Fridge vent covers - necessary, worthwhile option or waste of money?

[Lot lover]

Are they worth ha

 

[Nigel Crompton]

Yes. Especially when washing the van and when parked ( as we do) on exposed windy headlands ...

 

[Lot lover]

Sorry about this, dibber trouble.

We live in SW ish France and spend 3 months of the winter in Portugal. The only time our MH is subjected to cold weather (when in use) is en route through even more southerly France, Spain and Portugal 5 or 6 nights each way. We usually park on sites so rarely use gas to run our fridge.

I have always considered these vent covers to be a waste but some kind person has filled my wife's head with doubts and I have to dispel them or not.

FWIW there is a cooling fan which takes excessive heat away from the hot area of the fridge, in theory anyway.

Thanks in advance, I know that you will know.

 

[Lenny HB]

Always fit them when the van is on the drive stops a lot of crap getting in. Also as said they should always be fitted if washing with a hose.
In use I only fit the bottom one when it's very cold.

 

[Gellyneck]

We've got them but only used them once as they seem to impact the cooling performance of the freezer \ fridge.

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[Two on Tour]

An absorption fridge works by heating the fluid in the system to a certain temperature range for it to work and the problem can be that when it is a very cold outside air temperature that stops the heating of the fluid reaching that temperature range, so by fitting the vent covers it restricts the amount of cold air coming in so allowing the heat to build, but as Lenny said it's likely you will only need to use the bottom vent cover.

 

[63720]

We've got them but only used them once as they seem to impact the cooling performance of the freezer \ fridge.

Agreed. I put them on according to the handbook and the freezer defrosted probably because the heat couldn't get away. I now only use them when cleaning the van.

 

[Reallyretired]

I have two, one goes on the bottom fridge vent if its very cold (rarely) and the other on the identical vent for the oven which otherwise lets in a chilly draught (more often).

 

[Minxy]

Our Carthago has just one large wall vent at the bottom of the fridge with a roof vent in place of the upper wall one. The winter cover is one that goes inside the vent cover rather than over it but I don't know whether we'll need to use it normally but I'll keep it in the MH just in case we get stuck at the top of a mountain in a snow storm (yes it's happened before now!).

 

[AMK]

Anyone know what the official recommendation are for using the fridge on gas with the vents on.

Both vents on or only the bottom, or only the top.

What do the manufacturers say.

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[Charlie9038]

Not the top it will melt. I only put the bottom one on when brass monkeys below 5 degrees.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Anyone know what the official recommendation are for using the fridge on gas with the vents on.

Both vents on or only the bottom, or only the top.

What do the manufacturers say.

If I remember correctly the manual says when below 10°c

 

[Tanya_and_Mick]

We were at Chatsworth one winter at -4 and they worked a treat: however, we typically use them when the van is in storage or in transit to stop a lot of crap getting in.....

 

[Charlie9038]

Ok so i wasn’t going to get too technical on this but just had a look at the climate class of my fridge which states “SN” which means +10 degrees. So the theory is below 10 degrees the fridge wont work, thats when you need to fit The covers, but if using gas not the top one, trust me it melts ?

 

[jezport]

In windy weather it stops the gas blowing out with the lower cover on. In really cold weather with helps with the operation of the fridge.

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[Lot lover]

Thank you for all your input (I do not want to appear rude).

Will search for user handbook to determine model number (Electrolux) and then search for cover(s) online.