RV Fridge vs. Residential? (What You Need to Know About RV Refrigerators)

RV Fridge vs. Residential (What you need to know about RV refrigerators)

As you shop for the right RV, one of the decisions you'll need to make is what kind of refrigerator is best for your camping needs. There are many options out there, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Whether you should get a traditional RV fridge or a residential refrigerator is the question we're going to help you answer here.

In this article we'll discuss the major differences between RV fridges and residential fridges then list the pros and cons in the following areas:

  • How it works
  • Power source
  • Storage space
  • Energy use & efficiency
  • Safety concerns
  • Cost
  • Suitability for camping styles

Our goal is to help you determine which type of refrigerator is the best for you and give you the confidence to move ahead with purchasing your RV.

Update: Bonus section for propane fridge safety by RV expert Gary Brinck

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The RV Fridge

The RV refrigerator was the only kind of refrigerator you could get when you purchased a new RV until about a decade ago. Although you can buy brand new RVs now with a residential refrigerator installed, many will still come with an RV Fridge.

One example of an RV refrigerator is the Norcold 4.5 cu. RV Refrigerator - 

Click to see this model on Amazon

How an RV Fridge Works

The RV fridge uses absorption to cool the inside.  There are no moving parts (like a compressor) to operate the RV fridge.  It uses heat, and a combination of ammonia, hydrogen gas, and water to move through tubes that cool the fridge down. The heat to power these cooling gases can be provided by two or three different power sources in an RV fridge.

Power Sources

2-way RV fridges use either AC power or LP gas to heat up the gases inside the tubes to cool your fridge.  2-way fridges are the most popular types of refrigerators sold in an RV today.

3-way fridges can run on AC power, DC power or LP gas. The 3-way fridge has the added ability to run off of a 12-volt battery, but are not as popular as the 2-way fridges.

Storage Capacity

Traditional RV fridges offer 6-8 cubic feet of storage. Travel trailers, Class B, and Class C RVs are usually sold with smaller fridges. Today, larger 5th wheels and motorhomes boast larger and larger capacity in their RV fridges. Newer models have french doors and up to even 18 cubic feet of storage space. Check on manufacturer websites for their refrigerator specs. Ask dealers if there are any options to upgrade to a larger fridge if you feel you need the extra space.

Efficiency

RV fridges are designed to use A/C power and if not connected to a power source, they use propane gas to keep the inside cool. On a mild day, RV fridges maintain a temperature just fine.  On warmer days, the internal temperature of the fridge tends to creep up. However, there are some tricks to keeping the temperature down by packing the RV fridge correctly.

Durability on the road

RV fridges are made of very heavy materials and are specifically designed to move around.  They don't have compressors, so there are less moving parts to get loosened while in transit. Many RV owners report their RV fridges lasting them 10, 15 and even 20 years.

Safety Concerns

Some RV owners worry about the risk of running their refrigerator off of propane gas, as an accident could cause a gas leak or a fire to start. Most experts say that the risk is minimal, especially if your propane system is maintained regularly. However, you can further mitigate the risk by using something called the ARP Fridge Defend system. 

See the appendix to this post, where RV expert Gary Brinck explains more about the risks of RV propane fridge and how the ARP system can help.

Cost

The RV fridge is almost always going to come installed in your RV and will be included in the purchase price.  However, if you want to buy a new RV fridge to install in an RV, they are not cheap.  Norcold and Dometic brands are the leading RV fridge brands. Their refrigerator units start near $1200 and can go all the way up to $3000 depending on storage capacity and style.

Suitability

What type of camper is the RV fridge suited for?

The RV fridge is good for families who plan to spend nights at a campground with electric hookups most of the time. Or, for campers who would occasionally like to dry camp, without investing in solar panels or a generator.

RV fridges are also suited for people who do not need a large refrigerator capacity. Newer RV fridge models, however, are setting the bar higher and higher for storage capacity. Generally speaking, RV fridges are great for RVers who are using their RV for shorter periods of time, not living fulltime in their rig.

The Residential Fridge

Over the past years, RV companies have started selling RVs that have residential fridges already installed and ready to go. Here are some things to consider with a residential fridge inside an RV. A great example of a domestic refrigerator that can be used inside of an RV is the GE 18.6 cubic ft. with french doors.

