No heat, blower runs, short cycling
RV Furnace Repair
Furnace blows cold, clicks and shuts down, or does nothing at all. We diagnose the ignition sequence, controls, sail switch, limit and board and fix it at your RV.
RV Furnace Repair detailsNot cooling, fault codes, works on one mode
Mobile RV Refrigerator Repair in Massachusetts & RI
Fridge running but warm, fault codes, or cooling on one power source only. We diagnose the controls, thermistor, boards, ventilation and cooling unit and tell you straight whether it is worth fixing.
Mobile service from New Bedford across South Coast MA, Plymouth County, the Upper Cape and nearby RI. $175 per hour · $3.50 per mile from New Bedford, one way ($50 minimum).
An RV refrigerator that stops cooling has a short list of causes: a failed board or thermistor, poor ventilation behind the unit, a heating element, or a cooling unit that has leaked its charge. The last one is expensive, so we test everything else first and give you a straight answer about repair versus replacement.
Problems we fix
- Refrigerator runs but does not cool or cools slowly
- Fault codes or no power to the controls
- Cools on one mode but not the other
- Ammonia smell or yellow residue at the back of the unit
- Deciding whether to repair or replace with a 12-volt compressor fridge
What the work includes
- Power, control, temperature and ventilation diagnosis
- Thermistor, board, heating element and igniter replacement
- Ventilation and baffle correction
- Honest repair-or-replace recommendation with numbers
- Replacement refrigerator installation when the cooling unit has failed
Good to know
Refrigerator service covers the appliance and its controls, and our diagnosis checks the gas and electric supply at the fridge. We tell you straight when a cooling unit is not worth saving.
Absorption refrigerators and why they stop cooling
Most RVs still run an absorption refrigerator: no compressor, just a sealed cooling unit driven by heat from a 120-volt element or a propane burner, with a 12-volt board running the show in either mode. When one stops cooling, the cause is usually one of a short list: a failed control or display board, a thermistor that has the fridge freezing or too warm, a burned-out heating element (works on gas, not electric), a burner, igniter or thermocouple problem (works on electric, not gas), low 12-volt supply, blocked side or roof vents and missing baffles, worn door gaskets, or a unit run off level. All of those are repairable. The one that is not is a cooling unit that has leaked its charge, which announces itself with an ammonia smell at the exterior vent and a yellow or green residue on the boiler at the back.
How we diagnose it
We put real thermometers in both compartments, check 12-volt and 120-volt at the fridge, read the error codes, verify flame quality on gas and element draw on electric, and inspect the vent stack for wasp nests, leaves and missing baffles. Ventilation problems are common on seasonal RVs that sit against trees, and they are the cheapest fix on the list. We service the appliance and its propane supply, so a fridge that cools on shore power but not on gas gets fixed in one visit.
Repair, rebuild or replace
Boards, thermistors, elements, igniters and gaskets are straightforward repairs, usually one to two hours. A failed cooling unit on an older fridge is a different decision: a rebuilt cooling unit can approach the cost of a new refrigerator, and a 12-volt compressor refrigerator cools faster, does not care about being level and runs on solar, though it needs adequate battery capacity. We give you the numbers for each and tell you which we would do.
Safety and recalls
Norcold and Dometic both issued recalls on certain absorption models tied to cooling-unit leaks and fire risk, and the fix added a high-temperature cutoff device. If your fridge is an older Norcold or Dometic and you are not sure whether the recall work was done, we check the serial number and the device during the visit. If you smell ammonia at the back of the fridge, shut it off and do not run it until it is inspected.
What it costs
Refrigerator diagnostics are $175 per hour plus parts and travel. Replacement units are quoted.
Full rates →Common questions about RV refrigerator repair
Why is my RV fridge not cold?
Most often a control, thermistor or ventilation problem, all of which are repairable. A failed cooling unit (ammonia smell, yellow powder at the back) usually means replacement.
Should I replace my absorption fridge with a 12-volt compressor model?
If the cooling unit is gone, often yes. Compressor fridges cool faster and do not care about being level. We quote the install.
Can you fix Dometic and Norcold refrigerators?
Yes, both, including the common recall and control-board issues.
Why does my RV fridge work on electric but not gas, or vice versa?
Because the two modes use different heat sources with different components. Electric-only failure points to the heating element or its relay; gas-only failure points to the burner, igniter, thermocouple, gas valve or propane supply. We diagnose the whole path.
Why is the freezer cold but the fridge warm?
Often a thermistor or a control issue, sometimes a failing cooling unit. The thermometer readings and a look at the boiler tell us which.
How long should an RV refrigerator take to get cold?
Absorption units take four to eight hours to reach temperature from warm, longer in summer heat. If it is not cold after a full day, something is wrong.
Should I replace my absorption fridge with a 12-volt compressor model?
If the cooling unit is gone, often yes. Compressor fridges cool faster and do not care about being level. We quote the install and check that your battery and charging can support it.
Does my RV fridge have to be level?
Absorption units do; running one badly off level for long can damage the cooling unit. Compressor fridges do not care.
Related services
No hot water, leaks, bypass and control faults
RV Water Heater Repair
No hot water, a leaking tank, or a heater that only works on one mode. We diagnose elements, thermostats, boards, igniters and bypass valves and repair or replace what failed.
RV Water Heater Repair detailsSupply lines, pumps, fixtures, drains and hidden leaks
RV Plumbing Repair
Water under the sink, a pump that will not stop cycling, a wet floor with no obvious source. We find the leak and fix it before it ruins the floor.
RV Plumbing Repair detailsRead before you call
RV Refrigerator Repair near you
We provide RV refrigerator repair throughout our service area, including:
New Bedford, MAAbout 2 miles from our New Bedford baseDartmouth, MAAbout 3 miles from our New Bedford baseFairhaven, MAAbout 3 miles from our New Bedford baseWestport, MAAbout 11 miles from our New Bedford baseFall River, MAAbout 16 miles from our New Bedford baseWareham, MAAbout 19 miles from our New Bedford basePlymouth, MAAbout 34 miles from our New Bedford baseCarver, MAAbout 28 miles from our New Bedford baseMiddleborough, MAAbout 23 miles from our New Bedford baseBourne, MAAbout 28 miles from our New Bedford base