tllogsdon
Mount Juliet, TN
Full Member
Joined: 06/11/2007
View Profile
|
When I purchased my new Dometic refrigerator from CW, in the spring, they recommended running the unit 24/7 to keep the anticorrosion material in the ammonia from gelling and causing long term problems. I have winterized the trailer and placed an Adco cover over the unit. Here is my main concern... the sales guy also recommended running the refrigerator at least one weekend every month in the winter to help prevent the anticorrosion material from gelling over the winter. Will the refrigerator get enough ventilation to function properly with the cover on the trailer? I really hate the thought of having to try to wrestle the cover off every month to run the refrigerator, but do not want to cause further problems by being lazy. Our refrigerator is approximately mid-trailer on a 30' trailer. This would be a snap if the refrigerator were on a corner and not mid trailer.
What have you guys done in the past and what was the results?
I am not looking to debate the pros or cons of running the refrigerator in the winter, I seek to know if the unit can draw enough air to function properly with the cover on the trailer.
Thanks for any advice you can provide on this matter.
|
skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
Senior Member
Joined: 12/17/2003
View Profile
|
I turn my fridge off any time the trailer is going to be in storage for any extended period of time (like a month or more). There should be no reason to leave it running when not in use for an extended period of time. Did Camping World leave it running all the time it sat in their warehouse waiting for someone to purchase it? I doubt it very much. Good luck / Skip
2004 F-150 HD 3,050 lb. payload
Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
|
Polishnurse
Schodack, NY
Senior Member
Joined: 03/13/2007
View Profile
 Offline
|
Just a note on your ventalition thing, the intake is on side, but the exhust is thru the roof. If you really want to run it, if you can choose the electric side of operation not the gas. The flame is like the size of pilot light (large one). The electric side of it would be alot more bestest.
Just a Note: I've never heard of this procedure before. I"m not saying Yea or Nea, just new to me. Good Luck and happy trails to you. Bill
|
prichardson
Lafayette, La
New Member
Joined: 10/31/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
First I've heard of this procedure. If you run the fridge you will need ventilation at the top reguardless of operation mode.
|
itsalleasy
USA
Senior Member
Joined: 07/20/2007
View Profile
|
tllogsdon wrote:I seek to know if the unit can draw enough air to function properly with the cover on the trailer.
No. They work on the convection of the warm air, if you block the vents there will be no flow.
|
|
|
tllogsdon
Mount Juliet, TN
Full Member
Joined: 06/11/2007
View Profile
|
itsalleasy wrote:tllogsdon wrote:I seek to know if the unit can draw enough air to function properly with the cover on the trailer.
No. They work on the convection of the warm air, if you block the vents there will be no flow.
I was afraid this would be the answer, just wanted confirmation. I am aware of the concept of this type of refrigeration, just unsure how much airflow is actually required for proper functionality.
|
Hornet28BHDS
Parker, PA
Senior Member
Joined: 01/29/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
I don't understand why you need to run it. The only time we run ours in storage is a day or two before we go on a trip. That's it and it still works properly.
2006 Hornet 28BHDS-Bunk House, Dual Slides
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 HD
5.7L Hemi, Factory Towing Package
Reese Brake Controller, WD Hitch and Sway Bar
Life is short, why not spend it in an RV!
SPRING HAS SPRUNG!
|
Hoppers4
Port Orchard, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 12/24/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
First I've heard about this particular concern. I've done a lot of reading on these fridges and I've never seen any mention of damage being done because they're not being run. Here's a link to a site that has a lot of good fridge info. Fridge info
08 Winnebago Sightseer 29R
|
rvsatek
AZ, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 05/23/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
CW is either pulling your leg or they really don't know much about how they work. The corrosion inhibitor in the cooling unit is sodium chromate. It is a yellow powder and it doesn't gell. It will cause a blockage in the cooling unit if it is run severely off level. You don't need to run it during the winter to keep it from "gelling".
To answer your question about running it with the cover on: No, you need ventilation whether you run it on gas or electricity.
Larry
1994 Ford F250/7.5L/410 gears
2001 Keystone Sprinter 276RLS 14' slide
|
tllogsdon
Mount Juliet, TN
Full Member
Joined: 06/11/2007
View Profile
|
rvsatek wrote:CW is either pulling your leg or they really don't know much about how they work. The corrosion inhibitor in the cooling unit is sodium chromate. It is a yellow powder and it doesn't gell. It will cause a blockage in the cooling unit if it is run severely off level. You don't need to run it during the winter to keep it from "gelling".
Actually the guy at CW said "compaction and solidification of the sodium chromate" I changed this to "gelling" for simplicity. He also recommended bringing the unit home laying on its back to help redistribute the sodium chromate that had settled since the unit was manufactured.
|
|
|