Click to see more on Amazon

How the residential fridge works

Domestic fridges use a compressor to cool down the insides and keep the temperatures low.  The compressor requires a constant 120-volt AC power source.

Power Source

As mentioned above, a residential fridge needs 120-volt electricity. This is not a problem at campgrounds with a 50 Amp electric hookup. If campers with a residential fridge want to dry camp - aka boondock - for any length of time, an alternate power source is essential.

New RVs that come with a residential fridge should also have an extra battery pack and an inverter installed. The inverter changes the 12-volt battery charge into 120-volt power that the refrigerator uses when the rig is unplugged.  This allows for food to be kept cold while you're driving down the road.

Solar panels or generators are also power sources for a residential fridge when it's unplugged. Owners will need to do their math and calculate exactly how much energy they need to produce to keep their refrigerator running. Then they need to purchase the energy source(s) that will meet their needs best.

Storage Capacity

The options are going to be almost limitless as you can find domestic fridges in any number of storage capacities.  You'll find more storage capacity in a residential refrigerator than a RV fridge. In fact, more space is the main reason why most RV users choose a domestic fridge. You can choose t

Efficiency

Residential fridges keep food consistently cool.  The freezer also keeps frozen food solidly frozen. When not connected to a power source, it takes longer for residential fridges to warm up. They maintain their temperatures well. Generally speaking, they are much more efficient than the RV fridge.

Durability on the road

Residential fridges are not typically designed to withstand life on the road.  All the bumping and jostling around will eventually take a toll on the residential fridge. There are more parts inside which increase the chance of malfunction. A residential fridge is made of less sturdy materials for long-term travel. The average lifespan of a residential refrigerator is between 8-15 years in a home. In an RV, it could be even less with all the moving around.

Safety Concerns

The main concern with a residential refrigerator is that it is safely installed. Again, with a new RV, we assume that it has met safety requirements. If you are installing your own residential refrigerator be sure to take all safety precautions in securing it in its space.

The second concern is that the doors are weighted so that they stay closed while the RV is moving.  They should latch tightly and require a certain amount of force to open.  You can purchase devices to fit onto the doors to keep them closed while in transit.

Cost

If you are installing a residential fridge into your RV, the cost will depend on the size and style that you buy.  Shoulder to shoulder with the RV fridge, the residential will likely cost you less. There is simply more inventory for residential fridges and you can shop around for the price you want.

Suitability

Who is the residential fridge suited for?

RV users who want to live in their RV for longer periods of time will want to consider a residential fridge. Campers who don't mind putting in the initial investment of extra power sources (batteries, an inverter, a generator or solar panels) may also want a residential fridge. Finally, a residential fridge may be good for a large family who needs the extra space but is planning only to camp at places where they have full electrical hookups.

Read more: 17 RV Boondocking tips - How to properly pack an RV fridge - How to keep an RV fridge cool while on the road

In Summary: The Pros and Cons

Based on what we've shared so far, here is a summary of the pros and cons of both the RV fridge and the residential fridge.

RV Fridge

Pros:

  • Option to run on electricity or propane gas
  • Flexible for dry camping
  • High durability, can handle being on the road
  • Low cost: comes with the RV and no extra accessories needed to keep it going

Cons:

  • Usually has a smaller capacity
  • Less efficiency at keeping food cold
  • Higher cost if buying brand new

Residential Fridge

Pros:

  • Plenty of space
  • More efficient at keeping food cold
  • Lower cost to buy brand new

Cons:

  • Less durable for travel
  • Not flexible for dry camping - a constant source of electricity needed
  • More effort and up-front expense to maintain

Your options when buying new

If you're shopping for a new RV, and you know that you want a domestic fridge in your RV, then don't buy a rig with an RV fridge. Instead, buy one that offers a residential fridge. There are increasingly more options at dealerships to drive off the lot with a residential fridge already built-in. This will save you time and effort down the road trying to replace a refrigerator. You'll also have the peace of mind knowing that the manufacturer has installed the extra battery, inverter and any other accessories needed to support the constant electricity for your fridge.

Should I replace my RV fridge with a residential fridge?

It depends.

If you've been using an RV fridge that isn't meeting your needs anymore, it might be time to change to a residential fridge. Do your research well and decide if it's a job you can handle on your own. There might be a professional who can help you with the process.

