refrigerator woes

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refrigerator woes

June 03, 2014, 02:46:15 am

I had my refrigerator stop cooling, so called a mobile RV repair guy. One look, and he knew I needed a new cooling unit, which will be be ordered tomorrow. He left it semi running on ac.

Tonight, I heard a not good noise, went outside, and saw the area around the burner was on fire. Turning off the propane and ac didn't stop it, but the fire extinguiser did. Now I have the windows open and vent fans running to clear the ammonia fumes.

The big question, do I go ahead with the new cooling unit, possibly complicated with other damage, or put in a residential unit. If residential, which one?

Fortunately, the fire was limited to a fist size flame and no apparent damage otherwise.

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #1 – June 03, 2014, 04:21:54 am

I can't believe after that experience you would even have a question about what to install.
THANK GOD you were there to see what occurred!
ANY residential refrigerator is a great choice.

Here are some pictures of MY MOTORHOME after a refrigerator fire. Guess what I changed over too AFTER rebuilding. That is the OLD refrigerator laying on the sofa.
New Bosch counter depth in photo next to it. LOVE IT!

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #2 – June 03, 2014, 09:04:34 am

I was lucky last year when my Norcold died,no fire. I had MOT install a new Norcold on their recommendations that I did not have a large enough battery bank. However, I did have them install a fire suppression system on the new one. And if this one dies I will make appointment for FT to replace it with residential and added another battery bank. But would not buy the cooling system.

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #3 – June 03, 2014, 09:29:29 am

I broke/ruined my 95 model dometic 4804 refig. by running it in Walmart out of level. I replaced the cooling unit myself. it is easy to do. 4 screws on back, 4 screws inside of freezer, 2-3 electric plugs. You do have to pull the refig. out of the wall. The reman cooling unit comes with warranty. I like the 3 way operation(lp, 110ac, 12volt). As for the fire, you can have an electrical fire with 110ac also. The maintenance on the LP is easy also, 2-3 screws and a little compressed air to blow the unit out once a year. Fire hazard is also possible with the hot water heater, both central heat units, both roof a/c units.....

Stay with an RV refig.
Pat,

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #4 – June 03, 2014, 09:32:51 am

Oh My Gosh!

I think experience tells me to replace my unit with household unit probably Samsung when it goes. Will not go back to an rv type unit as they are so slow to
keep kool when opening the door in summer heat. Have chaney remotes on both the inside refrigerator and the fridge/freezer in the storage bay. This shows me that the one in the storage bay stays cooler when set to 35 degrees. So I keep backup milk etc there instead of in the fridge inside the coach. During the cool months the inside fridge is fine but during the hot summer it works hard to keep up. New technology allows the home style units to be used in motorhomes, so I would follow the trend.

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #5 – June 03, 2014, 10:06:16 am

go residential, pick one with the closest width to current, do not worry about height.

I like downsizing or removing Porpane tank (if aqua hot) and adding fourth battery

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #6 – June 03, 2014, 10:27:16 am

I added the extra battery and pulled the tank use an induction burner for the few times we use the stove. Love the residential and wish I had it sooner. Mine did not die but was 13 years old and I did not want it to die when I was using it.

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #7 – June 03, 2014, 12:07:20 pm

Quote from: John/Pat – June 03, 2014, 09:04:34 am

on their recommendations that I did not have a large enough battery bank.

John, I don't under stand that statement, I have a 97 270 with 2 AGM batteries, we dry camped at Atlanta Speedway for 5 days, no solar, 2 hrs a day for generator, alternator and inverter take care of it when on the road. Frigidaire 9.9 Cu.FT.

JMO

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #8 – June 03, 2014, 12:52:00 pm

Even my mobile RV repairs guy is surprised we had a fire running on ac. Should be no source of ignition.

I think having the insurance company involved might push me to rebuilding what I have, the damage looks to be limited to the cooling unit and some singed wood that I can smell. If I go this route, a fire suppression system will be added first thing.

Unfortunately, I don't know if insurance would want to pay for a different type of refrigerator, plus cabinet mods.

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #9 – June 03, 2014, 02:56:18 pm

Tom,

Insurance pays you money-does not tell you how or what to do with it to fix it. Your compensation is monetary nothing more.

No matter what you do, make sure you tell him you want "ORIGINAL" replacement standards @ Foretravel/MOT either they pay to fly an estimater to you or you drive there it is part of your coverage.

They make sure you pay the premium, now your claim needs to be treated fairly.

