Do I need vents if....

[Cardiffboy]

If I get rid of my 3 way fridge ( which doesn't work on gas anyway)
Can I, internally, cover up the vents?

 

[PeterCarole29]

Do i assume you will fit a compresser fridge to replace
In theory you can but your new fridge will benifit from good cool ventilation to its compresor

 

[Carolyn and Kev]

As above....A Cool fridge will always work better for you.

 

[Bandos]

I have installed an additional fan to remove hot air away from the compressor. Helps a lot during hot months when the fridge can struggle to keep my beer cool!

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

There is a thread somewhere about a self build that has fanned the hot air from behind the compressor fridge to his van internal during the colder weather.

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[gus-lopez]

My 12volt fridge has a fan on the condenser as standard. When I fit it in place of the 3 way I will be leaving the double extract fans on the upper vent.

 

[Guigsy]

There is a thread somewhere about a self build that has fanned the hot air from behind the compressor fridge to his van internal during the colder weather.

I'm not sure which would be better. A fridge isn't that power hungry, so it won't be giving you much heat. Probably only 20 watts average. But if the back was vented against the cold outside, it wouldn't have to work as hard. So you'd probably reduce your power consumption.

 

[Cardiffboy]

Thanks guys, I don't have the vents that can be covered externally so it's a pain to unscrew them to stop the wind, very noticeable over the last 2 days, I think, as said I might cover the lower one permanently and leave the top one

 

[Cardiffboy]

Do i assume you will fit a compresser fridge to replace
In theory you can but your new fridge will benifit from good cool ventilation to its compresor

Yes, my plan is to get a compressor fridge

 

[Richard n Ann]

Mine are completely blanked off, let's face it you don't put a hole in your kitchen wall for the fridge at home.
I do take both covers off in Spain though.

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[Figaro]

Mine are completely blanked off, let's face it you don't put a hole in your kitchen wall for the fridge at home.
I do take both covers off in Spain though.

Just what I was thinking reading this.
We don't have fans to ventilate domestic fridges

 

[Cardiffboy]

Mine are completely blanked off, let's face it you don't put a hole in your kitchen wall for the fridge at home.
I do take both covers off in Spain though.

Thanks, I'm only using my van at the weekend at the moment so I'm in no rush to get a new fridge but it so windy

 

[PeterCarole29]

Mine are completely blanked off, let's face it you don't put a hole in your kitchen wall for the fridge at home.
I do take both covers off in Spain though.

No you don’t but you have ventilation all round and at the top
Generally Motorhomes have it a tight fit all round
You compressor fridge will be getting too hot fan will be cutting in too often

 

[PeterCarole29]

Thanks, I'm only using my van at the weekend at the moment so I'm in no rush to get a new fridge but it so

Just what I was thinking reading this.
We don't have fans to ventilate domestic fridges

If you look at any Dometic fitting instructions you should have through ventilation for compressor fridge
Just because people don’t doesn’t mean it’s not good practice

 

[Richard n Ann]

You compressor fridge will be getting too hot fan will be cutting in too often

I just can't imagine that, the small amount of heat collected from the evaporator will dissapate into the air and cabinet wood. The compressor is cooled by the condenser fan but also the cold vapour returning. The fan always runs with the compressor.

It's good that the condenser gets warm, if it's cold the head pressure is too low (you need a decent pressure to condense the refrigerant back to a liquid) some commercial systems switch the condenser fan off and on via a pressure switch in winter to keep the head pressure up.

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[Minxy]

One thing that could be an issue leaving the external vents 'open' if changing to a compressor fridge is that some of the earlier ones used to be very temperamental in cold weather and wouldn't work properly, in some cases the only way round it was to raise the internal temperature of the camper to keep it happy! Whether this is the same with more recent compressor fridges I don't know.

 

[PeterCarole29]

I just can't imagine that, the small amount of heat collected from the evaporator will dissapate into the air and cabinet wood. The compressor is cooled by the condenser fan but also the cold vapour returning. The fan always runs with the compressor.

It's good that the condenser gets warm, if it's cold the head pressure is too low (you need a decent pressure to condense the refrigerant back to a liquid) some commercial systems switch the condenser fan off and on via a pressure switch in winter to keep the head pressure up.

From experience from what I have seen several times the heat is stuck within the back of the cabinet the fridge walls are not very well insulated and it warms the fridge wall and is counter productive

 

[Tude]

The new morelo Motorhomes have compressor fridges they have no vents on the outside. When I fitted my Thetford compressor fridge freezer Thetford said totally block up your vents. Never had a problem even in 37degs

 

[L' Hobo]

There is a thread somewhere about a self build that has fanned the hot air from behind the compressor fridge to his van internal during the colder weather.

For safety reasons, I thought that the back of the fridge area was supposed to be completely sealed from the habitation area!

 

[PeterCarole29]

That’s gas fridges

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[PeterCarole29]

For safety reasons, I thought that the back of the fridge area was supposed to be completely sealed from the habitation area!

That’s gas fridges perfectly ok for compressor

 

[L' Hobo]

That’s gas fridges perfectly ok for compressor

That's what I thought after I had posted but I thought I would leave it up there for clarification incase it also involved the coolant agent in the pipes?

 

[Badknee]

Our Vantage doesn’t have any vents for our compressor fridge and it works fine.

 

[PeterCarole29]

Our Vantage doesn’t have any vents for our compressor fridge and it works fine.

For clarity you dont need external vents for a compressor fridge , you should have ventilation be it internal or extenal
For a gas fridge you need external ventilation be it at the back floor or roof or combination

 

[PeterE1947]

I have recently ditched our 3 way fridge for a VitriFrigo C115 fridge. The installation manual goes into great details concerning providing adequate ventilation for this fridge with warnings that it could overheat if good ventilation is not provided. The "normal" way to ventilate the fridge is to have side and lower venting to the van interior citing the "chimney effect" whatever that is. However,we have discovered that the original vents on the outside of the van are allowing a gale of cold air to enter the habitation area. Something to think about there!

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[PeterCarole29]

No you don’t but you have ventilation all round and at the top
Generally Motorhomes have it a tight fit all round
You compressor fridge will be getting too hot fan will be cutting in too often

That’s if you want your compressor fridge to run efficently

 

[gus-lopez]

We don't have fans to ventilate domestic fridges

I have 2 freezers & a fridge . This summer I had to have fans blowing on the condensers to assist evaporator cooling & stop them running 20 hours/day due to the heat.

 

[McLouis]

Mine are completely blanked off, let's face it you don't put a hole in your kitchen wall for the fridge at home.
I do take both covers off in Spain though.

I am planning on swapping my Thetford 3 way for the eqivilent compressor model and asked the Thetford engineer (who just happened to be on a stand at NEC show) the exact same question. His answer was OK to block off the vents with Selotex or similar and definitely not to mess with the new fridge air flow.

 

[Cardiffboy]

I am planning on swapping my Thetford 3 way for the eqivilent compressor model and asked the Thetford engineer (who just happened to be on a stand at NEC show) the exact same question. His answer was OK to block off the vents with Selotex or similar and definitely not to mess with the new fridge air flow.

Hi, is that going to be built in or free standing

 

[headlight]

Hi, is that going to be built in or free standing

I'd block both vents for now Lyn and see how the new fridge runs once it's installed.
Be easy enough to uncover 1 or both vents should you find you need to.

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