My absorption fridge is located in the center of the trailer. It vents from underneath and i have a small fan there blowing upward. Under the bathroom sink is an access panel. Is there a reason it would be unsafe to remove the panel while on electric?Regarding the fan, i remember someone posted a way for the fan to click on at a specific time. Is it bad for the fan to run 24/7? Is there a point at which you can have too much airflow?

The fans for out fridge only kick on when needed. They don't run 24/7, are you sure yours runs all the time? Or did you install it and wire it that way?

What model floorplan do you have?Fridge in 'center' of trailer.....where is TOP vent located?Bottom vent is there for 2 reasons1) Propane is heavier then AIR so bottom venting allows any propane from leak to exit and not accumulate2) Draft.....airflow is from bottom UPWARD thru absorber tubing bundle then across condenser fins at top then exhausting hot air out thus removing heat from cooling unit.Whether using propane OR electric........airflow needs to flow from bottom area up and out top area for effective cooling.Some alternative 'venting' via an access panel under bathroom sink will NOT provide sufficient airflow especially across condenser fins where the HOT ammonia vapor is condensed into a cool ammonia liquid.Rear fan(s) controlled by a thermostat on condenser fins are typically set to CLOSE/run fan when FIN temp reaches 130*F and OPEN/Stop fan when FIN temp drops to 115*FHOT weather...fans running 24/7 would be OKCOOL Weather...ambient temps below 50*F fans would not be needed and if running 24/7 can cause overcooling which can cause ammonia coolant solution to not boil into sufficient quanities of ammonia vapor to effectively cool fridge

Are you sure you do not have a vent in the roof? If refrigerator is in a slide out it should have a vent high on the slide out wall. Other wise it should be in the roof.

The backside of the fridge (where the cooling unit is) is supposed to be completely sealed off from the living space, because of the possibility of a leak in the LP system. For that reason, yes it would be unsafe to remove that panel anytime the propane tank valves are opened. Regardless of which mode the fridge is running in (AC or LP) if the LP valves are open, the lines are pressurized and could leak. :):)

wopachop wrote:Is there a point at which you can have too much airflow?Strictly speaking, yes there is. Certain parts of the absorption cooling unit NEED to get hot in order to work. It really doesn’t take much of a fan to make sure the air flows up as it should. A slow, quiet fan is all that’s really needed. Ideally, the fan should be above the big tank at the bottom so it’s not blowing directly on it. Screaming, gale force fans that can blow an anchor chain horizontal, that’s probably overkill. :):)

Safe to vent fridge from inside? | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

John_Wayne
Explorer II
May 08, 2020
Are you sure you do not have a vent in the roof? If refrigerator is in a slide out it should have a vent high on the slide out wall. Other wise it should be in the roof.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
May 08, 2020
What model floorplan do you have?
Fridge in 'center' of trailer.....where is TOP vent located?

Bottom vent is there for 2 reasons
1) Propane is heavier then AIR so bottom venting allows any propane from leak to exit and not accumulate
2) Draft.....airflow is from bottom UPWARD thru absorber tubing bundle then across condenser fins at top then exhausting hot air out thus removing heat from cooling unit.

Whether using propane OR electric........airflow needs to flow from bottom area up and out top area for effective cooling.

Some alternative 'venting' via an access panel under bathroom sink will NOT provide sufficient airflow especially across condenser fins where the HOT ammonia vapor is condensed into a cool ammonia liquid.

Rear fan(s) controlled by a thermostat on condenser fins are typically set to CLOSE/run fan when FIN temp reaches 130*F and OPEN/Stop fan when FIN temp drops to 115*F

HOT weather...fans running 24/7 would be OK
COOL Weather...ambient temps below 50*F fans would not be needed and if running 24/7 can cause overcooling which can cause ammonia coolant solution to not boil into sufficient quanities of ammonia vapor to effectively cool fridge
fj12ryder
Explorer III
May 08, 2020
The fans for out fridge only kick on when needed. They don't run 24/7, are you sure yours runs all the time? Or did you install it and wire it that way?

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Safe to vent fridge from inside?

13 Replies

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