SERIOUSLY smelly fridge (1 Viewer)

Golygfor

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We are out on our first trip in our Bessacarr 799. 2012. Picked it up last week. The fridge was 'wiffy' when we looked at it but assumed a good clean and power up would sort it. How wrong we were. The smell seems to be coming from the freezer compartment. Door off, seals off and cleaned but it is still awful. When we open the fridge door the smell fills the whole van. Can't store any food in it as it stinks! Have bought a bottle of bleach and thought about soaking the little joints/gaps. What on earth can it be?!!
 
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Golygfor

Golygfor

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If only I could put food in it! Have caravanned for years and never had a smell like this.

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Hils and Glenns

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Try cleaning it out with lots of bicarbonate of soda. Then leave coffee grains in there to absorb smells. Also check that the gas pilot light is lit.
 
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Golygfor

Golygfor

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Fridge is working. Thetford SES. 3 way (gas, 12v 240, auto select) if that's what you mean.:)

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Puddleduck

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Half an onion and / or half a lemon left on a shelf is an old fashioned remedy. Also a bowl containing a strong solution of bicarbonate of soda left in the fridge.

Notify the supplying dealer of the problem as well :)
 
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Arewethereyet

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Try avoid using bleach that in itself can leave smells try using bicarbonate of soda mixed with a little warm water much better at absorbing smells, but it does sound like something might have defrosted at sometimes and run out and possibly between the small gaps in the freezer compartment, Ice cream maybe and you know how bad dairy products can smell when they go off.

I seem to remember some years ago you used to be able to buy these products that looked if memory serves me correctly looked a bit like a plastic egg, apparently they used to absorb smells from fridges and the such like maybe give one of them ago, but i certainly would avoid bleach, something else that has just come to mind lemon juice in warm water.

M

Sounds like me and Puddleduck are on the same wavelength
 

Theonlysue

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Are you sure it's the fridge?
Anything caught around or underneath it?

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Jun 29, 2015
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Fridge is working. Thetford SES. 3 way (gas, 12v 240, auto select) if that's what you mean.:)
See if it keeps working, if it stops it may have an ammonia leak. If so it's the end of the fridge. If it keeps working try all/any of above
 

TheBig1

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half a lemon and a saucer of bicarbonate of soda will absorb the smells. when not in use, leave the fridge door ajar to ventilate
 
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Golygfor

Golygfor

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Try cleaning it out with lots of bicarbonate of soda. Then leave coffee grains in there to absorb smells. Also check that the gas pilot light is lit.
We are running on mains hook up. Not tried it on gas. Thought of Bicarbonate is soda but it's so bad I feel like it's needs bleach. Would it be ok to pour direct on to the plastic?

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Chris

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Is there a drip pan or tray under the freezer compartment?

Just thinking mold might have accumulated there.

Having said that I know nothing about fridges or motorhomes (y)
 
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Golygfor

Golygfor

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half a lemon and a saucer of bicarbonate of soda will absorb the smells. when not in use, leave the fridge door ajar to ventilate
Thanks. Bicarbonate of soda in a water solution or dry in a saucer?
 

TheBig1

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We are running on mains hook up. Not tried it on gas. Thought of Bicarbonate is soda but it's so bad I feel like it's needs bleach. Would it be ok to pour direct on to the plastic?
neat bleach will taint the plastic so it would stink of bleach instead

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Golygfor

Golygfor

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half a lemon and a saucer of bicarbonate of soda will absorb the smells. when not in use, leave the fridge door ajar to ventilate
Thanks. Bicarbonate of soda in a water solution or dry in a saucer?
 

TheBig1

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i use ne
Thanks. Bicarbonate of soda in a water solution or dry in a saucer?
I use neat bicarb and change every couple of days. the moisture in the air will be absorbed too
 

TerryL

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Almost certainly the previous owner was fond of strong-smelling foodstuffs and perhaps not particularly vigilant about cleaning out after use. I'd be very careful about using bleach because it may well damage seals etc. but a good clean out with diluted bicarb should help, then leave it open (most fridges have a little catch to enable you to leave the door slightly open for ventilation). The coffee grains trick I've not heard of, but I would also suggest one of those fridge-fresh de-odorisers from the supermarket cleaning materials rack.

Also check the drain hole is not blocked - inside where the defrosted condensation runs away. Try giving it a good clean out too with a suitable prodder - but take care not to push the tube off 'cos it's a fridge out job usually to put it back on. We found ours got a bit manky but cleaning the drain helped and it's now part of the after-trip cleanup.

You may need to do this a few times to clear it, but ensure that when not in use, leave the fridge door open.
 
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Golygfor

Golygfor

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No smell at all until the door is opened. Def the fridge.

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tonyandcarol

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hi does the smell smell like rotten sea food. had the same problem myself it turned out to be amomia leaking from the fridge.
 

sparky

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Hi has the fridge got a drain hole in it if it take the outside grill off and see if there is a small container which the drain pipe goes in to this will probably full of rotting food and water clean out should stop the smell

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Golygfor

Golygfor

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It smells like mouldy, cheesy dead something. Would we be able to check an amonia leak? About to clean it. Should I leave the fridge on or turn it off for a few days?
 

Puddleduck

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Hi has the fridge got a drain hole in it if it take the outside grill off and see if there is a small container which the drain pipe goes in to this will probably full of rotting food and water clean out should stop the smell

Or better still make the dealer do it.
 
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Golygfor

Golygfor

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Ex tower now converted
Hi has the fridge got a drain hole in it if it take the outside grill off and see if there is a small container which the drain pipe goes in to this will probably full of rotting food and water clean out should stop the smell
Checked that and it was fine. (y)

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