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Air leaking around refrigerator cabinet

April 16, 2012, 12:32:14 am

I have found lots of material on "air leaks" on the forum, but can't seem to locate any discussion on air leaking around the refrigerator while the coach is in motion.  The leak is pretty much around the entire perimeter between the refrig.  and the wooden cabinet that it mounts in.  There appears to a black plastic "seal" of some sort, in the gap between the refrig. and the cabinet, but the gap is so large you can stuff toilet paper "wads" in it (we did that recently to keep our passenger from freezing when the outside air temp was about 34 degreees). I have never personally removed this refrig., or any another from a coach for that matter, but the previous owner's records show it was removed for some sort of repair and reinstalled.  I believe the refrig should fit tight against either the wooden cabinet or the "sealing strip", if that's what it is, but I have no idea where to start looking for bolts/screws, etc. to make that happen??  Can anyone start me on the right path?

Dan

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Re: Air leaking around refrigerator cabinet

Reply #1 – April 16, 2012, 03:01:07 am

Dan,
The fridge mounting I've seen is with screws that go outward through the sides of the fridge (outside the insulated part) into the wood cabinet frame (screws have their axis parallel to the face of the fridge).  There is usually a face frame that is steel and part of the fridge, which fits tightly against the cabinet frame.  Does it look like the fridge should be pushed into the cabinet further?  Maybe it was not reinstalled flush against the cabinet frame?  Can you take a picture of the gap and post it?

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Re: Air leaking around refrigerator cabinet

Reply #2 – April 16, 2012, 08:48:35 pm

I would think that you have a side by side dometic refrigerator. There 2 screws at the top and 2 at the bottom front and also should be 2 at the rear bottom that are access from the outside refer access door. remove the rear ones first, then you have to remove a panel abover the doors and should be a panel at the bottom front to remove and then remove those screws. You should be able to slide it the rest of the way in and then reinstall the mounting screws. On my 2003  the top inside screws were not holding into the wood above the refer and I had to get creative to get it secure and now no longer shakes around. While driving the top of ours would have a gap 3/8 to 1/2 inch, now no gap good luck Ron

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Re: Air leaking around refrigerator cabinet

Reply #3 – April 17, 2012, 12:24:13 am

Hi Dan,
I've the same issue.  Now that I know where the screws are, I'll give it a look when I can.  In my case, cold air comes between the Dometic frig and the pocket door to the bath.  I've seen 1.5 in. weather stripping used in other applications.  Anyone know if the frig install requires some sort of seal?

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Re: Air leaking around refrigerator cabinet

Reply #4 – April 17, 2012, 08:51:18 pm

there is a thin weatherstrip on the refer when it comes from dometic so should not need extra if it is installed tight against the wood

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Re: Air leaking around refrigerator cabinet

Reply #5 – April 17, 2012, 09:19:47 pm

We have that problem too. Glad to read here about what to do.

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