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Exterior refrigerator access panel

May 31, 2019, 05:13:54 am

Good morning,
I am looking at a coach that now has a residential refrigerator.
I see the panel is vented due to the gas that was being used. My question - is there a drain in that compartment for any water that might get inside from rain or washing the coach?

When I open the access panel now I see a piece of rigid insulation. Doesn't look like it's been sealed from the outside. Don't know what was done inside.

Thanks

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Re: Exterior refrigerator access panel

Reply #1 – May 31, 2019, 07:09:38 am

Lt403,  Unless you spray water up into the vent I have not had a problem with water intrusion.  I put a sliding door(ridged insulation)
behind assess panel so I could raise it in summer when parked to get more cooling to refrigerator but in winter or when running generator or aqua hot I can close it to keep fumes out of coach. The propane refrigerators are open in back but sealed up inside the coach to prevent Carbon Monoxide  from entering coach.
Chris

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Re: Exterior refrigerator access panel

Reply #2 – May 31, 2019, 08:09:23 am

The only drain that was visible when I did mine was the line to drain condensate from inside the refrigerator. I sealed that and installed an aluminum panel on the inside and then styrofoam insulation in the opening between the aluminium panel and the access door. I sealed the panel and the styrofoam peices. I also sealed the top opening. There is no seal at the front of my residental refrigerator between it and the cabinet and so I want everything sealed from the outside. My Samsung was designed to operate in an indoor environment and so that's what I provided for it.

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Re: Exterior refrigerator access panel

Reply #3 – May 31, 2019, 08:28:58 am

X3 what was said above.  Don't spray water directly upwards into the grill, and you'll have no worries.

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Re: Exterior refrigerator access panel

Reply #4 – May 31, 2019, 01:25:42 pm

Since this is a rv you do not own, and are considering, best not to worry about this until it is yours.  If you do end up owning this, place this on your list of items to research.  Best of luck in your search for your rv..

If you end up purchasing, the first item I would check is your install instructions for your particular refrigerator.  You may not need to leave rear and top vent open, depends on how unit was designed.  The bottom of my original rv refrigerator shelf was totally removed with no water drain present before or after that.  My residential refrigerator is designed to vent from below to the front for interior installation.

I have Samsung refrigerator (RF20HFENBSR) with outside access totally sealed.  I sealed mine with HVAC shiny foil tape, not concerned about insulation, just wanted to seal off outside airflow.  Have had this way one year with no problems.  Unit is designed for interior installation with venting from underneath front to the room. 

This is from install instructions:  (pdf below) 4. Allow 1" minimum clearance at rear for proper air circulation and water/electrical connections. Allow a 3/8" minimum clearance at sides and top for ease of installation.

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Re: Exterior refrigerator access panel

Reply #5 – May 31, 2019, 04:21:08 pm

thanks everyone

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Re: Exterior refrigerator access panel

Reply #6 – June 01, 2019, 07:30:07 pm

With our residential fridge, we left side and top vents open. We have a water alarm sensor (alarm control is inside kitchen) on bottom center near louvered panel and rain never gets into this area. We have also screened the inside of the louvers

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