Fridge Gas Burner - Event Date: 25 Feb 2016

Before you go to those extents, check your manual for cleaning instructions. It is not only a matter of brushing out the flue to remove built-up carbon, etc. The manual says to clean both the flue and burner. Contact cleaner is not what is recommended. Methanol (wood alcohol) followed by blowing it out with compressed air is what the manual specifies. It is likely that the burner is plugged.

I don't have our R-Pod here right now to look, but those holes are probably not fusible plugs. It would be the same as your backyard BBQ grill. After the gas escapes the jet/orfice, the holes allow the gas to mix with air. It then travels through the burner tube to the burner where it is ignited. If it is igniting at the two holes, then it is quite likely that the burner is plugged, and the gas/air mixture can't get through to burn in the correct location.

If you do not have the tools or expertise to disassemble the burner to clean it properly and to pressure test it once it is reassembled, you may wish to have this done by your RV service department. If it is done wrong, you could be setting yourself up for big trouble.

We're a bit familiar with this type of problem. When we picked up our R-Pod from the dealer in December, we had a week to get ready for a long first trip. The first night out, I tried to switch from 12V power to LP, only to have the refrigerator beep at me. After several attempts to restart, a friend and I removed the outside vent panels so we could see what was happening.

It turns out that mud dauber wasps had built a nest in the flue, preventing the flame from going in the right direction. Instead, it was shooting out backwards toward the wires, burning the insulation. We were not too far from the dealer at this point so we took it over. That is when they found the mud dauber nest. At first, they said it could have happened in the week we had the R-Pod. That did not make sense as it was December and we had a couple of hard freezes already. I am sure it happened while the R-Pod was sitting on their lot.

They cleared out the nest and ordered replacement parts. They recommended that we not use the LP part on our trip. We did have to use the LP part since we were dry camping across the country and needed the 12V power for other purposes. In spite of the insulation being blistered, it worked okay for the rest of our trip. Our R-Pod is at the dealer's shop where that has been repaired and we are waiting on parts for another repair. We should be able to pick it up next week.

While I might have been able to do this myself, it was a brand new R-Pod, so I wanted the dealer to take care of it. Also, like I mentioned, LP is nothing to play around with if you do not have the right tools or the understanding of what needs to be done. The manual would have given me the understanding, but not necessarily the tools.

I installed the Camco stainless steel screens on refrigerator, furnace, and water heater openings after we got back from our trip in January. I don't believe they will be able to get in now.

yes, those holes are supposed to be there.  The orifice inside the manifold is very delicate, so if you open it up only use the alcohol mentioned, and/or air.  No brushes, rags, etc.

I would take the gas line / burner off in one piece. Use a pipe cleaner to clean out the whole piece. I have had this happen in a previous trailer on a gas stove burner and fridge gas burner. It was caused by spider webs/ egg pouch.It's worth a try. The gas could not get through.