Gap around fridge.

[Oisin]

Hi all..

So whilst away in Thurso before xmas in the cold spell we noticed van temps would drop quickly and draughts around the fridge,,upon closer inspection with a torch shone from outside we have found that we can see the out!!!
Guessing this means our fridge has been taken out (previous) owners and not correctly fitted?

So what do we do? does this need to go in for specialist gas line removed fridge taken out and a surround installed? Who do we take this to?
Just need the van long period winter ready tho it was minus 10 in Thurso on a cold surf trip...

Thanks for your help

Oisin

 

[Ingwe]

We also have a draught under the fridge but I read somewhere (can’t immediately recall where) that this isn’t a fault or poor fitting but necessary. We use a bit of carpet to cut out some of the draught. It’s usually me who suffers most when making the early morning coffees whilst SWMBO is still snuggled up in her warm pit.

 

[St3v3]

This can be really dodgy, allowing fumes (potentially carbon monoxide - deadly) into the van. At the very least I would find installation instructions for your particular fridge and see what it says about it having to be sealed or not.

 

[Speve]

It should have the back of the fridge totally isolated from the inside. If you post a few photos we may be able to suggest some solutions for you
is it a Roller team ?

 

[Stealaway]

I have this metal lined vent directly under my fridge - I've yet to find a reason for it.
I did use it to get the white wire into the van.
I'm just in the middle of fitting a steel mesh to stop mice using it.

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[peterc10]

I have this metal lined vent directly under my fridge - I've yet to find a reason for it.
I did use it to get the white wire into the van.
I'm just in the middle of fitting a steel mesh to stop mice using it.

View attachment 704322

Probably a gas drop out vent. LPG is heavier than air so this allows any leak to vent out.

 

[Two on Tour]

I have this metal lined vent directly under my fridge - I've yet to find a reason for it.
I did use it to get the white wire into the van.
I'm just in the middle of fitting a steel mesh to stop mice using it.

View attachment 704322

The same reason that you have a vent in the floor of a gas cupboard, LPG is heaver than air, so any gas leakage it will allow the gas to escape rather than build up followed by a big bang.

Edit: Dam you peterc10, quicker on your keyboard that my one-finger typing.

 

[namwaldog]

I would find installation instructions for your particular fridge

There are a set of Installation Instructions for Dometic 8xxx series in the Resources Section.......

Dometic 8xxx series Installation Manual

PDF file showing how to install and connect Dometic Fridges.... RMD 8501 RMD 8505 RMD 8551 RMD 8555

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Figaro]

When I removed the fridge from my Hymer it had foam draught excluder between the fridge and the cabinets at the rear. I suspect this was fitted as the cabinets were installed around it as the gap was too small to slide it in.
I ended up using aluminum foil tape to seal. It's self adhesive and once stuck down it stays there. Seems to work well

 

[Oisin]

Thanks for all replies.

Since getting home we have found scares on timber surround of the fridge(carpenters use wax crayon to cover timber damage!!)
So we sure fridge been out of the unit,
Gaps are down the side of fridge not at the bottom. this where we can see torch light at night.
Vehicle is Carthago.-Speve
We are concerned as we fitted Max air fans so when pulling air out we are concerned about pulling gas fumes into the van.-ST3V3

Thanks all

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[Fdhadi]

Would winter vent covers not help this time of the year?

 

[peterc10]

Edit: Dam you peterc10, quicker on your keyboard that my one-finger typing.

I am one finger typing in Spain!

 

[Stealaway]

The same reason that you have a vent in the floor of a gas cupboard, LPG is heaver than air, so any gas leakage it will allow the gas to escape rather than build up followed by a big bang.

Edit: Dam you peterc10, quicker on your keyboard that my one-finger typing.

That sounds feasible but any gas dripping from the fridge would fill up the drawer fitted above the vent first See the drawer runners

There is no gas - only refrigerant going to drip from the fridge that's all at the back in a sealed compartment.

 

[Two on Tour]

That sounds feasible but any gas dripping from the fridge would fill up the drawer fitted above the vent first See the drawer runners

Let's get serious here, we talking about motorhome manufacturer's logic.

 

[bigtwin]

The inside of the van should be sealed from the back of the fridge. If there are gaps/draughts coming from around the perimeter of the fridge then they need sealing up.

