Ammonia is a toxic gas that's poisonous to humans and animals. It's also a shed skin of a fish in the ocean.

There are two different procedures you can use to check for the ammonia level in your RV refrigerator, and understanding which ones you need is crucial if you want to know what's going on in your system.

Materials You Need

  1. You'll want to keep an eye on the temperature of your fridge. The easiest way to do this is with a Digital Thermometer. It will give you a quick readout, and you can also see how long it takes for the fridge to cool off again after you open it.
  2. A sample cup - To get a good reading of the ammonia level in your RV fridge, take a sample cup and put some ammonia in it. Then put it in your fridge and measure the amount of Ammonia the cup has absorbed over time.

Procedures To Follow

💡
The following procedures will help you to check out the Ammonia in the RV fridge:

Arrange For The Equipment and Conditions

Arrange For The Equipment and Conditions

To assess the ammonia level in your RV fridge, you will need a digital thermometer, a hygrometer, ice cubes, and an empty water bottle. You can use a thermometer to measure the temperature of your RV refrigerator.

A hygrometer measures humidity in the air surrounding your RV fridge. Ice cubes will help keep the water bottle at the same temperature as the rest of your equipment so that you don't have to worry about it changing temperature once you start checking things out.

Remove Black Streaks From Your RV - Dr Hiker
Have you ever tried to remove black streaks from an RV? Your RV will be very surprised to learn how to remove black streaks from your RV roof. It is easy to clean that black gunk with the right tools.

Step 1 -

Close The Refrigerator Door

You can check the ammonia level in your RV refrigerator by closing the door and letting it sit for a few minutes.

This method will give you a good idea of the actual level while allowing excess moisture to escape and depleting any odors that may have been present.

Step 2 -

Allow Ammonia To Evaporate In The Freezer Compartment

If your RV fridge has a freezer compartment, you'll need to allow the Ammonia to evaporate over a while. It's recommended to wait at least three hours before opening the door.

You can also try using a fan or placing a glass of water in the freezer compartment to help speed up this process.

Step 3 -

Get A Freezer Temperature Test Strip From An Online Store

You'll need a freezer temperature test strip from an online store to check your RV fridge's ammonia level. And this is because ammonia gas is heavier than the air around it, so the freezer will have to push it out of the way when it freezes.

This can be done by placing a small amount of Ammonia into a plastic bag and freezing it. When the bag is frozen, it will have a slight frost on top, which can be broken by inserting one end of an ammonia test strip into the bag and pressing down with force.

Step 4 -

Take Out The Test Strip From Its Plastic Envelope And Unfold It

  • Take Out The Test Strip From Its Plastic Envelope And Unfold It.
  • Place The Test Strip on the Top of the Refrigerator Door and Press Down To Stick it to the Surface.
  • Push Down On the Red Button On The Refrigerator Door to Open It.
  • Open Your Fridge and Check If You Can See Any Ammonia Smell or Taste.
  • If There Is No Ammonia Smell or Taste, Then You Should Be All Set. And If you have more than five ppm of Ammonia, then there is a problem with your RV fridge.

See Also: How To Make A Generator Quiet?

Step 5 -

Now Place The Strip On One Of The Freezer Walls Or Shelves For About 10 Minutes

  • The goal here is to allow the Ammonia to warm and become more active so it can be measured.
  • Once the strip has warmed up, you can place it on a freezer wall or shelf for about 10 minutes and wait for your results.
  • When you take off the strip, compare the ammonia color with what is written on the strip. If it matches what is written on the strip, your RV fridge has no problems with ammonia levels and should work fine.

Check and Determine the Ammonia Level with the Help of the Test Strip

Check and Determine the Ammonia Level with the Help of the Test Strip

The test strip is placed on paper and taped to the outside refrigerator. This will ensure that it doesn't get lost or thrown away. The test strip contains an ammonia indicator that changes color when Ammonia is present in the air in your RV refrigerator.

A common problem with the refrigerator in your RV is that the ammonia level goes up because of the refrigerator's improper functioning. The procedure to check and determine the ammonia level in the RV fridge is as follows:

  1. Remove all food items from the refrigerator.
  2. Take out all the shelves from the compartment and remove any dust or debris.
  3. Take out any ice cube tray and check for leaks by looking inside it to see if there are any holes or cracks on its walls. If you find any cracks on its walls, either repair them or replace them with a new one.
  4. Check any rust stains in the refrigerator by touching them with your fingers. If you feel some stains, remove them immediately with water to avoid rusting other parts of your RV refrigerator.
  5. The strip should turn from blue to purple in color when there is enough ammonia present in the air for it to be dangerous. If there is no purple color on the strip, then no danger exists, and you can go ahead with your next step without worrying about it.

Conclusion

These steps will help you learn how to check the ammonia levels in your RV fridge effectively and will teach you what to do in the case of an ammonia leak. With that information at hand, you can stay safe when you're checking your fridge's reservoirs.

However, if you have any doubts or questions about these procedures, avoid taking risks and contact a professional for guidance.

Share this post