A residential refrigerator in an RV is powered by AC electricity, as opposed to other RV refrigerators that require propane. When purchasing a refrigerator for your RV, Dometic is a good option among many others.
It is the pioneer of the mobile living industry worldwide. Hundreds of people use the company’s products daily in commercial, residential, and recreational settings.
Although durable, its products can also show problems over time. There have been many complaints regarding the cooling performance of the Dometic RM1350SLMX.
In this article, we will mention some troubleshooting ways to try if you’re experiencing the same issue with your Dometic RM1350SLMX. Let’s dive deeper into them!
How to Fix Dometic RM1350SLMX Not Cooling?
1. Device Overheating
A refrigerator’s inability to cool might be due to many potential issues, and overheating is one of them. There’s usually only one thing wrong with RVs and motorhomes that ends up causing this problem.
Probably you’ve put your gadget in an enclosed space without enough ventilation, causing it to overheat. When planning where to put your refrigerators, remember that the area must be well-ventilated.
The refrigerator will continue to overheat if you keep it in an enclosed space. If it doesn’t cool down, it may also lead to problems with the motherboard. If this occurs, you’ll need to replace the motherboard, which is an expensive replacement.
Therefore, it is recommended that you relocate your equipment to a location with adequate ventilation. You can also put a fan next to your fridge to help keep the area around it cool. This will avoid overheating, and your unit will start cooling properly.
2. Electrical Load
Even if your RV fridge is functioning normally, a malfunctioning electrical load might reduce its cooling capacity. Sometimes the refrigerator is functional, but it is not operating at peak efficiency since the power supply is insufficient.
When your RV fridge isn’t working correctly, there is a risk of losing all of your perishable food, which can put your trip down in flames.
Troubleshooting this problem requires extensive knowledge, so if you lack knowledge and skills, contact a professional and let them handle it.
3. Check Thermostat
Dometic’s RM1350SLMX model is equipped with a control panel that can be accessed by opening the front door. It is an important component of a refrigerator and has a variety of ventilation and air conditioning settings.
When placing items in the refrigerator, you probably pressed the button accidentally and changed the temperature settings.
It’s possible that your device isn’t cooling because the temperature was increased or the fan speed was decreased. With a simple readjustment, your refrigerator should be able to resume its cooling.
4. Blocked Exhaust
In the event that the exhaust of your Dometic RM1350SLMX RV refrigerator becomes clogged, the hot air that has been building up inside of it will be unable to leave.
The roof of your RV serves as the outlet for the exhaust from your refrigerator’s ventilator, which is positioned on the rear of your RV.
Dust and other contaminants in the air might have blocked the vent and prevented the hot air from escaping. When this occurs, the refrigerator’s temperature will likely rise, leading to this problem.
Taking off the RV’s roof vent cover is the first step in fixing the problem, after which you may inspect the vent for any blockages that may be preventing hot air from escaping. If found dirty, consider cleaning it thoroughly.
5. Check Coolant Level
The coolants within every fridge are what keep the appliance cold. Without them, even with good airflow, your electronics will continue to overheat. If you suspect it to be the case, it’s imperative that you check the coolant levels in your apparatus.
You may solve the problem by refilling the coolant if it is low. It is essential to keep in mind that the coolant can also occasionally leak.
That’s why having an ammonia meter next to your fridge is a good idea. It will let you know right away if there is a leak of cooling liquid from your device.
6. Compressor Issues
If your Dometic RM1350SLMX RV’s refrigerator isn’t keeping food cold, the problem is probably different from what you’d discover in a standard household RV refrigerator.
This is because most recreational vehicles do not include the same refrigerators you would be accustomed to at home.
To maintain cold temperatures inside, Dometic RM1350SLMX RV’s refrigerator in a Recreational Vehicle (RV) relies on gas absorption rather than a compressor.
In RV Dometic RM1350SLMX refrigerator, the heat is taken out and absorbed by a chemical solution rather than being created cool air as a compressor refrigerator would.
Because the chemical coolant relies on gravity to go through the coils, RV refrigerator issues might arise if the unit isn’t sitting perfectly level.
Dometic RM1350SLMX RV’s refrigerator can maintain a low temperature for a short time even if it is not perfectly level, although this is not recommended.
In severe cases, the cooling unit in a recreational vehicle fridge can get damaged beyond repair if it has been tilted for more than 30 minutes.
Long-term Dometic RM1350SLMX RV refrigerator problems can also arise if the fridge hasn’t been leveled for a long time. This means you’ll have to either replace the RV refrigerator cooling unit or buy a new appliance.
The Bottom Line
The Dometic RM1350SLMX enjoys a stellar reputation in the refrigerator industry because of its incredible performance and features. However, it can develop a few issues for which there are known workarounds.
If you want a long relationship with it, you should take good care of your Dometic RM1350SLMX and maintain it regularly.
