The cooling unit (absorption unit) in an RV fridge is the heart of the refrigerator. Unfortunately there are a lot of myths about these units and many people think they can't be repaired. In reality a well installed cooling unit can make an old Norcold refrigerator like new and save you thousands of dollars compared to purchasing a brand-new one.

The most important tip is to use a high quality cooling unit that comes with a full replacement warranty. This will protect you from a defective unit that can lead to freezer fires and leaking ammonia. The best way to avoid a leaking cooling unit is by keeping it clean and in good repair.

When installing a new norcold cooling unit it is important to lay the refrigerator down front-down and remove the old unit. There may be a putty-like material that is called 'thermal mastic' applied to some of the zig-zag tubing and this should be scraped off prior to putting in the new cooling unit. In addition to this it is a good idea to remove the sheet-metal wind baffle that drops into the flue tube.

It is also important to use low-expansion spray foam on the outside joint where the evaporator foam pack pocket meets the cooling fins. If you use too much the coolant can escape and damage the boiler. JC Refrigeration uses a special high-quality spray foam for this. This makes a huge difference in the performance of the freezer. It allows the back Norcold fans to turn on hours sooner and creates a draft to move heat out of the refrigerator much earlier in the cooling cycle.   norcold cooling units