Cleaning fridge flue

[BusyBuilder Retired]

I thought I'd give the fridge flue a clean. But I can't see how to get access for the brush. Any ideas ?

The flue goes up through the roof, I assume as the oven is above the fridge that's connected too ??

 

[Xabia]

Remove the top vent and you will see that the top of the chimney is visible, place a cloth over the jet at the bottom of the chimney and then unhook the baffle that is hanging there, use that baffle to clean the sides of the chimney by moving it up and down, or use a brush as you mentioned.

 

[DBK]

I suggest you move the jet out of the way before doing it to prevent it getting blocked. Unscrew the screw you can see on the left of the rectangular cover, you don't need to remove it completely. The cover can then be slid to the right a bit and then removed. It may be a bit fiddly but it should come away.
You will then see the burner which is retained by a single screw. It might be hard to undo but remove this screw and the burner can then be gently lowered and pulled towards you so it comes away from the bottom of the flue. I would have a vacuum cleaner handy and give it a good clean. Do not try to poke anything into the jet. If there is carbon visible you can try removing it but be careful, there will be a thermocouple and the spark ignition electrode in there too and you don't want to damage them. It is possible to remove the thermocouple but I wouldn't if you can avoid it but if you do make a good note of where it is positioned. A photo might help if your phone will focus close enough.
You may be able to clean the flue from the bottom or from the top. Whatever is easier.

 

[PhilandMena]

@DBK has it nailed. Undo burner assembly and move to side. Put a 4 piece of paper below the burner assembly so you can see how much soot comes out. Remove baffle and lower down the pipe a strong piece of cord/string with a bit of cloth tied securely in the middle then pull through in both directions removing soot and catching on paper. Clean baffle hover up all the soot and then replace all your bits and your good to co. I also cover the burner assembly before pulling through.

 

[dalspa]

Having removed the burner assembly etc, as already stated, I found that a 19mm pipe bending spring was just the job for cleaning out the flue. I tied a bit of string to the hook on one end and it’s weight was just right for lowering down from the top. To finish off, I put a few turns of duct tape around the spring to “polish” the inside of the flue.

 

[Wagoneer]

I have a similar problem. Except.....I don't have a top vent on the sidewall, only a rectangular plastic vent cowl on the roof.

Vehicle is a Carthago but without an oven over the fridge. I've noticed that those Carthago models with an oven over the fridge have a top vent in the sidewall, but no roof vent.

Haven't yet removed the roof vent to carry out a full inspect, raining at the mo. Anyone know if it's possible to clean the fridge chimney from the roof? Top of fridge to underside of roof is 150mm. There is an aluminium plate, sloping at 45° (inwards) between rear of fridge and underside of roof. This appears to be sealed to contain exhaust gases.

 

[colyboy]

What you need is a LONG radiator brush?
We have top vent. Remove the cover, drop a piece of string down with a weight attached, remove the weight fix the brush to it, you will need two people for this (unless you have very long arms!)
Then one person pulls it up and the other pulls it down do this about a dozen times. You will be surprised how much soot will drop down, have vacuum cleaner handy. After that blow the rest of the soot away with a good strong air jet

 

[peterc10]

That looks like a Hymer with a Dometic TEC Tower fridge freezer and oven above. If so the flue on the roof is not for the fridge but is for the oven vent. The fridge flue is vented using the two grills on the wall.

 

[Northernraider]

I have one of those domes on my roof too but nothing to do with the fridge mine is for the extractor above the oven.

The two vents on sidewall are for fridge

@PhilandMena showed me how to clean mine with the method he and @DBK described above I've done it several times since and worked great but eventually made no difference.
I had a new burner fitted last month fridge is fantastic now even on a very low setting I get ice cubes within an hour

 

[makems]

I have a similar problem. Except.....I don't have a top vent on the sidewall, only a rectangular plastic vent cowl on the roof.

Vehicle is a Carthago but without an oven over the fridge. I've noticed that those Carthago models with an oven over the fridge have a top vent in the sidewall, but no roof vent.

Haven't yet removed the roof vent to carry out a full inspect, raining at the mo. Anyone know if it's possible to clean the fridge chimney from the roof? Top of fridge to underside of roof is 150mm. There is an aluminium plate, sloping at 45° (inwards) between rear of fridge and underside of roof. This appears to be sealed to contain exhaust gases.

I had a Burstner with the same configuration ie no upper vent on the side wall but a cowl on the roof.
It was b*stard to clean the chimney because the top of the fridge chimney didnt go right up to the roof, it stopped almost 2feet short. That meant it was impossible to reach and remove the T piece at the top below which is the spiral thing.
The only solution was to remove the whole TEC Tower which isnt as bad a job as it sounds. You have to disconnect the gas pipe at the back of the fridge and the four screws around the fridge door and the whole thing slides out. Not easily though - its bloody heavy and you might need help with one person pushing from outside (through the lower vent)and another pulling from the inside. Its a very tight fit in the housing.
Have something to balance the fridge on as you pull it out as it usually sits over a bottom drawer. We used a stool.
Once out everything becomes easy.
I used a baby bottle brush duct taped to the end of a piece of coat hanger wire to clean the chimney.
It used to be an annual event at Tafraoute in Morocco assisted by one or more of @Armytwowheels, @Dazzlin, @PhilandMena, @canopus or @SUGGY
Oh, and make sure you have disconnected the elctric supply before doing any of this!
And dont forget to turn it on again afterwards if you want your fridge to work!