Posted by Sr Tech Josh on 11th Oct 2026
How to Winterize an RV Refrigerator & Ice Maker (Step-by-Step)
Storing your RV for the winter? Your refrigerator needs about 20 minutes of attention before you lock the door. Skip it, and spring can bring a moldy, smelly fridge, a cracked ice maker water valve, or a wasp nest in the burner. Here's how to winterize a Norcold, Dometic or Furrion RV refrigerator the right way, and how to bring it back to life in spring.
Quick answer
Turn the fridge off and close the propane, empty and clean it, dry it completely, and leave the doors propped open. If you have an ice maker, drain or blow out its water line. Then screen or cover the outside vent so insects and rodents can't move in.
Jump to:
- Winterizing step by step
- Ice makers and water lines
- Pests and the outside vent
- 12V DC compressor fridges
- Residential refrigerators
- Using your fridge in cold weather
- Spring start-up checklist
- FAQ
How to Winterize an RV Refrigerator, Step by Step
These steps work for propane (gas absorption) refrigerators from Norcold and Dometic, which are the most common in RVs. Notes for 12V DC models are below.
Turn the refrigerator off
Switch it off at the control panel. Then close the propane valve at the tank and, if you're storing the RV, turn off the battery disconnect or remove the batteries for charging.
Empty everything out
Remove all food and drinks, including condiments in the door bins. Anything left behind will spoil, and glass bottles can crack if the RV freezes.
Let it defrost
Leave the doors open and let any freezer frost melt. Put a towel on the floor of each compartment to catch the water. Never chip ice with a knife or screwdriver; one slip can puncture the liner or a cooling line.
Clean it
Wash the walls, shelves, bins and door gaskets with warm water and a little baking soda or mild dish soap. Skip bleach and harsh cleaners; they can dry out and crack the gaskets and plastic liner.
Dry it completely
Wipe every surface dry, including the gasket folds and drain channel. Any moisture left inside is what grows mold over the winter.
Prop the doors open
This is the step people skip, and the one that matters most. A closed, dark, damp fridge grows mold and smells for months. Many Norcold and Dometic doors have a storage position that holds them slightly open; if yours doesn't, wedge a folded towel in the door. An open box of baking soda helps absorb odors, and a moisture absorber like DampRid helps in humid climates.
Protect the outside vent
Go outside to the refrigerator access panel. Check the burner area for nests, then make sure insect screens are in place so nothing moves in over the winter. More on this below.
Ice Makers and Water Lines: Don’t Skip This
If your refrigerator has an ice maker, the water inside its valve and supply line will freeze and expand. A cracked water valve is one of the most common spring repairs we see, and it often isn't found until the RV floods the floor behind the fridge.
This is the procedure Dometic publishes for its RV refrigerator ice makers, and it works the same way on Norcold ice makers. You'll find the water valve (solenoid) behind the outside access panel.
Shut off the water
Turn off the RV's water pump and city water, and close the ice maker supply valve if your RV has one.
Drain both lines at the water valve
Set a shallow pan under the water valve. Disconnect the incoming supply line and let it drain, then disconnect the line that runs up to the ice maker and drain it too.
Blow out the valve with air, no more than 40 PSI
Blow compressed air through the valve while cycling the ice maker a few times, until no more water comes out. Keep the pressure at or below 40 PSI; more can damage the valve. Dometic’s procedure uses air, not RV antifreeze.
Dry the mold and shut it off
Wipe the ice maker mold dry with a soft cloth and raise the shut-off arm to the up/off position. Empty and dry the ice bin.
Keep bugs out of the open lines
Reconnect the lines, or if you leave them off, cover the open ends and the valve with plastic bags taped shut so insects can't nest inside. Leave the water off until temperatures stay above 32°F.
Already have a cracked or leaking valve? See Norcold water valves and Norcold ice maker parts.
Keep Pests Out of the Outside Vent
A stored RV is a warm, quiet home for mud daubers, wasps, spiders and mice, and the refrigerator vent is the front door. A nest in the burner tube or flue is one of the top reasons a fridge won't light on propane in spring.
- Install insect screens on the side or roof vents. They're inexpensive and stop most nesting.
- Look for droppings or chewed wires behind the access panel. Mice love wiring insulation.
- Don't seal the vent with plastic or tape for storage if you might forget to remove it. A blocked vent is dangerous once the fridge runs again.
