Refrigerator icing - R-pod Owners Forum

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Joined: 22 Sep 2011
Location: Chapel Hill,NC
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Posts: 1078

Topic: Refrigerator icing
Posted: 01 Aug 2017 at 11:12pm

Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179

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Joined: 22 Sep 2011
Location: Chapel Hill,NC
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Posted: 01 Aug 2017 at 11:23pm

We are traveling and are having some refrigerator difficulties.

Our refrigerator is icing up inside onthe right side of the interior fins. Approximately half of the interior fins are icing. The refrigerator and freezer seem to be working ok, but now the temps are rising in the fridge-the freezer seems to be working fine. We have tried to chip away as much of the ice as possible. The thermister has been moved around during our travels and is currently about one half inch from the top of the second fin from the left.

Where we have been, the outside temperatures have ranged from 80-100 daytime and 60-65 at night. We are operating on propane all the time and I have cleaned the burner several times. I think we have a good, solid blue flame.

I know the fridge is not good for more than about 40-45 degrees below outside temps, but we haven't had this icing issue previously.

We would appreciate any advice.

Thanks

Vann

Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179

furpod

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Posted: 02 Aug 2017 at 7:04am

Make sure the door is sealing good. In general, that kind of icing is driven by humidity and an air leak.

StephenH

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Joined: 29 Nov 2015
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Posted: 02 Aug 2017 at 8:28am

Also, installing a fan on the inside may help by circulating the air. You can use one of the free-standing ones or one that clips to the fins. I have one mounted in the center. This is the one I have. I tried this one, but did not think it did an adequate job as it did not seem to have enough force to effectively move air.

StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

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Joined: 26 Dec 2014
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Posted: 02 Aug 2017 at 3:49pm

Vann, you and Laura are experienced campers, so no teaching here.

On my June trip to PA and NY, I had the same problem, but never before. I believe it was humidity getting in when I frequently opened the door. I always carry a cooler, so was able to defrost. I'm afraid to chip away ice, except perhaps very gingerly, as the aluminum fins are quite fragile. Going to Franklin for the meteor shower in a couple of weeks, so will report if something happens differently.

Best regards, Jim
2015-RP178
TV 2015 Audi Q7 TDI and 2017 Ford F150
At home in "Our Pod"

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Posted: 03 Aug 2017 at 12:00am

Thanks for the replies.

We are using an internal battery powered fan to circulate the interior air. I also have installed 2 12 volt computer fans that run all the time on the exterior.

I am a little dubious about moisture being the issue since we are in Idaho, Oregon and Washington where the outside temps are very high (over 100 every day)and humidity is almost non-existent.

I have taken apart the burner several times and cleaned it thoroughly. We left home on July 15, so have only been out for 2 weeks so far. We still have 2,5 months left on our trip, so am really hoping to find a solution. The refer is not holding temps very well overall.

Incidently, we toured the Forest River factory today in Dallas. Oregon. Unfortunately, they were making Surveyors and not R Pods. But still a very nice and informative tour. Having a residential construction background, I was very impressed with their systems and attention to detail.

We have one of the earlier R Pod. 173 with white cabinets and woodwork- the factory was impressed that we were still using our pod. It is a 2009 model and we guestimated that we have about 35,000 miles on it during our ownership( we are second owners after a very lightly used first owner).

We love our highly modified 173, but we are suffering badly from 179 envy!!

Travel safe

Vann

Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179

jato

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Joined: 23 Feb 2012
Location: Kewadin, MI
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Posted: 03 Aug 2017 at 7:31pm

Hi Vann

We have seen this problem caused by 2 different means. The first we have seen in other units and caused by what furpod addressed above. The second is one we experienced twice ourselves and was caused by my DW packing the fridge so tight with food, I don't think there was a square cm of wasted space, that the air was unable to circulate. As we used some food up and air space became more available, the problem ceased.

God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

spydie

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Joined: 25 Jul 2017
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Posted: 04 Aug 2017 at 12:03am

The Dometic service manual says to use a dollar bill to check the seal around door (I think a $100 bill will work also). Shut the door on it and make sure there is resistance to pulling it out on all four sides of the refer. Frost can only be caused by one thing... humidity. You can't have frost without it. It may be dry outside, but unless you have the windows open, the inside of RVs get humid just from our bodies respirating, cooking, showers, etc. Opening the door either has to be letting in humidity or else you have something in the refer that is not sealed and is moist. You GOTTA have humidity from some place.

