should i run my fride over winter?

[Fineoceanparker]

My rig sits for about six months. when i got her i was told it would be a good idea to run the fridge once a month for a day or two while she sat. the fridge is electric and propane,and i have easy access so it's quite possible to do. looking for any thoughts regarding this. thanks

[Allworth]

Mine has been sitting with the fridge off and open (in the back yard) since June due to a terminal illness in the family.

Today was the first nice day we have had in a month, since we had 26 days with rainstorms out of the last 30. When I opened the trailer up to air out I turned the fridge on (on electric) and will let it run about three days then open it up, wipe out the moisture, and leave it for the next trip.

That is probably not entirely necessary, but it doesn't hurt to circulate the ammonia and exercise the control boards.

[Golden_HVAC]

The refrigerator can use upwards of $35 a month in electric if plugged in at home. Much less in the winter. There is no technical reason that the refrigerator needs to be run. I leave mine off most of the time, and it fires right up after purging the propane system and running the water heater for about a minute.

I would leave it off until 3 days before a trip. Also leave the doors open, or mold and mildew can build up inside the refrigerator. Some fresh air, and it will not build up any mold.

Fred.

[TXiceman]

Fineoceanparker wrote:
My rig sits for about six months. when i got her i was told it would be a good idea to run the fridge once a month for a day or two while she sat.

Boy, this the first time I have heard this. Shut down the frig, shut off the propane, wipe/clean the interior let it dry and store with the door(s).

Ken

[tenbear]

I never have, never had a fridge failure either in 14 years of RVing.

Probably shouldn't have said that, maybe I'm jinked now.

[scbwr]

No.....haven't had a fridge problem in 11 years of owning TT with propane/electric fridge.

[mobeewan]

Same here. Still running strong. Time to defrost again

[Old-Biscuit]

Other than defrosting 3-4 times a year our fridge has been ON since Nov. 2006

[TucsonJim]

No need.

[darsben]

Funny someone else posed the question earlier today
http://forums.motorhomemagazine.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27987913.cfm

[KD4UPL]

I never run mine between Nov. And March. I've never heard of anyreason to fire it up over the winter. In fact, I always heard that turning it on an off all the time was harder on it then letting it run. Thermal cycling I think was the issue.

[ScottG]

According to a local cooling unit rebuilder, that sort of short term on again, off again cycling is hard on a fridge because the extreme temp transitions is are hard on the tubing.
I think your dealer is the only person I have ever heard say such a thing.
Leave it off.

[MitchF150]

No idea, but I've never done that in 12 years of owning my TT.. Each Spring when I uncover it, I fire up the fridge and it has always worked. I shut it down between trips while I'm using it too.

I've heard folks leave them running 24/7/365.

The fridge in my house has been running for over 16 years. Not the same type of fridge as an RV fridge of course.. 😉

Good luck with whatever you do.

Mitch