Anyone have any hints to keep the frost from building up in the freezer and back of frig? I know I have been spoiled over the years with a frost-free frig but it looks like I should defrost every couple weeks. Which, of course, I do. HAH !!!!
mcw50 said
08:14 PM Jul 21, 2007
Unfortunately, frost in the fridge is something most of us have to deal with. We try to park in sites where the afternoon sun is not on the fridge side of the coach (but that rarely happens and keep the awning out when possible, for shade, otherwise. We also try to always keep plenty of space for good air flow in the fridge...again, hard to do with a small fridge. We had one of those small fans for a couple years but the batteries always died, so we gave up. We tend to do major grocery shopping several weeks apart, so try to defrost while at the emptiest, and in spite of advice otherwise, my husband usually uses a hair dryer.
Mary
SKOOBDO said
10:22 PM Jul 21, 2007
There are these "Frost Free Mats" that are suppose to work. I'm going to buy one to check it out. They're not expensive but I had read somewhere that they work. So far, my freezer has only needed defrosted once every 8 months or so. A link is below.
Unless the coach has a frost free 'fridge in it, then it's just one of those things that you'll have to deal with. We prefer defrosting more often rather than waiting for a large frost build up. We watch the "fins" in the back of the 'fridge to decide when it's time to defrost (which is about every two or three months). We usually defrost in the morning while we are having coffee, that way it doesn't interfere with the rest of our day. Oh, the sacrifices we must make to live this lifestyle, but someone has to do it !!!
bjoyce said
11:06 AM Jul 22, 2007
The frost build-up should only need clearing about every few months, not weeks. You have an air leak somewhere that is letting moist air in. Use a dollar bill closed in the door seal, if it comes out easy that is where the seal is loose. The other place you could be leaking air is in the back of the fridge but an RV place would have to find that leak.
Luvglass said
11:46 PM Jul 22, 2007
Bill's comment on the air leak is right on. We've been out 18 months now and have only needed to defrost 3 times.
A great way to defrost is to use a hair dryer, it comes off in no time.
Fred
hogans1947 said
09:13 AM Jul 23, 2007
Thank you so much for all the helpful hints. What a great forum !!! Just did the dollar bill in the door trick and we lose so guess DH can add something else to his Honeydo list. My love and best wishes to all of you !! Brenda
Speedhitch said
05:27 PM Jul 26, 2007
I have a question. Why is it not good to use a hair dryer. I have never heard of that?
Jim01 said
05:57 PM Jul 26, 2007
I used to repair residential refrigerators and it was amazing how many people melted the plastic parts inside of their units. It's surprising just how quick those parts melt when exposed to the heat of a hair dryer or heat gun. I've also seen metal parts crack from the quick expansion caused by the sudden blast of hot air.
Set a pan of hot water inside of your fridge and save yourself a lot of expense.
-- Edited by Jim01 at 18:58, 2007-07-26
Speedhitch said
06:13 PM Jul 26, 2007
Thanks Jim01....that makes since. I will have to try the pan of hot water. Do you have to turn your unit off when you do that?
Jim01 said
07:06 PM Jul 26, 2007
Yes, you do need to turn the unit off. We carry a plastic cooler in our basement and use it as a storage box until we need it to hold food items from the fridge while defrosting. It doesn't take too long, and the food stays nice and cold.
RVDude said
11:57 AM Jul 27, 2007
A couple more 2 cents worth...
Aside from the potential melting or thermal shock of a hairdryer, an electric hairdryer and dripping water and puddles of water do NOT make good company. Heat (not boil - as boil can be too hot for most plastic refer walls/parts) water in pans and place under the fins.
There may be more involved in a manual defrost than just turning the refer off. Some refers have a "reduced frost" feature which is a thin tray placed under the entire length of the fins and the refer cycles the fins off to thaw (into that tray) every so often. Key point here is that on these units before you do a manual defrost make sure you go outside and open the access hatch and pull the drain hose coming from that fin mounted defrost tray out of the tiny little holding/evaporation pan back there and let the manual defrost water drain on the ground... Failing to do this will overflow that little pan in the back and deposit all your defrost water back in your rig.
Speedhitch said
03:28 PM Jul 27, 2007
Thanks RVDude I know what hose you are talking about. I think I will give it a try this weekend.
Luvglass said
06:05 PM Jul 27, 2007
Jim01 wrote:
I used to repair residential refrigerators and it was amazing how many people melted the plastic parts inside of their units. It's surprising just how quick those parts melt when exposed to the heat of a hair dryer or heat gun. I've also seen metal parts crack from the quick expansion caused by the sudden blast of hot air.
Set a pan of hot water inside of your fridge and save yourself a lot of expense.
Not to be picky, but there's a MAJOR difference between the 700 degree heat from a heat gun and the 125 degree heat of a hair dryer. I've never seen plastic that could be melted with a hair dryer.
If you can aim it at your skin it won't melt plastic nor thermal shock Aluminum.
Mary
There are these "Frost Free Mats" that are suppose to work. I'm going to buy one to check it out. They're not expensive but I had read somewhere that they work. So far, my freezer has only needed defrosted once every 8 months or so. A link is below.
http://www.harrietcarter.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/_/Anti-frost-Mat/productID/d23081b2-2280-4748-a1bb-10e0df1cb246/categoryID/e82f9654-6e99-4679-87d4-8372e3e88104/
What a great forum !!! Just did the dollar bill in the door trick and we lose so guess DH can add something else to his Honeydo list.
My love and best wishes to all of you !!
Brenda
Set a pan of hot water inside of your fridge and save yourself a lot of expense.
-- Edited by Jim01 at 18:58, 2007-07-26
Aside from the potential melting or thermal shock of a hairdryer, an electric hairdryer and dripping water and puddles of water do NOT make good company. Heat (not boil - as boil can be too hot for most plastic refer walls/parts) water in pans and place under the fins.
There may be more involved in a manual defrost than just turning the refer off. Some refers have a "reduced frost" feature which is a thin tray placed under the entire length of the fins and the refer cycles the fins off to thaw (into that tray) every so often. Key point here is that on these units before you do a manual defrost make sure you go outside and open the access hatch and pull the drain hose coming from that fin mounted defrost tray out of the tiny little holding/evaporation pan back there and let the manual defrost water drain on the ground... Failing to do this will overflow that little pan in the back and deposit all your defrost water back in your rig.