Forum Discussion

abc40kids's avatar
abc40kids
Explorer
Aug 13, 2016

Frig question

I park my fifth wheel by the house and keep it plugged in to 50amp all the time. I covered it a few weeks ago because I didn't plan on using it for a month or so and the sun just beats on it. I didn't turn the frig off and knew it drained on the side and the cover isn't tight there. I went inside today just to check on things and the frig was not cool but not hot just in the middle but the back of the frig felt cold, the freezer was still good with a bag of ice still frozen.

I turned everything off l, it has been darn near 100 or better here for weeks. I'm gonna take the cover off and turn it back on tomorrow to see what happens..... Y'all think it's just the heat of not enough ventilation for the frig???

6 Replies

  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Aug 14, 2016
    abc40kids wrote:
    I have no good reason for leaving it on, only planned on covering it for a few weeks and it was pretty full. I'm just so used to leaving it on all the time. I won't do it again, trying to get a RV garage up by winter..... This frig never has cooled like my other camper, it does the job but always seems like it could be cooler. Thanks


    Fridge needs proper draft ----air flow across backside (air coming in bottom vent and exiting top vent)

    AND

    Needs to be level so that the gravity flow of coolant isn't disrupted
  • abc40kids's avatar
    abc40kids
    Explorer
    Aug 13, 2016
    I have no good reason for leaving it on, only planned on covering it for a few weeks and it was pretty full. I'm just so used to leaving it on all the time. I won't do it again, trying to get a RV garage up by winter..... This frig never has cooled like my other camper, it does the job but always seems like it could be cooler. Thanks
  • korbe's avatar
    korbe
    Explorer
    Aug 13, 2016
    When I read your post, the question that came to mind other than the venting requirement was why keep the frig on?
  • Coach-man's avatar
    Coach-man
    Explorer
    Aug 13, 2016
    DownTheAvenue wrote:
    The refrigerator needs ventilation to operate properly, and it has a vent on the side of the trailer and on on the roof. The refrigerator needs that natural draw of air over the coils, much like a chimney draws smoke from the fireplace. You probably did no harm, but just don't do that again.


    X2, in order for the fridge to work properly, it needs to circulate a lot of air! With the cover on, you have reduced the amount of air circulating and the efficancy has dropped considerably .
  • DownTheAvenue's avatar
    DownTheAvenue
    Explorer
    Aug 13, 2016
    The refrigerator needs ventilation to operate properly, and it has a vent on the side of the trailer and on on the roof. The refrigerator needs that natural draw of air over the coils, much like a chimney draws smoke from the fireplace. You probably did no harm, but just don't do that again.
  • downtheroad's avatar
    downtheroad
    Explorer
    Aug 13, 2016
    I'm thinking that blocking the outside frig vent could cause problems. I wouldn't do it. If you are going to take the time and effort to cover your rig, why not just turn the frig off.

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