Did you know that the fridge in your caravan may not be checked at your tourer's annual service? Find out why this is so important for more than just keeping your food and drink at the perfect temperature. Just click here.
Looking after your caravan fridge
- Thread starter LizziePope
- Start date
Oh PC!
Do not misunderstand me, The servicing of gas appliances by competent persons is an important preventative that raises safety, and should not be under estimated, but I do question the spectre of dire consequences raised by the author concerning caravan fridges.
I do find this article to be scare mongering, and as it is written by a a self confessed workshop business, I do wonder if the omissions and exaggerations it contains are profit motivated?
Technically the processes described are correct, Gas fridges do use a 100 to 150W flame and the burners particularly those that are infrequently can become compromised by insects and general decay. Where they may have developed improper gas and air mixing in the venturi, the flame will produce more unburnt gasses in the exhaust and that includes Carbon Monoxide, the silent killer.
But two important factors have been conveniently overlooked, Firstly the fridges of both manufacturers are designed as room sealed appliances which means the products of combustion should not even be able to enter the living space of the caravan so even if the flame were producing as much CO as it possibly could it simply should not affect the occupants inside the caravan. However I do concede that caravan manufacturers frequently do not install fridges with teh correct degree of room seal characteristics.
Secondly the size of the flame (max 150W) is much smaller than virtually all other gas burners used in caravans, so even if it were producing CO inside the caravan, the normal fixed ventilation should be more than sufficient to prevent its concentration from becoming lethal within the caravan. You are more likely to suffer higher levels of CO from the normal use of the gas hob.
Lets keep such reports and articles within realistic or "practical" parameters.
Do not misunderstand me, The servicing of gas appliances by competent persons is an important preventative that raises safety, and should not be under estimated, but I do question the spectre of dire consequences raised by the author concerning caravan fridges.
I do find this article to be scare mongering, and as it is written by a a self confessed workshop business, I do wonder if the omissions and exaggerations it contains are profit motivated?
Technically the processes described are correct, Gas fridges do use a 100 to 150W flame and the burners particularly those that are infrequently can become compromised by insects and general decay. Where they may have developed improper gas and air mixing in the venturi, the flame will produce more unburnt gasses in the exhaust and that includes Carbon Monoxide, the silent killer.
But two important factors have been conveniently overlooked, Firstly the fridges of both manufacturers are designed as room sealed appliances which means the products of combustion should not even be able to enter the living space of the caravan so even if the flame were producing as much CO as it possibly could it simply should not affect the occupants inside the caravan. However I do concede that caravan manufacturers frequently do not install fridges with teh correct degree of room seal characteristics.
Secondly the size of the flame (max 150W) is much smaller than virtually all other gas burners used in caravans, so even if it were producing CO inside the caravan, the normal fixed ventilation should be more than sufficient to prevent its concentration from becoming lethal within the caravan. You are more likely to suffer higher levels of CO from the normal use of the gas hob.
Lets keep such reports and articles within realistic or "practical" parameters.
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