Help! Fridge not cooling

[DMICHAELW]

Camper: 2014 Keystone 252BHS
Fridge: Atwood He-0601


We took our camper out for our first RV trip last week. We bought a 2014 Keystone Bullet 252BHS. On the trip we discovered that the refrigerator only worked on propane. I watched a bunch of youtube videos, opened the back of the refridgerator and confirmed that the heating element was getting the correct voltage, but it was not getting hot. I ordered a new heating element, installed it last night. New element got hot, so I relocated the camper to the back yard and checked that the freezer had a thin layer of ice on it before I went to bed last night.

This morning the fridge and freezer were both warm. The metal housing that holds the heating element was still hot as was the black tubes (i'm no technician) that I'm guessing houses all the Helium and Amonia.

My backyard is not NEAR as level as my front yard and I had the tongue lifted all the way up to help with water runoff...would the level of the camper contribute to a lack of cooling? What else should I check?

Thanks

[ctbruce]

1. You have to be within 3 degrees of level.
2. You didnt say, but if not plugged onto shore power, LP is your only choice.
3. Let us know.

[DMICHAELW]

Bruce, thanks for replying. I leveled the trailer out and went to work. My wife called about an hour ago and told me the freezer had ice and the fridge was dropping in temp. I was not level at all. I'm connected to power via a 110 outlet and the 30 amp converter.

[JRTJH]

Dustin,

Watch the refrigerator closely. There are solids (corrosion inhibitors) suspended in the liquid refrigerant. When you operate the refrigerator "off level" the liquid pools in the tubing bends and can't flow freely. When it pools, the solids "can" (not will) settle out of the suspension. When that happens, the solids can form a blockage and inhibit the coolant flow. That's why the manufacturer warns "never operate the refrigerator when the trailer is off level more than is comfortable to live in (which is around 3 degrees)....

So, if you notice any decrease in cooling during the next few weeks, you may have damaged the cooling system. Hopefully that's not what you experience, but in the future, make sure you don't repeat the "off level operation".......

[DMICHAELW]

Thanks for the heads up fingers-crossed I didn't mess anything up. Still learning the ropes.