RV freezer damaged from "running on empty"??

[mcoley]

We were proudly showing a friend our new travel trailer and he warned us to never operate the freezer with nothing in it because when he did that he ruined his and had to by a new refer/freezer. Is there any truth to that? I'm doubtful and my wife believes him.

[Mr_Beebo]

If a refrigerator the size that are in most rvs were to fail because it was empty; then it wasn't going to last much longer than when it was full. Actually better to have it give up the ghost before you put perishables in it anyway.

[Gale_Hawkins]

Mass helps in RV absorption fridge to reduce temp swings from opening the door and outside air temps shooting up during the heat of the day.

[gheicher]

Pauljdav wrote:
As the other poster stated a compressor fridge will cycle a lot more with just air in there. I suspect the same for the absorption ones. I always keep a couple of gallon freezer bags of ice in my freezer to help with cycling. I also keep at least a few gallons of stuff in the fridge.

Maintaining thermal mass (frozen food) in the freezer in your home compressor type fridge will reduce the frequency of the compressor running. This will extend the life of the compressor unit as well as save electricity. With an absorption type fridge the only moving part is the gas valve when running on propane otherwise it would be the electric heating element cycling on and off. I doubt there would be much difference in the life of a rv absorption fridge regardless if full or empty.

[skipnchar]

TOTAL nonsense. Now if you were to ask about burning a light bulb in an already bright room....that's a different thing. It will burn it out in nothing flat 🙂

[2112]

Pauljdav wrote:
Another reason I like to keep ice cubes in freezer bags is in case I ever check the freezer and the ice is no longer "cubes" (indicating they thawed and re froze) I know I had a failure in cooling and any food could be suspect as well.

I keep a little zip lock bag with a few ice cubes in mine for that reason. It's an indicator that something went wrong if they are no longer ice cubes.

My freezer is on 24/7/365 with nothing but a few ice cubes in it and no problem. I have treated a previous one that way for 8yrs without failure.

[Pauljdav]

As the other poster stated a compressor fridge will cycle a lot more with just air in there. I suspect the same for the absorption ones. I always keep a couple of gallon freezer bags of ice in my freezer to help with cycling. I also keep at least a few gallons of stuff in the fridge.

Another reason I like to keep ice cubes in freezer bags is in case I ever check the freezer and the ice is no longer "cubes" (indicating they thawed and re froze) I know I had a failure in cooling and any food could be suspect as well.

[schlep1967]

SO to make the wife happy .... fill a gallon jug 3/4 of water and freeze it in the house freezer. Then when you go to turn on the camper freezer take that jug out and put it in. She will be satisfied that you are not ruining the freezer and you will save a little (very little) electric or propane cooling the fridge down.

[ScottG]

Sorry but there's just no validity to what your friend said.

[past-MIdirector]

If he had it on and the fridge was not setting close to level is the only way it might have failed. It will not hurt any fridge to run either RV or home type empty as long as they are within manufacturer's specification for sitting level.

[Gaffer222]

So if that were true, are we supposed to put all our frozen items in the freezer and let them thaw while it's gets to the correct temperature, when first turned on? Totaly bogus.

[snowdance]

Been using units like that in RV,s for over 40 years and in our house years ago and also had an house AC unit that worked the same. No way the freezer knows whats in there if any thing. I have never had any problems and leave ours empty much of the time as we make short weekend trips and do not haul frozen foods.. For many years they were made with a small area for ice trays. No place for frozen food as we did not use it. Never had a problem and did not make ice cubes.

I vote for a dealer making up that story so he could keep the money he got from the company for replacing it. Not uncommon.

[Terryallan]

Nope not true. After all. What kind of frozen food are you going to put into a 110 degree freezer before you cool it off.

[llowllms]

Tell missy mcoley not to believe every thing she hears. Having the frig/freezer operating while empty will not cause it to fail. I, as well, run ours for two or three days before leaving to insure it is cold and ready to be filled. Our rig is eight years old and working quite well.

[pugslyyy]

robsouth wrote:
Maybe he was confusing the freezer with the microwave. I have heard that a microwave should not be operated empty.

LOL, now THAT is funny! :B