Fridge on Gas with Vents on the Awning Side

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Morning all! We are currently on a site in Devon (Damage Barton) and we’ve had the fridge/freezer on electric since arriving on Wednesday evening. I noticed this morning that the fridge is not cold at all. The freezer seems to be doing ok, we have a bag of ice in there and i has not turned in to a puddle! We have our air awning set up and use a fan heater in there and the fridge vents are on the same side. I have just switched the fridge/freezer over to gas as I’ve read that gas may be more efficient in terms of cooling the fridge down. Just wanted to ask if it’s all ok to run the fridge on gas and use the awning etc. in regards to any fumes in the awning etc? Many thanks in advance. 😀
 
The fridge works best with free airflow.

I would not have a fridge on gas with a closed awning without carbon monoxide monitors in the awning and in the van. If the van door is open it all becomes just one enclosed space. Just not worth the risk to life.
 
meanders said:
The fridge works best with free airflow.

I would not have a fridge on gas with a closed awning without carbon monoxide monitors in the awning and in the van. If the van door is open it all becomes just one enclosed space. Just not worth the risk to life.
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Thanks! My thoughts were that you can buy camping 3 way fridges, which would suggest the fridge can run off gas in a tent? Appreciate the feedback and at the moment the awning is well ventilated. 👍
 
DDuffs said:
Thanks! My thoughts were that you can buy camping 3 way fridges, which would suggest the fridge can run off gas in a tent? Appreciate the feedback and at the moment the awning is well ventilated. 👍
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Is the fan heater still on?
 
I would put it back onto electric and remove the outer grills to get better airflow, the fridge is not working efficiently as it relies on hot air coming out of the top vent and drawing cold air in the bottom one, they are now in an environment that is too warm to work properly
Fans on the fridge vent would help but having the interior space of the awning hot is the biggest problem
 
Is the van level? Our fridge is not very tilt tolerant and is less effective if the van's not level.

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Had fridge on gas with awning for 20 yrs... still here... never yet seen an air tight awning..
However you are one brave individual to admit on here you have a heater in your awning...🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
 
nicholsong said:
I could not understand the problem on this thread until I realised that the word 'awning' was being used for a tent-type not just a wind-out cover.
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Sorry, only going by what it is called and we have had a few over the years and they’ve all been called awnings…..😀

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Looks like it’s sorted itself out now ! thanks for the replies. Looks like I am in the clan of sinners along with those who refill gas bottles etc (we have gaslow in case some of you are wondering!)….strange ol forum sometimes…..😆
 

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Glad that the awning-tent issue was clarified! I have had an issue about hot air influx at the lower gas fridge intake due to being parked unavoidably in the sun. I often do a lot of wild and municipal camping where an awing can't be extended to protect the fridge side. The gas fridge manages as well as it can but it heats the whole burner and sink top in the process - an unwanted kitchen heater in the middle of summer!! I could turn the van round, but in some spaces, this isnt always possible. I thought of a lght/heat barrier in front of the fridge for when parked - any ideas?
 
PaulOH said:
Glad that the awning-tent issue was clarified! I have had an issue about hot air influx at the lower gas fridge intake due to being parked unavoidably in the sun. I often do a lot of wild and municipal camping where an awing can't be extended to protect the fridge side. The gas fridge manages as well as it can but it heats the whole burner and sink top in the process - an unwanted kitchen heater in the middle of summer!! I could turn the van round, but in some spaces, this isnt always possible. I thought of a lght/heat barrier in front of the fridge for when parked - any ideas?
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Do like the French and Park so close the next van shades your fridge.:LOL:

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Shrimp said:
Fan heater!
In an awning?
Bonkers!
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I was going to ignore this, but can‘t (love a keyboard warrior)…..now although I am not going to share my families health issues etc. to explain why we have to have a fan heater in the awning for a couple of periods of time during the day. I would just like to make VERY clear to you that lots of people have different and very justified reasons for doing different things to those clearly very fit, healthy and perfect individuals like yourself. Now I take it you’ll go back to hiding behind your keyboard.
 
PaulOH said:
Glad that the awning-tent issue was clarified! I have had an issue about hot air influx at the lower gas fridge intake due to being parked unavoidably in the sun. I often do a lot of wild and municipal camping where an awing can't be extended to protect the fridge side. The gas fridge manages as well as it can but it heats the whole burner and sink top in the process - an unwanted kitchen heater in the middle of summer!! I could turn the van round, but in some spaces, this isnt always possible. I thought of a lght/heat barrier in front of the fridge for when parked - any ideas?
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Fit 12v fans in the vents. They make a real difference to the performance of the fridge. We fitted to top vent and they draw the hot air out.
61EECEC1-A2B7-4C7F-94DB-9D5925CECA8D.jpeg
 
Riverbankannie said:
Fit 12v fans in the vents. They make a real difference to the performance of the fridge. We fitted to top vent and they draw the hot air out.
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That looks a great idea, I will certainly investigate further, thanks for sharing 👍

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Depends how hot your awning gets with the heater on.
The fridge can only cool to a certain level below ambient temperature.
If it’s too hot outside it will struggle to keep cool.
Fit a fan to the top vent
 
Sorry, not ‘hiding behind my keyboard’.
I’m sure there are many issues for having a fan heater on in the awning.
I am not a very fit person-we all have our own issues-but I still can’t justify a heater in an awning!
Personally if I’m cold I stay in the van!
 
Shrimp said:
Sorry, not ‘hiding behind my keyboard’.
I’m sure there are many issues for having a fan heater on in the awning.
I am not a very fit person-we all have our own issues-but I still can’t justify a heater in an awning!
Personally if I’m cold I stay in the van!
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