Ian

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[bigwood]

There is a draft above the fridge on our motorhome were the slide out worktop is fitted. I have tried a couple of times to find the gap. The best solution I have found is to drape the pot cloth over the edge of the work top.
Being a rear lounge with the heater between us and the fridge you only notice the draft on the way to the toilet.

 

[donkey]

I have had to remove every one of the fridges in my previous motorhomes. The manufacturers do not do an adequate job when it comes to 'room sealing' the fridge. As said, the space behind the fridge should be totally sealed from the habitation area. Normally a reasonably easy job to slide the fridge out, you will then find some bits of poorly fitted foam. Depending on the actual installation, you then need to decide the best method to re-seal, Self adhesive tape, self adhesive foam tape, backer rod, basically anything that creates a seal. You may need to re-position the fridge to within say 75mm of its final position before inserting the seal, then pushing finally home. Sounds a bit onerous but really not that hard a job, however, I do appreciate that in some vans it may be a tad difficult due to lack of room inside the vehicle.
By the way this does not apply to compressor fridges, which are not required to be 'room sealed'

Geoff

 

[TUCANO]

After a temporary fix two years ago, with masking tape, I finally got around to a more permanent fix of this same issue in my van a couple of days ago. The masking tape was a right pain to get off as the top of the tape separated from the sticky section, replaced with woven black plastic tape, called Advance, looks much better although to be honest the masking tape was efficient at cutting the draughts down, I simply wanted a better looking finish.
Would have been easier if I had removed the fridge door but didn't want to get that involved.

 

[Terry]

Fridge should be totally sealed to stop gas fumes getting into living area. You can seal it from the front if you want if you cannot get at the rear. Use pipe lagging foam cut in half and push it in from front. Use a scraper etc to shove it 3or 4 inch back out of sight. Don’t forget seal all way round

 

[autorouter]

We also have a draught under the fridge but I read somewhere (can’t immediately recall where) that this isn’t a fault or poor fitting but necessary. We use a bit of carpet to cut out some of the draught.

Might be worth explicitly stating the reason for sealing behind the fridge.

Compare a Truma heater. It has a double flue, the incoming air from the outside is drawn in through the outside pipe, the exhaust fumes go out through the centre pipe, the combustion airflow is totally sealed from the interior of the motorhome. The entire combustion process is room-sealed by design.

A fridge using gas has a burner which takes in air from around the base of the fridge. The exhaust gas goes out through a flue pipe which is not usually sealed around its exit. The combustion process is not room-sealed by design. In some circumstances the exhaust gas can go out through the burner air inlet to some extent. Partially blocked flue, air pressure due to wind etc.

In order to stop those exhaust gases entering the habitation area, the whole back of the fridge needs to be sealed from the habitation area. Since the fridge is usually built into a close-fitting cupboard, often foam sealing around the edge of the fridge is all that is required.

Since the back of the fridge is sealed to the interior, it needs vents in the external wall to allow air in. These vents also allow in air to cool the hot coolant circuit.

If there is any kind of draught around the fridge from the outside into the habitation area, that indicates there is a route through for the exhaust fumes. It is a danger sign that should be addressed with high priority.

As a bonus, the room sealing also stops any draughts.

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[peterc10]

The fridge in our Hymer has been sealed at the back with a large bead of mastic all the way round. It was obviously done before the outer wall was fitted and much of it is now inaccesable. Hope I never have to take the fridge out.

 

[Figaro]

Probably also worth mentioning as a reminder the importance of a working CO (carbon monoxide) alarm to alert you if exhaust fumes do enter the hab area.

 

[Terry]

Probably also worth mentioning as a reminder the importance of a working CO (carbon monoxide) alarm to alert you if exhaust fumes do enter the hab area.

Also where you position said alarm. No good high up on roof. It needs to be around sleeping head height.

 

[Ingwe]

SWMBO points out that the draught is not actually from under the fridge but from the space under the oven and comes from air vents in the floor. Just above the vent is the gas manifold (taps for turning on the gas supply for the stove, oven grill etc). The fridge itself, to the left of the stove etc, is tightly packed into its space and there is no draft emanating from there. And we do have a working carbon monoxide meter as well as a FireAngel smoke alarm both checked during the recent habitation check.