It is a long process too. You may have to take apart or rebuild cabinetry around the fridge space.  The old propane line will need to be removed. You'll also need to install extra battery packs and an inverter to keep your new fridge running. Then you'll have to purchase the new refrigerator and get it inside your RV to install it.

There are many tutorials and guides available online that can help you through the process if you are confident in your skills. Consult others who have installed domestic fridges in their RVs and learn from them. Only you can decide if the benefit of having a residential fridge will outweigh the costs.

RV Fridge Safety Concerns & ARP Fridge Defend

This section was written by RV Expert, Gary Brinck

In recent years the RV absorption refrigerator has fallen out of favor because of numerous reports of poor cooling performance, cooling unit failures and even fires resulting from refrigerant leaks. Norcold and Dometic have recalled well over a million fridges for the fire safety issue alone. The absorption refrigeration industry has responded slowly to these issues and some owners feel the fire safety fixes they have offered are inadequate. 

Residential-style refrigerators have become popular among RV owners, but the absorption unit remains the refrigerator of choice for those who routinely camp without shore power. Furthermore, for those whose RV fridge is working adequately, spending for an expensive fridge remodeling job is a difficult choice. So, what can be done to make these refrigerators last longer and operate more safely? Install ARP Fridge Defend, the Absorption Refrigerator Protection module.

Your RV refrigerators boiler operates at about 350 degrees all the time, but even a brief time off-level can cause the temperature to sky-rocket to as much as 800 F.  It doesn’t take much - driving up a hill, or a short stop on an off-level spot for lunch. I’ve even experienced a boiler overheat while checking into the RV park, where the parking area was tilted down and back to one side.  This can produce a lot of thermal stress in the fridge boiler, causing the metal to fatigue and the anti-corrosion chemicals in the coolant to deteriorate, leading to fridge failure and perhaps even causing a fire.

The damage doesn’t happen all at once – it accumulates over time so the eventual failure may occur months or years down the road. Some owners begin to notice warmer temperatures in the fridge or freezer, while others may find that their fridge works fine one day and quits the next.  Shutting the fridge off, then having it fail during restart is another common complaint. That is likely a result of the cooling and reheating stress causing a crack in the metal.

The fridge controllers supplied by Dometic and Norcold allow the boiler to reach a temperature around 800 degrees F. before doing an emergency shutdown.   ARP Fridge Defend uses a more proactive strategy, continuously monitoring boiler temperature and pausing the cycle whenever the temperature rises much above the optimum value.  ARP automatically keeps the cooling unit boiler in a safe operating range while preventing food loss or requiring a manual reset of the controller, which for many owners would mean a trip to the RV dealer.

ARP Kit Components

RV Fridge Defend

In addition to the safety and enhanced life cycle benefits, the ARP Fan Control model has an additional temperature sensor to turn air circulation fans On/Off.   These fans can help cooling performance dramatically, as much as 25% in some installations. For fridges mounted in a slide-out, where the upper vent is on the sidewall instead of the roof, additional fans can compensate for the lack of natural convection cooling that is a common problem with slide mounted fridges.   For those of you who enjoy “boondocking” off-grid, the temperature-controlled relay saves battery amp-hours so you can stay longer.

Adding the ARPRV to an RV refrigerator is simple enough that any competent do-it-yourselfer or RV technician can do it in an hour or two and it requires no skills beyond basic 12v wiring. The display can be mounted either inside the RV where the owner can see it, or tucked away under or behind the refrigerator and left to do its job alone.

For more information on an ARP for your RV, see the ARP Fridge Defend website at https://www.arprv.com/

Stay true to your RV goals

When choosing your refrigerator, remember why you want to RV in the first place. What kind of camping do you do most of the time?

Keep focused on your goals for owning an RV, and decide if having a residential fridge will help you accomplish those or not. It's important to know what kind of RVing you enjoy most and be true to that. This will make the decision easier, and help you get on the road to have more adventures.

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5 Comments

  1. Awesome! No words. You always go one step beyond.

    There is so much great, useful information here. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

    Thanks again 🙂

    • Hi Ash, thank you so much for the kind comment! We always strive to produce helpful, high-quality content for our readers. Be sure to keep stopping by for more useful information!

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