Help wanted - moving fridge

[JoannaLesley]

We have a fairly elderly Compass caravan (1999) which suits us fine. However, the fridge has started to move while we are travelling. It seems to be trying to work its way out of its slot and is beginning to damage the flooring. We can only assume that something has come adrift behind it, but OH thinks we would have to more or less dismantle the kitchen unit to get at the back. Has anyone else had a similar problem and, if so, how did you fix it?
Jo

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Joanne,

Please do not consider this a slight, but if you have needed to ask for help with issue, then it demonstrates you don't have the necessary experience required to ensure the fridge is properly and safely installed. I suggest you arrange to have a professional fitter check and correct the problem.

 

[JoannaLesley]

Thank you Prof, but I think I may not have made myself clear. This is not a fridge which we have installed, but the original one which came with the caravan. Clearly, if we need to we will refer it to an installer. However, I simply wondered whether anyone else had experienced this problem and how they had resolved it.
Jo

 

[Gafferbill]

........you do not tell us the manufacturer but you could look to see if the fridge has fixing bolts inside the cabinet.

Open the door and look for plastic screw covers the size of a 10p piece
There could be two each side located towards the front of the cabinet sides.
These plastic covers can be prised off and should reveal metal wood screws that should secure the fridge to the wooden structure surrounding the fridge.
These screws could be loose or even missing.........it is worth a look to see if you have this type of fixing.
If the screws are present but cannot be tightened because of wear due to movement try fitting larger/longer screws.
To be safe you should have the gas supply to the fridge checked for leaks that may have been caused by the movement of the cabinet.

 

[Dustydog]

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=31&TopicID=225869iJoanna
Sir Baldrick beat me to it.

see the link as an example.
Tell us your exact model and make and we may be able to give you a better steer.
Usual gas safe riders apply etc.

 

[JTQ]

For more secure fixing it was the Electrolux recommendation to put a self tapping screw or two, from an adjacent cupboard through into the thin sheet metal side of the fridge.
I know it sounds a bodge, but it was the official recommendation; you must though use a screw short enough that it does not go right through the fridge's insulation and pierce the inner plastic shell.

 

[Damian]

The fridge at 1999 will most likely be an Electrolux model.
They are fixed either by 4 screws, 2 each side, just inside the main fridge compartment and covered with quite large round screw covers, and they go into the surrounding furniture.
OR, by 4 screws through a lip at each side of the fridge at the front, into the surrounding housing.

If the internal fixing, check that there are actually screws in behind the covers !, they are removable with a magnetised screwdriver (Phillips type), they may have just worked loose and need retightening, or replacing if they have pulled loose and enlarged the hole in the furniture, use a larger diameter screw of the same length.(Ensure the screw head will fit inside the recess and the screw cover will go back on..

If the external fixing, use the same idea if the screws have pulled out and damaged the fixing holes in the woodwork.
Other than that, use suitable length screws (about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch depending on thickness of surrounding woodwork and fix from the outside through the wood into the fridge carcass. Use 2 each side.
Don't use screws which are too long and would pierce the inside of the fridge.

 

[JoannaLesley]

Thank you all so much. OH has been unwell for the past few days, but he will have a further look in the light of all your useful tips as soon as he feels up to it.. (Man flu, I think)

Jo

 

[JoannaLesley]

Hi all,
OH has now had the opportunity to check out the fridge and Damian was right. The screws holding the fridge were very short, so have been replaced with longer ones and the fridge stabilised. All connections checked and the caravan has now been put into winter store mode.
Thanks very much to all who offered advice. This is exactly the kind of thing that this forum is excellent at.
Keep up the good work!
Jo