Fridge vent panel behind caravan door query.

[Slowtow]

Within our Coachman 560 its fridge/freezer is positioned on the near side which means during a summers day with the door being opened fully it tends to obstruct and restrict the airflow to the vent panel. On our last trip the fridge reported a faulty electrical element which has now been replaced.
It has been suggested to me by our caravan service engineer that during these hot spells to remove the vent cover thus increase air flow, so just wondering if anyone actually does this? At first I thought it may lead to wasps and the like getting in but then again that could happen anyway with the vent panel in place.Right? Any thoughts on this please? Many thanks. ST.

 

[Hutch]

I have the 560/4 a 2013 model, I have had no problems with it even at +35 c in Southern France. I don't use winter Covers on. It either. I have seen pictures of people using a piece of broomstick with a bottle cap nail to each end to hold the door away from the caravan side by 6 to 9 inches. Sorry no photos.

 

[birdman101]

Or install a cooling fan behind vent to pull hot air out. Also if exhausts inside a hot Awning dosn’t help.

 

[Hutch]

Or install a cooling fan behind vent to pull hot air out. Also if exhausts inside a hot Awning dosn’t help.

The Coachman 560, when the van door is open covers the fridge Vents, on some vans the Big door stick on Panel detaches, only really happens when the weather is hot and the van door is open.
As I mentioned a 6 to 8 inch( NO smut please) piece of wood holds the door away from the fridge vents.

Found a photo.

 

[otherclive]

The Coachman 560, when the van door is open covers the fridge Vents, on some vans the Big door stick on Panel detaches, only really happens when the weather is hot and the van door is open.
As I mentioned a 6 to 8 inch( NO smut please) piece of wood holds the door away from the fridge vents.

Found a photo.
View attachment 9518

A neat solution to the problem, looks very professional.

 

[Dustydog]

According to Dometic in answer to the OP

Use Dometic fridge vent covers for vehicle storage, cold weather (below 8-10°C), and when cleaning to protect against water, damp, and debris, which helps the fridge work efficiently and saves energy by maintaining proper heat exchange. However, always remove the covers when using the fridge, especially in temperatures above 8°C, to ensure proper heat dissipation and prevent overheating and potential damage.

 

[Beachball]

The Coachman 560, when the van door is open covers the fridge Vents, on some vans the Big door stick on Panel detaches, only really happens when the weather is hot and the van door is open.
As I mentioned a 6 to 8 inch( NO smut please) piece of wood holds the door away from the fridge vents.

Found a photo.
View attachment 9518

Thanks for this neat idea that will do the job 🙏

 

[IanB1485]

On my coachman there are flyscreens behind the vents which do reduce the available area , but like others I have never had a problem , but also just because I could, I fitted three cooling fans in the top grill, thermostaically controlled and speed controlled to reduce the noise. There have been lots of discussions about whether to put them in the top or bottom vents . Having designed laboratory fans assisted incubators,ovens, rooms and fridge/freezer for 20 years I and my team spent a lot of time experimenting with different fans, speeds and housings .The physics of a fanis that it pushes air out of the way , it's only the resulting partial vacuum formed behind the blade(s) , which atmospheric pressure (14.7psi last time I looked) then replaces the 'lost air' to restore atmospheric pressure. Axial fans have a very low maximum output pressure compared with centrifugal blowers, so any resistance may causes the blades to stall ( high pressure air slips back over the blade into the zone of partial vacuum) Conclusion :- fitting them at the top minimises any back pressure. Having said all that the two fridge vents forms a natural chimney which air wants to flow up anyway and adding fans is just assisting this .The other consideration is that the gas burner, valve and ignitor/control module (modern fridges) are all located and the bottom/rear of the fridge and so are accessed from the lower vent, fitting fans there may obstruct access to them.