talk about how to properly adjust your RV fridge temperature and explain some basic things about it. So, let’s start!

How to Adjust Temperature on Dometic RV Refrigerator?

How to adjust the temperature of your refrigerator in Dometic RV? The recommended temperature for your RV fridge should be set to 40 deg Fahrenheit (4.4°C), while the ideal temperature would be 35 degrees (1.6°C). The fridge’s temperature usually varies which depends on the brand of refrigerator, but you can monitor it through the thermometer by placing it inside.

Here are the recommended temperatures for types of products that you have in your RV refrigerator:

Products:	Ideal Temperature For RV Fridge:
Meat	33 °F and 36 °F (0.5°C to 2.2°C)
dairy products	34 °F to 38 °F (0.6°C to 3.3°C)
Vegetables	34 °F and 40 °F (0.6°C to 4.4°C)

Below we bring you all the necessary information with which you will be able to successfully adjust the temperature in your RV Dometic refrigerator so you can enjoy your vacation with fresh and well-chilled food.

If you don’t have one, we recommend you to buy this Waterproof Refrigerator Fridge Thermometer for your fridge.

Temperature Control For Dometic RV Refrigerator

The best sign that your Dometic refrigerator temperature is not set well is a water leak from the bottom of the appliance. When you notice a leak it’s time to lower the temperature in the fridge. Also, another sign that the temperature is not well adjusted is when you notice that ice is forming inside the refrigerator. Ice warns that the temperature in the device should be lowered. Adjusting the temperature on your Dometic fridge is not difficult.

The temperature control of the RV Dometic fridge is adjusted with the help of a small lever that moves up and down the scale. 

You can get temperature control by clicking Here on Amazon.

Note! The lever should never be moved left and right, as many people do, because this does not achieve anything when it comes to changing the temperature. 

To make it easier to remember in which direction the lever should be moved for stronger or weaker cooling, a good landmark are sides of the world. When you need stronger cooling the lever is held upwards (north) and if you need weaker cooling downwards (south).

What Is The Ideal Temperature For an RV Refrigerator?

The ideal temperature for your RV refrigerator is determined by the type of food you plan to store in it to keep it fresh. When storing meat, the best option is to set the temperature between 33 and 36 degrees Fahrenheit, while dairy products are best stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 34 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit. A temperature between 34 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit is recommended for storing vegetables. 

If the temperature is set to 40 Fahrenheit, there is a possibility that food will become more prone to spoiling, and if the temperature is above 50 Fahrenheit, there is a high risk of bacteria developing. Therefore, setting the refrigerator temperature to 36 degrees Fahrenheit / 2 degrees Celsius is ideal to keep the food fresh.

The temperature in the whole refrigerator is not always the same. Care should, therefore be taken to ensure that perishable food is always in the coldest part of the appliance. The lowest temperature in the refrigerator is always at the door, which is a good indicator of whether the temperature in the device is well set. For example, if ice packs form on the packaging of the milk you keep in the refrigerator door, this is a good sign that you need to lower the temperature in the fridge. 

Not all refrigerators have a visible temperature scale for accurate adjustment, so determining your refrigerator’s cooling in such cases is not easy. The thermometer for refrigerators helps a lot. With it, you can always determine the temperature in the device accurately and thus keep your food cool and fresh.

Related article: How Does an RV Propane Furnace Work

Find The Right Dometic Fridge Settings

When adjusting the right temperature on your RV Dometic refrigerator, it is likely that you will not have a large range for choices. The scale that will be offered to you usually ranges from 1 to 5. When this is the case, you will best adjust the temperature by keeping in mind that the highest number indicates the coldest temperature. 

Many users reported that the temperature associated with the number #4 proved to be the best choice for maintaining the freshness of food. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that number #4 will be ideal for you, the cases differ.

If you need a new fridge for your RV, check out this Dometic CRX1050 50L Compressor Refrigerator.

When adjusting the temperature in your RV Dometic refrigerator, you will do it best if you keep in mind that the temperature in the device is always more stable the more food there is in it. When you are not sure what the temperature in your refrigerator is, it is always good to use a thermometer to check. Thermometers are cheap and efficient.

