Help fridge not working (1 Viewer)

[Ali n Tim]

We have a Dometic 7 series AES fridge freezer.

Over the last few days the fridge has stopped working on gas but the freezer compartment is working ok which seems strange.

We have checked the burning chamber which is fine.

Any ideas?

 

[Just smiffy]

Where are you? Is it hot where you are? Do you have it turned up too much? These are some factors and I'm sure others will be along to give more...

 

[Badknee]

We have a Dometic 7 series AES fridge freezer.

Over the last few days the fridge has stopped working on gas but the freezer compartment is working ok which seems strange.

We have checked the burning chamber which is fine.

Any ideas?

When you find out give me a shout, ours is much the same. My first thought is the jet might be blocked slightly. That's my first job to check when I get back to use my compressor.

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[Ali n Tim]

Where are you? Is it hot where you are? Do you have it turned up too much? These are some factors and I'm sure others will be along to give more...

We are in Düsseldorf at the moment for the start of the Tour de France. So no not too hot! Have tried altering the temperature regulator but doesn't make any difference
What seems strange is that the freezer is working ok

 

[Ali n Tim]

When you find out give me a shout, ours is much the same. My first thought is the jet might be blocked slightly. That's my first job to check when I get back to use my compressor.

If the jet was slightly blocked would the flame still look ok? As you can tell we are completely ignorant about these things

 

[rosalan]

As fridge freezers are relatively simple i.e. put heat into the unit and generate cold. As this works with electricity, I am guessing that the gas jet requires attention to do its job.
Had the problem and called in a gas man who fitted a new jet and went away; job done. He cleaned out any dirt.

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[big map]

I hope you get it sorted, nothing worse than warm wine.

 

[Dazzlin]

We had the same guys. Flame looked ok, but....
Engineer fitted new gas burner - was like having a new fridge!!
Hope it's as simple as that.
Hope you are both well?

 

[EuroTrotters]

www.city-cooling.co.uk

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[Ali n Tim]

Thanks for all your input.

Having another look at the 'flame chamber' we realised that there are 2 jets, we assume one for the fridge and the other for the freezer, and it must be that the fridge one is not working. We did think about finding a service centre in France but having been ripped off once before when we had a problem with our boiler decided we would wait till be get back to UK at the end of July.

In the mean time as long as the freezer keeps going it does keep the temperature in the fridge to chill box level so should be able manage maybe shopping more often

@big map The wine maybe not as chilled as one would like but I maybe able to force it down

@Dazzlin We are both well thanks. Enjoying the new van (apart from the probs with the fridge). We are having another door cut into the other side of the garage. We installed the Fix-Fork system to secure the bikes but the problem with is that to get to the other side of the garage at least 2 of the bikes have to come out a real faff!! So should make things a lot easier.

Where are you two at the mo??

 

[Dazzlin]

Thanks for all your input.

@Dazzlin We are both well thanks. Enjoying the new van (apart from the probs with the fridge).

Where are you two at the mo??

Montreuil tonight, Cite Europe tomorrow then Canterbury on tuesday. Can't complain - left uk in sept so have to get stuff done again now!

Enjoy your van, drink gin with ice from the freezer and we will see you on the road.
D n L

 

[Duck Truck]

Bloody hell
ours is doing exactly the same thing
didnt realise they had two jets
I assumed it was the thermostat.
Will have a go at the jets when the crappy rainy weather in Wales stops peeing down
We need to heat up any drinks

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[funflair]

Bloody hell
ours is doing exactly the same thing
didnt realise they had two jets
I assumed it was the thermostat.
Will have a go at the jets when the crappy rainy weather in Wales stops peeing down
We need to heat up any drinks

Not really wishing to contradict the OP but our 7 series fridge has only one burner.

Martin

 

[timdownieuk]

Before doing anything to the jets, in my admittedly limited experience cleaning the chimney ought to be the first thing you do.

 

[Duck Truck]

Already cleaned the chimney a couple of weeks ago
if it's two jets that makes sense one is blocked
If it's one jet my guess it's a thermostat.

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[funflair]

It will be the burner that needs cleaning not the jet, but it's worth cracking the joint before the jet and making sure the pipe is clear as it collects rust from the steel pipe.

Martin

 

[Duck Truck]

Thanks Martin

 

[Duck Truck]

Finally narrowed it down
Fairly certain it's low on coolant
Does anyone KNOW if Dometic fridges can be re-gassed
Also what is the gas in them
and does the fridge have to be removed or left in situe.Also an estimated cost£
cheers
Kev

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[Duck Truck]

Ahh forgot to say
We are Down in Pembrokeshire
so anyone know of a company who could do the job
and if anyone can lend me the brass
Kev

 

[funflair]

If it's low on coolant it must have leaked as they are a sealed system as far as I know so a pretty good guess would be a NO to a refill.

Martin

 

[Duck Truck]

Thanks martin
just chatted with a guy near us
and he thinks there may be a blockage in the coolant line
so going to take it out invert it give it a shake.
and see if that clears anything
Put it back let it stand for a few hours then switch it on
Well we will if this Welsh rain lets up
Cheers
Kev

Will post if it works

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[Duck Truck]

still raining

 

[autorouter]

If it's low on coolant it must have leaked as they are a sealed system as far as I know so a pretty good guess would be a NO to a refill.

The system is sealed, and for absorption fridges the coolant is a mixture of different things. Each model has to have different but precise proportions of each component.

I know there are places in the US that re-gas them, but I don't know of any in UK or even Europe. So, yes, it can be done, but no, no-one can do it.

 

[Duck Truck]

Thanks
Update
Fairly certain it's a blockage in the coolant circulation
Raining all day yesterday
so didn't get chance to take it out and invert it.
Instead I tapped the cooling pipes on the rear of the fridge with a nylon hammer
This morning freezer much colder
and the fridge much cooler.
Going to take it out today and invert it.
Will keep you informed as to how easy it is to do
and the result.
Kev

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[Richard n Ann]

There's water in the system as one of the refrigerants so you can get rust flakes floating round and it can block at the U tube.
Although there is supposed to be a rust inhibitor too.
The U tube is usually at the left hand side of the condenser fins, 1/4" U bend pipe.

 

[Duck Truck]

Update
Disconnected the fridge managed to turn it upside down inside the van
Good job because it wouldn't fit through the door.
Gave it a good shake and tapped all the coolant pipes.
Left it for two hours upside down.
Then stood it upright and fitted it back into the housing and connected up
all the connections. And .............................................
..................................................................................
..................................................................................
..................................................................................
..................................................................................
..................................................................................
IT WORKS
good job as a replacement fridge is quoted at £1,100 +

So Inverting a fridge to get it working is not a rumour
Kev