Fridge Vents Winter Covers
10 replies
MichaelT replied on 23/09/2016 14:57
Grumblewagon replied on 23/09/2016 16:50
DavidKlyne replied on 23/09/2016 16:59
Posted on 23/09/2016 16:59
I think my instructions say they should be fitted if the temperature falls to -10 degrees. I have never used mine yet whilst away in the van. However I do put them on at home during the winter and when I am washing the van to stop too much water getting in.
David
ABM replied on 23/09/2016 19:15
Posted on 23/09/2016 19:15
There should be no cold draughts into your m/van or caravan from the fridges airvents, GW ! If there are then the fridge exhaust/inlet piping is loose or incorrectly fitted I believe and should be remedied fairly soon.
as for the covers, i always fitted mine for the Winter Months to avoid "Over Cooling" but that does not apply to my compressor fridge, 'cos there are no fumes so the vents are internal to the van.
B
young thomas replied on 24/09/2016 08:31
Posted on 24/09/2016 08:31
both thetford and dometic fridge covers should fit snuggly and safely onto the fridge vents.
we have used them on both brands and they should remain on whilst travelling.
ps....GW, as Brian says, you shouldnt have any cold draughts from the fridge area....if you do, unburnt gas could be coming back jnto the van. not good.
get someone to check the seating of the fridge into its mounting seal.....this should be draughtproof, but often, sloppy fitting can distort the foam/rubber sealing.
Justus2 replied on 24/09/2016 08:52
Posted on 24/09/2016 08:52
I have often experienced cold draughts coming through the fridge vents and coming out via the cutlery drawer on previous caravans If the van's fridge vents are facing a 20+mph wind without the winter covers on, there was little to prevent a draught entering the van.
PS if I looked through the cutlery drawer I could see the fridge vents and the outside beyond. The fridge was NOT room sealed.
young thomas replied on 24/09/2016 08:59
Posted on 24/09/2016 08:59
I have often experienced cold draughts coming through the fridge vents and coming out via the cutlery drawer on previous caravans If the van's fridge vents are facing a 20+mph wind without the winter covers on, there was little to prevent a draught entering the van.
PS if I looked through the cutlery drawer I could see the fridge vents and the outside beyond. The fridge was NOT room sealed.
i guess youre talking about older caravans....
your avatar shows a PVC? this would have a compressor frifge with no outside vents...
however, for those with a normal 3 way fridge, there should not be a draught nor huge gaps you can see through...
the vents are to vent the back of the fridge NOT the van...
the fridge needs to be sealed from the van to stop outside draughts coming in......
a) its dangerous (unburnt gas getting into the habitation area)
b) its blooming cold (making your hearing work harder)
Justus2 replied on 24/09/2016 09:24
Posted on 24/09/2016 09:24
A good guess BB, but not quite correct. The previous caravan with the draughts was a 2010 Lunar so not that old, and prior to that a 1990s Bailey was much the same, and it was cold ! I never worried about gas exhaust as we were always on 240v on site.... As you correctly spotted, we have now moved to an Autosleeper MH but it still has a conventional, though automatic Thetford 3 way absortion fridge with vents... Ive just put the winter covers on as its coming round to that time of year.
young thomas replied on 24/09/2016 10:01
Posted on 24/09/2016 10:01
i wasnt sure if AS used the three way fridges...
certainly Swift have yo-yo'd between three way, compressor, and back again....
on the one hand, theres no unneccary cutting of the steel bodywork (draughts, water, etc) but on the other, owners have been frustrated by excessive battery use.....
back to conventional....for now
JVB66 replied on 24/09/2016 10:11
Posted on 24/09/2016 10:11
I have often experienced cold draughts coming through the fridge vents and coming out via the cutlery drawer on previous caravans If the van's fridge vents are facing a 20+mph wind without the winter covers on, there was little to prevent a draught entering the van.
PS if I looked through the cutlery drawer I could see the fridge vents and the outside beyond. The fridge was NOT room sealed.
i guess youre talking about older caravans....
your avatar shows a PVC? this would have a compressor frifge with no outside vents...
however, for those with a normal 3 way fridge, there should not be a draught nor huge gaps you can see through...
the vents are to vent the back of the fridge NOT the van...
the fridge needs to be sealed from the van to stop outside draughts coming in......
a) its dangerous (unburnt gas getting into the habitation area)
b) its blooming cold (making your hearing work harder)
..I think it would need to be quite a noisy cold draft to do that
S6 Kevin
Motorhomer