Fridge Removal:- Heating Element

[Ianfox]

Hi,

Anyone got any top tips on removing my fridge (Thetford N80) from my caravan (03 Swift Charisma, 560)?

Do I need to disconnect the gas via the vents on the outside of the van? Does this need to be done after I pull the fridgeout 6 inches?

I need to replace the AC heating element in the fridge, so any tips on doing that also.......

Thanks v much

ian

 

[Damian]

Ian, if you do not know what you are doing, get someone who does!

removing the fridge involves breaking the gas connection, which must only be done by a suitably "competent" person working to the gas regulations.

There is NO free play in the gas pipe, so do not even attempt to move the fridge without having diconnected the gas first.

 

[Ianfox]

Ian, if you do not know what you are doing, get someone who does!

removing the fridge involves breaking the gas connection, which must only be done by a suitably "competent" person working to the gas regulations.

There is NO free play in the gas pipe, so do not even attempt to move the fridge without having diconnected the gas first.

Hi Damian,

thanks for the tips. I'm confident enough to do it, I was just after a couple of tips as I haven't removed a caravan fridge before. cheers, Ian

 

[Ianfox]

Hi Damian,

thanks for the tips. I'm confident enough to do it, I was just after a couple of tips as I haven't removed a caravan fridge before. cheers, Ian

 

[Damian]

Ian, you may be confident to do it, but, do you have the specialist equipment to test the gas system after?

 

[Ianfox]

Hi Damian,

I have a gas monitor that I will be using to test the gas fittings. Better than the soap bubbles that the gas engineer used when he came to my house anyway!!!!!!

Ian

 

[Damian]

Ian, whilst I have no wish to cause offence, I was not talking about gas leak detector, or soap liquid.

I am talking about the pressure tester to test the whole installation up to its certified test pressure, different values depending whether you have a bulkhead regulator or cylinder regulator.

 

[Ianfox]

HI Damian,

No offence taken at all, I appreciate the tips and like the banter! No, I dont have a pressure tester as such. I'll make a few enquiries tomorrow...

Ian

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Ian,

This may seem a bit blunt but :

What Damian is saying and correctly so is that all work on gas appliances including pipe work are subject to the Gas Safety Regulations. It is not a simple recommendation that work "'should' be carried out by a competent person", it is a 'Must' instruction and the law.

Sadly it has been misconstrued for a long time that it does not apply to caravans, when in fact it does. There are special provisions for caravans, but the fitter must still be competent. The making and breaking of installed gas pipe connections is part of the relevant regulations.

A competent person would know what tests are required and how to carry them out and how to interpret the results, if they need to ask, then that raises a question about their competence to do the work in the eyes of the law.

In you case, it sounds as though the fridge needs to be removed. This must be refereed to a person competent to do the work.

 

[Glenn_5132962]

Ian,

I did this on my 1998 Swift. The fridge could be pulled far enough out for the element to be replaced without disconnecting the gas pipe as the pipe was very flexible small bore soft tubing. It was a very easy job once i'd found the screws holding the fridge in place.

 

[Ianfox]

Thanks Glen,

out of interest, what was the flexible hose made from?

 

[Damian]

Glenn, the regs changed after 1998 to prohibit the movement of gas pipes as you describe.

On all modern vans there is NO movement allowance made, the pipework is fixed, rigid.

Flexible hoses are completely banned from use in all caravans and motorhomes, the only exception being the pigtail or gas supply hose from the gas cylinder to the rigid pipework entry point.

 

[gary]

Glen would be referring to a Electolux/Dometic fridge which indeed has a loop of copper pipe to allow some movement, this is to allow some movement enough to pull the fridge forward and disconnect the pipe.

However as Damian rightly pointed out, the Thetford is different in as much as the connection pipe is rigid, the joint is at the back and accessed from one of the fridge vent.

I have to say, feeling the need to ask questions before you start is to me a sign of being competent, rather that is than not knowing and 'having a go' before asking?!

I would also say, you can keep your fancy gadgets, I'm with the gas man?, used correctly fairy liquid bubbles will find the smallest leak faster than anything!

 

[Ianfox]

Surely if I take my fridge out and get a gas man to check it and cert it before I turn it on, it's not really a problem is it? I maybe wrong.

I agree with everything that has been said, it's illegal to touch any gas/elec appliances in the house. These rules are for a reason, but I would't pay an electrician

 

[Damian]

Ian, at the end of the day, what you decide to do is your decision, and quite rightly too.

Asking questions is a good idea, and I hope the replies have given you at least some of the information you need to make an informed decision.

Sometimes having the rules quoted at you may seem intimidating and condescending, it is not meant in that way, but there is no nice way of letting you know where you stand, legally.

What you do with that information is up to you.

"Fancy gadgets" may not please a lot of people, but they are necessary to keep a caravan systems up to the specification as it left the factory, and is for the safety of the owner.

Some of the older practices are good, and have been used for years,, but rightly or wrongly, a lot of them are no longer able to be used "to comply with the regulations"

 

[DeliDave]

Ian, at the end of the day, what you decide to do is your decision, and quite rightly too.

Asking questions is a good idea, and I hope the replies have given you at least some of the information you need to make an informed decision.

Sometimes having the rules quoted at you may seem intimidating and condescending, it is not meant in that way, but there is no nice way of letting you know where you stand, legally.

What you do with that information is up to you.

"Fancy gadgets" may not please a lot of people, but they are necessary to keep a caravan systems up to the specification as it left the factory, and is for the safety of the owner.

Some of the older practices are good, and have been used for years,, but rightly or wrongly, a lot of them are no longer able to be used "to comply with the regulations"

I am a CORGI fitter and am with Damian on this,I would not work on anything that had been started by an unregistered fitter,in fact CORGI view this as aiding and abetting illegal gas work.You have not got the kit and knowledge to test it and should get a qualified person to sort it out for you.Even giving advice to help you do it could lead to problems if there is an incident,the plumb center wont sell you gas carrying parts without production of a CORGI card and it is likely that this will spread to most merchants.

 

[Ianfox]

Hi Damian,

Definately, no one has come across as being condesceding, I hope I haven't ;0)

I used to caravan as a kid, but now I'm a fully fledged caravan owner and seem to be of the younger age range (33), fully supporting caravaning and me and 'er really love it!

It's good to get other peoples views on this topic and it certainly helps me with a few decisions and how to do the jobs (or not too....!!)

thanks v much Ian