2018 R-pod 176
2017 RAM 1500 5.7L Hemi

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Pod People Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Location: Chapel Hill,NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 1078	Topic: Refrigerator icing Posted: 01 Aug 2017 at 11:12pm

	Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179

Pod People Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Location: Chapel Hill,NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 1078	Posted: 01 Aug 2017 at 11:23pm
	We are traveling and are having some refrigerator difficulties. Our refrigerator is icing up inside onthe right side of the interior fins. Approximately half of the interior fins are icing. The refrigerator and freezer seem to be working ok, but now the temps are rising in the fridge-the freezer seems to be working fine. We have tried to chip away as much of the ice as possible. The thermister has been moved around during our travels and is currently about one half inch from the top of the second fin from the left. Where we have been, the outside temperatures have ranged from 80-100 daytime and 60-65 at night. We are operating on propane all the time and I have cleaned the burner several times. I think we have a good, solid blue flame. I know the fridge is not good for more than about 40-45 degrees below outside temps, but we haven't had this icing issue previously. We would appreciate any advice. Thanks Vann
	Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179

furpod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128	Posted: 02 Aug 2017 at 7:04am
	Make sure the door is sealing good. In general, that kind of icing is driven by humidity and an air leak.

StephenH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326	Posted: 02 Aug 2017 at 8:28am
	Also, installing a fan on the inside may help by circulating the air. You can use one of the free-standing ones or one that clips to the fins. I have one mounted in the center. This is the one I have. I tried this one, but did not think it did an adequate job as it did not seem to have enough force to effectively move air.
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Q7-retired Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 26 Dec 2014 Location: Pittsboro, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 100	Posted: 02 Aug 2017 at 3:49pm
	Vann, you and Laura are experienced campers, so no teaching here. On my June trip to PA and NY, I had the same problem, but never before. I believe it was humidity getting in when I frequently opened the door. I always carry a cooler, so was able to defrost. I'm afraid to chip away ice, except perhaps very gingerly, as the aluminum fins are quite fragile. Going to Franklin for the meteor shower in a couple of weeks, so will report if something happens differently.
	Best regards, Jim 2015-RP178 TV 2015 Audi Q7 TDI and 2017 Ford F150 At home in "Our Pod"

Pod People Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Location: Chapel Hill,NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 1078	Posted: 03 Aug 2017 at 12:00am
	Thanks for the replies. We are using an internal battery powered fan to circulate the interior air. I also have installed 2 12 volt computer fans that run all the time on the exterior. I am a little dubious about moisture being the issue since we are in Idaho, Oregon and Washington where the outside temps are very high (over 100 every day)and humidity is almost non-existent. I have taken apart the burner several times and cleaned it thoroughly. We left home on July 15, so have only been out for 2 weeks so far. We still have 2,5 months left on our trip, so am really hoping to find a solution. The refer is not holding temps very well overall. Incidently, we toured the Forest River factory today in Dallas. Oregon. Unfortunately, they were making Surveyors and not R Pods. But still a very nice and informative tour. Having a residential construction background, I was very impressed with their systems and attention to detail. We have one of the earlier R Pod. 173 with white cabinets and woodwork- the factory was impressed that we were still using our pod. It is a 2009 model and we guestimated that we have about 35,000 miles on it during our ownership( we are second owners after a very lightly used first owner). We love our highly modified 173, but we are suffering badly from 179 envy!! Travel safe Vann
	Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179

jato Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3257	Posted: 03 Aug 2017 at 7:31pm
	Hi Vann We have seen this problem caused by 2 different means. The first we have seen in other units and caused by what furpod addressed above. The second is one we experienced twice ourselves and was caused by my DW packing the fridge so tight with food, I don't think there was a square cm of wasted space, that the air was unable to circulate. As we used some food up and air space became more available, the problem ceased.
	God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

spydie Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25 Jul 2017 Location: New Mexico Online Status: Offline Posts: 159	Posted: 04 Aug 2017 at 12:03am
	The Dometic service manual says to use a dollar bill to check the seal around door (I think a $100 bill will work also). Shut the door on it and make sure there is resistance to pulling it out on all four sides of the refer. Frost can only be caused by one thing... humidity. You can't have frost without it. It may be dry outside, but unless you have the windows open, the inside of RVs get humid just from our bodies respirating, cooking, showers, etc. Opening the door either has to be letting in humidity or else you have something in the refer that is not sealed and is moist. You GOTTA have humidity from some place.
	2018 R-pod 176 2017 RAM 1500 5.7L Hemi