Shop outdoor refrigerator vents for replacement side and roof vents.
Winterizing a 12V DC Compressor Refrigerator
12V DC refrigerators like the Norcold N8DC, N10DC, N15DC and N20DC and most Furrion models are even simpler. There's no burner or flue, so you can skip the propane and vent-nesting concerns.
| Step | Propane (absorption) | 12V DC compressor |
|---|---|---|
| Turn off | Control panel + close propane | Control panel + battery disconnect |
| Empty, clean, dry | Yes | Yes |
| Prop doors open | Yes | Yes |
| Ice maker water line | Drain / blow out | Drain / blow out (ice maker models) |
| Outside vent | Screen it; check for nests | Keep vents clear for airflow |
| Battery | Disconnect or keep charged | Disconnect so the fridge can't drain it |
Winterizing a Residential Refrigerator in an RV
Many newer motorhomes and fifth wheels have a household-style refrigerator (Samsung, Whirlpool and others) running off an inverter. These need a few extra steps the RV-specific guides usually miss:
- Turn it off at the refrigerator and the inverter, or the inverter can keep drawing down your batteries.
- Remove the water filter. A filter full of water can freeze and crack its housing. Some RVs also have an inline filter behind the fridge.
- Clear the ice maker and dispenser lines. Blow them out with low-pressure air and dispense from the door until it runs dry. Check the refrigerator maker’s manual before using antifreeze, since many household fridges don’t allow it.
- Empty, clean, dry and prop the doors open, exactly like any other refrigerator.
Using Your Refrigerator in Cold Weather
Camping through the winter instead of storing? Propane absorption refrigerators can act strangely in the cold. The fresh food side may run too cold or even freeze, and in very cold temperatures the cooling may slow down. A few things help:
- Use winter vent covers if your refrigerator maker offers them. They reduce the icy air blowing across the cooling unit while still allowing ventilation.
- Adjust the temperature setting warmer if food in the fridge starts freezing.
- Keep propane burning cleanly. Wind can blow out the flame on the outside wall; repeated ignition attempts can set off a no-flame code.
- 12V DC refrigerators handle cold well, but watch your batteries. Lithium batteries can't charge below freezing unless they have built-in heaters.
Spring Start-Up Checklist
Inspect the burner and flue
Before lighting on propane, look in the outside access panel for nests or webs in the burner tube and flue. If the flame looks weak or yellow, clean the burner first.
Reconnect the water line
Reconnect the ice maker water line, turn the water on and check for drips behind the fridge for a few minutes.
Level the RV
Propane absorption refrigerators need to be close to level to cool properly.
Turn it on and wait
Run it on AC or propane with the doors closed. An absorption fridge can take 8 to 12 hours to reach temperature, so start it the day before you load food.
Test both modes
Make sure it cools on both AC and propane before your first trip, so you're not finding out at the campground.
Toss the first ice
Throw away the first two or three batches of ice.
Common Spring Replacement Parts
Questions before you store it?
Send us your refrigerator model and we’ll tell you exactly what yours needs, and which parts to have on hand for spring.
Ask a Tech Parts by ModelFrequently Asked Questions
Should I leave my RV refrigerator door open in storage?
Yes. Leaving the doors propped open lets air circulate and prevents mold and odors. It's the most important part of winterizing the fridge.
Do I need to put antifreeze in my RV refrigerator?
The refrigerator itself doesn't need antifreeze; the cooling unit is a sealed system. Only the ice maker water line needs attention. Dometic’s own procedure drains the lines and blows out the water valve with compressed air (40 PSI max) rather than using antifreeze.
Can an RV refrigerator freeze and break in storage?
The sealed cooling unit isn't harmed by cold storage. What breaks is anything holding water: the ice maker water valve and supply line, and glass bottles left inside.
How long does an RV refrigerator take to cool in spring?
A propane absorption refrigerator can take 8 to 12 hours to reach temperature. A 12V DC compressor model usually cools in a few hours.
Should I leave the refrigerator on during winter storage?
No. Turn it off, close the propane and disconnect the battery. Running an empty fridge all winter wastes energy and wears it out for no benefit.
Why won't my RV fridge light on propane after winter storage?
Most often it's a nest or webs in the burner tube or flue, or air in the propane line after the tank was closed. Inspect and clean the burner, and try lighting a stove burner first to purge the line.