06/05/2026
Don't wait until you're at the campsite to find out your RV refrigerator isn't cooling! 🧊🔥
After months of sitting idle through a cold Washington winter, your RV’s appliances need a thorough inspection before your first spring trip. Dust, moisture, and even small pests can disrupt connections, block burner tubes, and cause sudden failures right when you need them most.
Here is a quick checklist to verify your RV fridge, water heater, and furnace are safe and operational:
The RV Refrigerator: If you have an absorption fridge (gas/electric), test it on both shore power and propane. It can take up to 24 hours to reach proper cooling temperatures, so turn it on at home a day before your trip. Check the outside access panel for spider webs or debris blocking the burner assembly.
The Water Heater: Ensure your water heater bypass valves are turned back to the normal operating position before turning it on—running a water heater element without water in the tank will instantly burn it out. Check the exterior pressure relief valve and anode rod for corrosion.
The Furnace & Propane System: Fire up your furnace to ensure the blower fan engages and hot air flows through all vents. If you smell a strong rotten-egg odor, turn off your LP tanks immediately and check for leaks using a soapy water solution on the valve connections.
Pro-Tip: If your appliances are sparking but failing to ignite on propane, you may have air in the gas lines. Light a burner on your LP stove first to bleed the air out of the system and pull the propane through.
If your fridge isn’t getting cold, your water heater is acting up, or you want a certified technician to run a professional LP leak test and appliance diagnostic, we’ve got you covered.
📍 Sumner RV — Serving the local Puyallup, Auburn, and Tacoma camping communities since 1967. Visit sumnerrv.com or call 253-863-5644 to secure your spring service spot before the summer rush!
