4 Common Dometic RM2852 Problems (Troubleshooting)

Dometic RM2852 Troubleshooting
Dometic RM2852 Troubleshooting

When you want the best experience for your food, you want to get the best fridge possible. The Dometic RM2852 has been known for being a high-quality fridge that will keep your food nice and fresh for a long time.

However, no fridge is perfect. Even the Dometic RM2852 has problems that can occur. With these problems, we will also be looking into solutions for them so you can keep your fridge working and keep your food cold.

Dometic RM2852 Troubleshooting

1. The Dometic RM2852 Fridge Not Getting Cold

One of the most commonly reported problems with this fridge is struggling to get the fridge cold. This can be super stressful as you need your fridge to be cold to keep your food fresh. Without your fridge getting cold, the food inside can spoil and that is wasted money.

A common cause for your fridge not getting cold is improper placement. When you place your fridge in a corner or smush it up against large counters, there will be restricted airflow.

Fridges need a proper amount of airflow so they can push out the warm air that gets replaced by newer cold air. If you see that your fridge is surrounded by large objects and isn’t getting the necessary airflow, move the fridge to a spot where air can hit it from several sides.

In addition to increasing the space around the fridge to increase airflow, you can install more fans in (or even outside) of the fridge to push more hot air out and away from the fridge.

If your Dometic RM2852 is still not getting cold, you should check the coolants inside the fridge. Coolants are the liquid that gives your fridge the perfect insulation to keep it cold. Make sure that it is filled properly inside your fridge and replace it with new coolant when needed.

2. The Fridge Won’t Turn On

Not only will you need to worry about your fridge not getting cold, but you might have to worry about your fridge not turning on at all! If your RV fridge isn’t turning on at all, you might be facing an electrical issue.

When faced with this issue, your first step is to check if the propane tank is full. When the electricity goes off with a fridge, it will switch from using electric power to propane power.

If your fridge does switch, you should make sure that your propane tank is full so the fridge can keep the food cool even when electrical problems arise.

Then, you should check to see if your Dometic RM2852 has blown a fuse. This is a common thing that can cause your fridge to not turn on. Look for your RV’s black fuse box and check the fuse.

You can also remove the power cable from the fridge and using a voltmeter, check to see if the power outlet is working. An outlet that isn’t working won’t get the electricity from your RV’s power storage to your fridge.

Check Power Outlet

In that case, a new outlet is needed. If everything with the outlets seems okay, check the fridge batteries.

If all else fails with the electrical wiring of your fridge, it is best to get the help from a professional. Messing with wires without proper knowledge can lead to injury.

3. There’s No Flame Even Though the Propane is Working

If your Dometic RM2852 is on the propane power setting, you might experience this problem at some point.

If everything with the propane tank is as it should be; the tank is full, the propane is getting to the fridge properly, but there still isn’t any ignition, there are a few things that you should check.

First, make sure that there isn’t any debris in or around the burner including dust, dirt, and other small objects. Try to light the flame after you have cleaned out the burner.

If there still isn’t a flame or if the flame is very weak, you will most likely need the professional help of a specialist.

Repair RV Fridge

4. Something is Broken

As always, a possible problem that the Dometic RM2852 can have happen is that a piece of it has broken.

Some broken parts will be visible at a surface level. This includes things like outlets, cables, wires, or even where the lightbulb inside the fridge is sitting. If you see something obvious that is broken, you should get it repaired right away.

However, some broken parts can be more difficult to spot. At that point, you should take a look at the manual of your Dometic RM2852 and follow what pieces might be broken and how to locate them.

If you do discover that one of those pieces is broken, you should replace that piece or hire a professional to replace the piece as soon as possible.

Are Repairs Covered by a Warranty?

The Dometic RM2852 fridge does come with a warranty that lasts for 2 years from the date of purchase. This warranty will cover any labor, specific parts, and freight that is required during the repair of the fridge.

Warranty

If you need a specific part of your fridge to be replaced, any domestic part will be covered by the warranty.

To use this warranty, you must keep up with the maintenance of your fridge. This means that you must follow all preventative measures in keeping your Dometic RM2852 fridge working well.

This includes annual inspections with written records to prove that your fridge has been worked on for any maintenance throughout the year.

Then, the maintenance should also be done at an authorized center by the company. If those things are completed, then you will save plenty of money by having any repairs caused by one of the above problems taken care of for a lower cost or completely covered.

How Long Will a Dometic RM2852 fridge Last For?

When they are properly taken care of, your Dometic RM2852 fridge will last anywhere between 10 and 18 years.

That is a long time for an RV fridge! Of course, if you don’t take the proper care by making sure that your fridge gets its annual maintenance and you don’t get broken parts replaced right away, these fridges will break down much quicker than in 10 years.

Maintenance is Much Cheaper Than Replacement

When you hit 18 years with your Dometic RM2852 fridge, then yes, replacing your fridge might be cheaper than getting parts of it fixed. However, in any other situation, repairing your fridge is a lot cheaper than replacing it.

Depending on what the problem is, getting your RV fridge fixed can cost about $1000. This may seem like a lot but remember that many of these fridges come with warranties.

These warranties will make repairs much cheaper for a few years before the warranty goes away. Getting parts fixed in those few years will save you lots of money in the long run by making sure that those broken parts don’t cause the fridge to become more and more broken.

Getting your Dometic RM2852 fridge replaced can cost you anywhere from $1000-$6000. The smallest units are around $1000 and the bigger you go, the more it will cost.

Sure, if you get the smallest fridge unit that costs the same as getting your fridge repaired, you might be wondering if repairing is worth it. However, you should want your fridge to last a long time.

Repairing it every 5 years will be much cheaper in the long run, especially as newer fridges come out than having to replace your fridge every time something smaller breaks.

Between having a warranty on your fridge for the first 2 years and possibly getting discounts while getting your fridge repaired, the replacement will be the more costly option.

Getting a New Dometic RM2852 Fridge Vs. Used

If you are looking to replace your fridge anyways or a getting a Dometic RM2852 for the first time, you may wonder which option is the best for you.

For the new fridge, it will be more expensive but you will have completely brand new parts. You won’t have to worry about repairs nearly as soon which means you can get away from those additional repair costs.

Getting a fridge used can be just as good as getting it new. They are usually much cheaper, however, you do have to keep an eye on the fridge parts and make sure they are in good shape. Used fridges may require repairs faster.

Final Thoughts

No piece of technology is perfect and that includes fridges. Even the Dometic RM2852 has problems that can happen with its parts, but any problem can be solved with the right tools and the right professional help.

Knowing how to identify problems and then how to solve them will keep your fridge working for a longer time. This means you will get to save money and won’t have to deal with the trouble of installing a new fridge into your RV when a problem arises.

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