I am going to be heading off for some extended touring in approximately three months time and have been going through a few things on my checklist.
I have a Dometic three way fridge in the van and (touch wood) I have had no issues with it so far. It is approximately nine years old and I was wondering if anyone has had their fridge serviced as a precautionary step. I don't want to be out the back of Oonygallarby and have trouble with it.
Would a fridge repairman be able to do something like this or given that it also has a gas component would this be a whole different procedure.
PeterInSa said
04:55 PM Apr 12, 2022
I suggest you have the jet cleaned, blow out the carbon/rust in/on the burner, have the regulator changed along with the hoses to the gas bottles.
The LPG man may also suggest blowing out the gas lines from the regulator to the Frig an an...
-- Edited by PeterInSa on Tuesday 12th of April 2022 04:57:46 PM
kgarnett said
04:56 PM Apr 12, 2022
You could try this company in South Lismore (assuming they are above water)
As the owner of a Dometic fridge over the past 12 years I would recommend leaving it alone if its working OK.
A case of "if its not broken don't try fixing it".
DMaxer said
06:23 AM Apr 13, 2022
That is the conundrum of all things mechanical. Whenever I have had anything that has given up the ghost it is usually because it was not properly maintained. Whenever I have maintained things that have been working well they end up having issues.
That company you suggested kgarnett is very good. I remember when I had trouble with a fitting that needed replacing during the Xmas New Year break, the owner came into town and unlocked his workshop to supply it for me. It was just a little plastic thing for the HWS that cost a few dollars but he didn't mind. Had a bit of a yarn with me and told me that things happen in holiday periods and he doesn't mind helping someone out.
I hope he got through the flood ok as he and his wife are good people.
Phlipper said
08:46 AM Apr 13, 2022
86GTS wrote:
As the owner of a Dometic fridge over the past 12 years I would recommend leaving it alone if its working OK. A case of "if its not broken don't try fixing it".
Have to agree with that, my Jayco Finch camper's fridge worked faultlessly for 16yrs , still working fine when I traded it in. Mt current Jayco Freedom Dometic fridge is now 1r yrs old and still going well
Mike Harding said
09:33 AM Apr 13, 2022
The only thing which can usefully be serviced in a three-way fridge is the gas aspect.
The servicing for this consists of cleaning gas jets and pipes (fine) and the burner and flu (not so fine).
Your fridge is nine years old and is a happy little bunny, all the muck and grot in its gas jets and flu is solid, content and stable muck and grot. If someone goes messing with it by poking flu brushes and vacuum cleaners in there it will all be disturbed. Now most of the m&g will be cleaned out by this process but *some* won't, instead it will be dislodged just enough to make it unhappy m&g but not enough to dislodge it for removal by the vacuum cleaner.
After this process you'll set off on your journey bouncing your caravan (and fridge) around and it is very possible some of that residual m&g will take this as a hint to fall off the wall of the flu and land right on top of the gas burner thus putting the flame out and making your beer cold... a fitting vengeance for it's lost friends you caused to perish.
Me? I'd leave it alone until it failed or its cooling ability, on gas, diminished significantly.
yobarr said
10:24 AM Apr 13, 2022
Mike Harding wrote:
The only thing which can usefully be serviced in a three-way fridge is the gas aspect.
The servicing for this consists of cleaning gas jets and pipes (fine) and the burner and flu (not so fine).
Your fridge is nine years old and is a happy little bunny, all the muck and grot in its gas jets and flu is solid, content and stable muck and grot. If someone goes messing with it by poking flu brushes and vacuum cleaners in there it will all be disturbed. Now most of the m&g will be cleaned out by this process but *some* won't, instead it will be dislodged just enough to make it unhappy m&g but not enough to dislodge it for removal by the vacuum cleaner.
After this process you'll set off on your journey bouncing your caravan (and fridge) around and it is very possible some of that residual m&g will take this as a hint to fall off the wall of the flu and land right on top of the gas burner thus putting the flame out and making your beer cold... a fitting vengeance for it's lost friends you caused to perish.
Me? I'd leave it alone until it failed or its cooling ability, on gas, diminished significantly.
Great advice Mike. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". Cheers
DMaxer said
12:16 PM Apr 13, 2022
And it came to pass, that after he heard the wise counsel of the elders, he went forth to all parts of the land, after doing nothing to his fridge, that had served him well. Amen!
