Three way fridges annual service required?

[Conal]

Reading December 2018 issue of the Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine, on page 92 there is an article by Sammy Faircloth which states that an annual service is essential for modern three way fridges (absorption fridges). The article then says that removal for servicing is not always easy.
Sammy says that this is not included in the habitation service.
Is an annual service essential? If, so does the fridge have to be removed? The article says that fridge manufacturers recommend annual services but we have never “serviced” our home fridge or freezer.
Our Motorhome is now over two years old so I would appreciate some advice.
Conal

 

[robnchris]

Ours is 6 yrs old and runs perfectly with no worries, never been serviced.

 

[Jaws]

You really need to make sure the flue is not sooted up, and the burner jets are clean and clear
The second item is particularly important if you use auto LPG ( refillable gas tanks ) as auto gas has a lubricant component ( negligible but is there ) which can and does block the burner
I remove ours to clean it as it is easier.

A fiddly job but you def do not need to remove the fridge/freezer to do it
A lot of fridges have a small ( tiny ! ) restrictor in the feed to the burner. I use a carburettor jet pick to clean my one out

I have found this only needs to be done after two or three years.
Unless you are full timing and on gas an awful long time that should be quite sufficient
We are always on gas, are fairly heavy users of the m/h yet fond the three year service interval adequate
The average user might be in the van and on gas for maybe 10 or 12 weeks a year ( we are in the van about 26 weeks in total ) so a yearly clean up I would say is a bit OTT bordering on OCD

 

[Sundowners]

My honest view is "leave well alone"------- if is working well now and you get it serviced it may not run so well when you get it back!!!!!!!
These fridges are different to your compressor fridge at home though, it will eventually need a new jet or a clean out and maybe the flue cleaning out, after many years of use rust can drop down the flue onto the burner and it will not work as well!! And like anything running on gas care must be taken of the pipework!!

 

[Conal]

Thanks for the replies. We use bottles LPG so will be aware of the possibility of the burner being blocked. Other than that we will leave well alone.

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[GWAYGWAY]

Mine has to come out as they makers made the flue outlet so low down the bodywork it is impossible to reach it in the gap laft. The exhaust is so low that it must vent into the space and not by the vent covers about 10 inches away from the hole itself.. Stupid idea to do that, I did fit a fan on the vent though to clear the area of exhaust gases.

 

[Eggs]

Mine is the same, a right pain as I have to remove a cupboard side panel and a worktop to get the fridge out.

 

[rosalan]

For the last few years, during summertime in southern Spain, we have had problems getting the fridge cold or even cool enough for its purpose. So have ended up visiting Dometic agents with various results. The main agent in Puerto Santa Maria pointed out that at 35c what could we expect. Two others were too busy to help. Hispavan near Vera took the jets to pieces cleaned and put them back, after which it worked perfectly. My van was 8 years old then and had not been touched before. This year it failed again to stay cold and Hispavan fitted a twin fan inside the top vent.
My fridge/freezer now works well.
Story is that occasional cleaning should keep it fit for years. I use Autogas and have not had any problems with it gluing up.
You may or may not need to remove your Fridge, this depends on the vans design, I do not need to remove mine.
If possible, get it serviced by a competent gas fitter before travelling abroad, if you need to, for then you can pick and choose when you want it done.
Finally, when it is really hot outside, turn the fridge thermostat half way down. Which I only learnt to do the hard way.

 

[Eggs]

Getting anyone to look at my van has proved impossible, everyone I"be spoken to has said they aren't interested when I tell them it's a self build. I really could do finding some one In Suffolk, South Norfolk or North Essex to look at a few jobs.

 

[Jaws]

Getting anyone to look at my van has proved impossible, everyone I"be spoken to has said they aren't interested when I tell them it's a self build. I really could do finding some one In Suffolk, South Norfolk or North Essex to look at a few jobs.

Happy to help but not at this time of year.. too busy and too cold !

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[Xabia]

I have fitted an Inkbird thermostat, wired to two external fans, with the sensor placed inside the fridge. The thermostat allows you to set the maximum temperature that you want the fridge to operate at and as soon as that level is reached the fan is switched on.

Coming back from Spain recently it worked perfectly keeping insulin within required parameters.

 

[Eggs]

Happy to help but not at this time of year.. too busy and too cold !

That's very good of you. I believe you're in the Thetford area, is that correct? I'd like the electrics between the leisure batteries and the Zig unit looking at as they are like a spiders web, also the fridge and propex checking over. No rush, please let me know when you could have a look.
Thank you.

 

[mojo]

Getting anyone to look at my van has proved impossible, everyone I"be spoken to has said they aren't interested when I tell them it's a self build. I really could do finding some one In Suffolk, South Norfolk or North Essex to look at a few jobs.

I used a guy in Cold Norton,Essex.He comes to you.Does all jobs and gas.Prob is I am in America at moment,can not remember the company name.Can you do a search in that area.Caravan habitation service might work.

 

[DBK]

Getting anyone to look at my van has proved impossible, everyone I"be spoken to has said they aren't interested when I tell them it's a self build. I really could do finding some one In Suffolk, South Norfolk or North Essex to look at a few jobs.

If it is a self build by you then I don't see a problem. Dropping the burner and cleaning the flue isn't difficult once you have access.

 

[Jaws]

That's very good of you. I believe you're in the Thetford area, is that correct? I'd like the electrics between the leisure batteries and the Zig unit looking at as they are like a spiders web, also the fridge and propex checking over. No rush, please let me know when you could have a look.
Thank you.

Will be about April when I get home from Spain

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[Eggs]

Will be about April when I get home from Spain

That's fine, everything is working just needs tidying up and checking.

Thanks again, and have a good holiday.

 

[Eggs]

If it is a self build by you then I don't see a problem. Dropping the burner and cleaning the flue isn't difficult once you have access.

I'm not sure I'd like to mess with the the fridge because at the moment it's on running on gas, I'll leave it to someone that knows what they are doing, and watch and learn for next time.

 

[rosalan]

I could be wrong but I thought that gas in a self build had to be certified for insurance purposes.

 

[Jaws]

I could be wrong but I thought that gas in a self build had to be certified for insurance purposes.

Nope.. the rules pertaining to LPG in mobile applications are completely different
Darrell ( my son and a member of Fun when he thinks about renewing ! ) is a gas engineer.
He has all the certificates ( inc LPG which he has JUST renewed along with his other certificates for another five years *) and was shocked when he found out it is not controlled in auto apps

*2 weeks of exams, swotting, lord know how much in fees, and he had to correct one of the questions ! He got a letter a couple of weeks ago thanking him for the correction LOL!!!

 

[Mikeco]

I could be wrong but I thought that gas in a self build had to be certified for insurance purposes.

All the insurance companies that I have used have never asked for them but I do wonder what would happen if you made a claim would could be attributed to the gas or electrical installation. For that reason I had mine checked out for both gas and electric and certificates obtained.
Just had a thought and realised that I keep them in the van so I will take a picture of them.

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[rosalan]

Basildog, you are so right! I missed it.