Adjusting Your Ideal RV Fridge Temperature

As we have already pointed out, the ideal temperature for your refrigerator is between 40 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit. However, you may have set the temperature against your wishes or simply cannot control it as you would like. 

It should be noted that none of these situations is so bad since there can always be deviations from the recommended temperatures. But note that the temperature in the refrigerator should certainly not exceed 50 degrees Fahrenheit because the food stored is no longer safe. Here are some tips on adjusting the RV fridge temperature on different models.

1. Changing the Setting on a Dometic Fridge

You can adjust the Dometic fridge by using the lever that moves up and down the scale, depending on whether you want to lower or raise the temperature. The scale is usually small, and the numbers range from 1 to 5, so a thermometer will be of great help when setting the temperature.

2. Changing the Setting on an Avanti Fridge

When we talk about the Avanti refrigerator, they come with a dial that is placed in the top left corner, and it is used for adjusting the fridge temperature. The highest number on the dial means the coldest option and the lowest number on the dial means the warmest option. Just turn the dial in the desired direction.

3. Changing the Setting on a Norcold Fridge

To adjust the temperature on the Norcold fridge, the thermostat must be physically moved to the desired side. First, The thermostat must be removed from the starting position (from the fin) and moved to the other end on the left if you want the refrigerator to cool more or on the right if you want the refrigerator to run weaker.

Related article: How Does An RV Refrigerator Work

Tips For Keeping RV Fridge Cold

If you need a new Dometic RV Refrigerator, check the DOMETIC CFX3 75-Liter Dual Zone model.

Make Sure Your RV Fridge is Level

How you park your RV vehicle plays a big role in cooling efficiency. Refrigerators operate on the principle of gas circulation through pipes. If the refrigerator is located on an uneven surface, the proper flow of gas through the pipes is disabled. This can permanently damage your RV refrigerator or reduce the possibility of cooling. 

Increase Circulation Of Your RV Fridge

To speed up the cooling process of your refrigerator, you can install a small battery-powered refrigerator fan in it. The fan will ensure a faster flow of cold air through the refrigerator, especially when turning on the refrigerator for the first time (increase the cooling process up to 30% faster). Also, the fan helps the refrigerator to stay evenly cooled longer, but also to make the temperature easier to adjust. Air circulation is a crucial factor for efficient cooling.

How Long It Take For Dometic Refrigerator to Cool

How long it takes for a Dometic refrigerator to cool depends on the model of the appliance and the power source it uses to operate. Some users say that their refrigerator had to work for 24 hours before they could store food in it. 

Others report that this time can be much less if ice is put in the refrigerator and that in such case the device starts to cool effectively between 3 and 12 hours. The average time is 8 hours. What you will experience the first time you use it may differ from what others have experienced, but we definitely recommend using ice to shorten the initial cooling time.

For those who want to know more, be sure to read Why RV Carbon Monoxide Detector Keeps Going Off?

FAQ: People Also Ask

Why is my Dometic refrigerator not cold?

First, you need to check if there are any obstacles to the operation of the refrigerator. When it happens that the refrigerator does not get enough air it can stop cooling. Many models do not have external fans, which can be a problem if RV users like to be warm inside. In such cases, a fan should definitely be installed on the back of the device.

How do you adjust the Dometic thermistor?

When discussing Dometic RM2652, the temperature is adjusted by moving the plastic lever upwards for stronger cooling. It may happen that the thermistor lever has come loose so when you try to move the thermistor lever it just slides down and doesn’t do the job. In that case, the lever needs to be tightened.

Final Thoughts

It’s really not hard to set up your Dometic RV fridge to work properly. You may spend a little more time on this task, but the conclusion is – it pays off. The most important thing is understanding how temperature control works, how to use the lever and dial to adjust the temperature. 

The basis for good cooling of your Dometic refrigerator is to set the temperature to 40 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit and keep the temperature in the range of 35 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. When there is any ambiguity while adjusting the temperature, you can always find the answers in the manual that came with the device. But be sure to remember our tips and tricks for more efficient operation of your RV Dometic refrigerator and you will surely be able to eliminate the difficulties.