Fridge issue

[Surfer]

On electric the Dometic fridge in our 2004 caravan hardly cools down. At present we have the winter vents on and it is not all that cold so in effect the fridge should be freezing on its lowest setting (warmest). Any ideas?

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Having the vent covers on will hamper the cooling effect as the waste heat will not be able to escape.

Our friends had a problem in the summer before we realised that they had the vent covers on.

Try it without and see if its any better

 

[Surfer]

As a friddge uses heat exchange to function you would think leaving the covers on would cause it to freeze up at its lowest setting. I will try removing the vents and see what happens.

 

[Surfer]

I removed the vents but there is no difference. Gets nice and cold on gas but on electric nothing happens. As if the fridge is switched off. Any further suggestions?

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

I've never used my fridge on gas, always elecric. I've never removed the cover either, I understood it was to be removed only when running it on gas, and I've had no problems with the fridge since I've been caravanning. :O)

 

[Damian]

Fridge vent covers, or to give them their proper name "Winter Covers" should only be used when the temperature is below 11 degrees C.

Above this temp they should be removed to allow heat dissipation from the system to prevent excess heat build up in the space ocupied by the fridge and heat damage, to it and its surroundings.

 

[Royston]

Ian

I had a domestic fridge in our last caravan, we had a simular problem on the eletric input.

Had a new element fitted it was tested for electrics but upon arrival at home found that the fridge would not cool down.

Cut along story short eventually the gas part stopped working, ended up by buying a new fridge , they are not around

 

[gary]

Interesting about caravan fridges packing up 'permanently' because they are parked on slopes, however while modern ones won't actually work on a slope of more than 5 degrees and older ones 3degs, once levelled they will with no damage done permanent or otherwise!

Ian (fancy meeting you here!) as you now say it works on gas ok, then it has to be either no supply to the fridge, the possibility of a faulty switch or faulty thermostat stopping a good supply getting to the element, or more likely the element is at fault.

 

[vernon]

One trick to try if a gas fridge stops working, is to remove the fridge and invert it for a few seconds, this gets rid of any airlocks in the system.

I was told this years ago by a caravan fitter, and it worked on our household gas fridge during a very hot Summer.