Fridge Vents & Draughts

Before deciding whether or how to eliminate this draft you may wish to consider the following. All Caravans & MH’s have some vents placed at floor level and some high level ventilation usually around the Sky-lights to ensure a flow of fresh air into what otherwise would be a sealed box. Without this ventilation condensation would build up and the oxygen levels would be depleted during periods of habitation.  A Gas Cooker usually has a floor level vent directly underneath it, as it requires a good supply of air/oxygen to burn correctly and also to serve, as has already been mentioned, a Gas Drop-out point.  It is especially important from a safely point of view, not to block off this vent. It must also be recognised that the Cooker and Hob are not vented to the outside and that the exhaust gases that are both harmful and full on moisture are released into the van. The manufacturer has constructed these vents in order to overcome these potential hazards.       

Before deciding whether or how to eliminate this draft you may wish to consider the following. All Caravans & MH’s have some vents placed at floor level and some high level ventilation usually around the Sky-lights to ensure a flow of fresh air into what otherwise would be a sealed box. Without this ventilation condensation would build up and the oxygen levels would be depleted during periods of habitation.  A Gas Cooker usually has a floor level vent directly underneath it, as it requires a good supply of air/oxygen to burn correctly and also to serve, as has already been mentioned, a Gas Drop-out point.  It is especially important from a safely point of view, not to block off this vent. It must also be recognised that the Cooker and Hob are not vented to the outside and that the exhaust gases that are both harmful and full on moisture are released into the van. The manufacturer has constructed these vents in order to overcome these potential hazards.       

Write your comments here...Yep that jyst about sums it up better to have a slight draught than be dead

 .......Yep that jyst about sums it up better to have a slight draught than be dead

 

But, as described above, the draught shouldn't be from the back of the fridge .... that should be sealed from the interior of the caravan/motorhome . Draughts from the fitted vents are to be expected.

 .......Yep that jyst about sums it up better to have a slight draught than be dead

 

But, as described above, the draught shouldn't be from the back of the fridge .... that should be sealed from the interior of the caravan/motorhome . Draughts from the fitted vents are to be expected.

Although the OP’s post is entitled ‘Fridge Vents & Draughts’, it go on to state …“ I noticed that there was a slight draught coming from below the drawers under the cooker…”  this leads me to believe  that this particular draught is in no way associated with the Fridge Vents.

The fridge should be sealed so if you are running it on gas the exhaust gases exhaust to the outside not into the van. Might be gas drop holes causing the draft but it wouldn't bet on it. 

exactly, the fridge should not allow any draught in from outside, any unburnt gas must be vented outside.

Apologies for my confusion in title and then subsequent openign statement. This was my thought the draught could be coming from the vents. I checked the fridge last night and the surrounds and no draughts so completely sealed as should be, i went under the MH and found the open drop down vent that most described under the cooker, this is my source, Thanks all for the information. I think a towel or draugth excluder along the bottom drawer will work fine.

I too had a howling wind around my Swift fridge but I re-engineered it and cured it, the problem is that swift continue to pruduce rubbish and call it a motor home.

My answer was to remove the fridge and build a proper fitted box arround the the vents so thet the fridge fitted closely.

It has to be said that this fault is possible killer as carbon-monoxide is poision and has killed hundreds if not thousands over the years, if its new I would take it back.

If it's a new MH take it back, point out the draught and ask them to sort it out.

Putting a towel or draught excluder in place is a 'bodge up' and shouldn't be necessary on a new vehicle.

Whether it is new or otherwise is beside the point.  There is absolutely no point in taking it back as no MH or Caravan Service Engineer worth their salt would tamper with what is a Manufacturers Safety Design feature.

there should be no serious 'draught' from an internal drop vent....these are generally quite small holes on the underside of the van and a horizontal wind wouldnt really penetrate there....

they are to gently let excess CO out, not a gale force wind in.....