RV refrigerators off level
The manual on my Dometic 'fridge in my RV says that it will malfunction if it's run out of level for a 'significant' amount of time, (or something to that effect; the manual is in my RV at the storage...
Forum Discussion
JJBIRISH wrote:
There is only one level then there are degrees of out of level…
when it comes to level and your fridge the question becomes what is the level of risk you are willing to accept if it fails… you are completely on your own there…
remember the mfgs. may say comfortably level but the same MFG also say operating out of level is not covered by the warranty and the warranty doesn’t use the comfortable description…
The three important issues for adsorption fridges are
level,
good airflow,
and precise heat…
all three are necessary and important for proper operation and longevity…
IMHO when you are parked the significant clock is ticking…
Damage is usually slow but more important is that any damage done is cumulative and permanent… the damage is caused by overheating the fluid and with a constant heat source the fluids temp is regulated by the speed that it circulates… operating out of level slows circulation and overheats the fluid…
The fluid is made up from water, ammonia, and rust inhibitors… when overheated the rust inhibitors chemically breakdown and crystalize, permanently… this causes the rust inhibitors to become less effective in the steel tubes and allow them to rust internally until rust through… if there is enough crystallization itself or combined with rust particles can plug the tube and block all circulation forever… Absorption fridges are completely dependent on gravity to function…
These things are made to last a long time, the mfg. is only concerned with the first year or two…
Following their instructions of comfortable will almost assuredly get you past their responsibility and just as assuredly shorten it’s useful life…
There is just no way to measure the damage and no way to predict when it will fail…
It may never be perfectly level but the more level it is the better it will work and the longer it will last…
As expensive as they are I will take the time to level the best I can or turn it off if I can’t…
Many here will disagree with my statements and opinions here… if I were you, instead of asking here, I would search the professionals that repair them and replace cooling units on a daily basses… I doubt you will find even one that recommends almost level, and chances are all will stress the importance of level operation……
Very good explanation.......here's a visual to go along with it