Good advice, if it ain't broke, you know the rest. Thanks for that.
PeterInSa said
03:15 PM Apr 13, 2022
Around 4 years ago around 600Km North East Of Kalgoorlie our 3 way frig had a partly block regulator, at the time in reasonable hot weather and the frig could not take it, then there was short cold spell and regulator supplies were in short supply, even in Kal. So started up the generator to keep the frig cool.
I phoned around, Wiluna, Laverton, Lennister and Laverton, finally got onto a tech at a mine site halfway between Lennister and Leonora who had one and was prepared to install it, a 300Km+ round trip and it was fixed, better than a trip to Kal with the caravan in tow.
The info on the flexible connecting tubes from the Gas bottle to regulator say change them every 4 or 5 years. The Gunk/crap in the LPG gas bottles only see my regulators (Caravan,Sprinter Campervan) last around 4 or 5 years, but it also probably depends on how much use use the gas Frig/stove/HWS.
I am going to be heading off for some extended touring in approximately three months time and have been going through a few things on my checklist.
I have a Dometic three way fridge in the van and (touch wood) I have had no issues with it so far. It is approximately nine years old and I was wondering if anyone has had their fridge serviced as a precautionary step. I don't want to be out the back of Oonygallarby and have trouble with it.
Would a fridge repairman be able to do something like this or given that it also has a gas component would this be a whole different procedure.
I suggest you have the jet cleaned, blow out the carbon/rust in/on the burner, have the regulator changed along with the hoses to the gas bottles.
The LPG man may also suggest blowing out the gas lines from the regulator to the Frig an an...
-- Edited by PeterInSa on Tuesday 12th of April 2022 04:57:46 PM
You could try this company in South Lismore (assuming they are above water)
https://www.hornsgasservice.com.au/gas-refridgeration (sic)
Ken
Good information there.
A case of "if its not broken don't try fixing it".
That is the conundrum of all things mechanical. Whenever I have had anything that has given up the ghost it is usually because it was not properly maintained. Whenever I have maintained things that have been working well they end up having issues.
That company you suggested kgarnett is very good. I remember when I had trouble with a fitting that needed replacing during the Xmas New Year break, the owner came into town and unlocked his workshop to supply it for me. It was just a little plastic thing for the HWS that cost a few dollars but he didn't mind. Had a bit of a yarn with me and told me that things happen in holiday periods and he doesn't mind helping someone out.
I hope he got through the flood ok as he and his wife are good people.
Have to agree with that, my Jayco Finch camper's fridge worked faultlessly for 16yrs , still working fine when I traded it in. Mt current Jayco Freedom Dometic fridge is now 1r yrs old and still going well
The only thing which can usefully be serviced in a three-way fridge is the gas aspect.
The servicing for this consists of cleaning gas jets and pipes (fine) and the burner and flu (not so fine).
Your fridge is nine years old and is a happy little bunny, all the muck and grot in its gas jets and flu is solid, content and stable muck and grot. If someone goes messing with it by poking flu brushes and vacuum cleaners in there it will all be disturbed. Now most of the m&g will be cleaned out by this process but *some* won't, instead it will be dislodged just enough to make it unhappy m&g but not enough to dislodge it for removal by the vacuum cleaner.
After this process you'll set off on your journey bouncing your caravan (and fridge) around and it is very possible some of that residual m&g will take this as a hint to fall off the wall of the flu and land right on top of the gas burner thus putting the flame out and making your beer cold... a fitting vengeance for it's lost friends you caused to perish.
Me? I'd leave it alone until it failed or its cooling ability, on gas, diminished significantly.
Great advice Mike. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". Cheers
And it came to pass, that after he heard the wise counsel of the elders, he went forth to all parts of the land, after doing nothing to his fridge, that had served him well. Amen!
Good advice, if it ain't broke, you know the rest. Thanks for that.
I phoned around, Wiluna, Laverton, Lennister and Laverton, finally got onto a tech at a mine site halfway between Lennister and Leonora who had one and was prepared to install it, a 300Km+ round trip and it was fixed, better than a trip to Kal with the caravan in tow.
The info on the flexible connecting tubes from the Gas bottle to regulator say change them every 4 or 5 years. The Gunk/crap in the LPG gas bottles only see my regulators (Caravan,Sprinter Campervan) last around 4 or 5 years, but it also probably depends on how much use use the gas Frig/stove/HWS.
But if you don't go remote " If it ain't..."