Look at it this way, if it is $4000 for the claim (betting its more) once you get the check if the estimater misses something it may be a fight to get it covered. If the frige and install is $4500 you just pay the extra and your deductible, that's it!

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #10 – June 03, 2014, 04:03:17 pm

Quote from: fouroureye – June 03, 2014, 02:56:18 pm

Tom,

Insurance pays you money-does not tell you how or what to do with it to fix it. Your compensation is monetary nothing more.

Look at it this way, if it is $4000 for the claim (betting its more) once you get the check if the estimater misses something it may be a fight to get it covered. If the frige and install is $4500 you just pay the extra and your deductible, that's it!

This was our experience with our roof claim in 2010. Our satellite dish was one of the damaged items and the base "remediation" was cost of replacement with new equivalent - another single LNB domed unit. We paid the difference in cost out of our pockets and had a Winegard Trav'ler installed instead.

Now, one key was having the adjuster who covers Nac and knows Foretravels redo the estimate - MOT worked with him and provided their estimate; he tweaked it just a little but agreed to all the issues they found (which was much more extensive than the initial adjuster's "report"). He also used their shop rate, not the $38/hour that the Dallas-area adjuster used when we initially filed the claim.

(P.S. No, we have no idea where the $38/hour shop is

)

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #11 – June 03, 2014, 04:09:59 pm

Sometimes, I think I'm talking to a wall. The only way to be sure your loved ones are safe is to take a little time and money to fireproof the refrigerator compartment if you have a RV style unit. Just not that hard to do. Imagine if Tom had not gone outside and seen the fire.

Here is the post again: Serious Issue - Fridge Fire

Glad to help if anyone has questions.

Pierce

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #12 – June 03, 2014, 05:22:54 pm

Quote from: Tom Lang – June 03, 2014, 02:46:15 am

The big question, do I go ahead with the new cooling unit, possibly complicated with other damage, or put in a residential unit. If residential, which one?

The industry has known about the dangers of absorption-type refrigerator fires for at least a decade and both Dometic and Norcold have had to recall models which were particularly susceptible to them.

You had a fire in your RV absorption-type refrigerator.

Why is this a big question?

Craig

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #13 – June 03, 2014, 05:37:03 pm

Quote from: Tom Lang – June 03, 2014, 12:52:00 pm

Even my mobile RV repairs guy is surprised we had a fire running on ac. Should be no source of ignition.

Was the igniter disconnected after the cooling unit leak was discovered? If the AC power dropped out and the fridge tried to switch over to gas, it will spark to try and light the burner. I believe the NDR1292 and 1492 (and a number of other units) only have "Gas" and "AEC" (AC primary, switch to gas if AC goes out) as operation modes. You cannot force them to AC-only. Even if you shut the propane off and bleed off the gas, the ignitor will still try to spark once or twice if the unit switches to gas.

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #14 – June 03, 2014, 05:52:00 pm

Residential refrigerators are not known to cause fires that burn down coaches.

Propane refrigerators use a flammable solution that is known to catch on fire.

It is your choice. Everyone has to decide.

We replaced our propane with electric even though the propane was working & cooling fine.

Much better be proactive rather than reactive and make the swap when convenient rather than on a trip, and to have time to research choices.

Sorry you had a fire, but you are VERY lucky, and fortunate to have been home. I get chills just reading your event.

Turning off propane does not stop fire, because the refrigerant solution is what is leaking and burning with no way to turn it off.

The biggest problem with our electric fridge is my waistline, because with ice cream staying hard, we always have some in the freezer.

Why do you need insurance involvement. Don't we have insurance for catastrophic damage, not for maintenance? Besides the CLUE database will have a mark against for a long time even if you call insurance and they do not pay to fix a broken fridge.
CLUE and You: How Insurers Size You Up | Privacy Rights Clearinghouse

Re: refrigerator woes (fire)

Reply #15 – June 04, 2014, 09:38:13 pm

My RV repair guy showed me something interesting, and verygoos about Foretravel.

The fire was five minutes or less, probably burning hydrogen gas from the cooling unit. Damage was confined to the area behind and above the metal plate put there to confine fires. BTW, this plate is added to recalled refrigerators. The flame was escaping from the top of that plate, about the size of my fist. I am sure it was licking the inner surface on the outside wall.

But here is the remarkable thing. The inner surface is a blue foam material, and it shows absolutely no sign of being subjected to fire. I don't know what this foam is, but am sure glad Foretravel put it there.

I am having the damaged parts replaced, the cooling unit, burner, ignitor, electric elements, circuit board and cover, plus some wires. I plan to add a thermal DC disconnect to prevent restarts after a fire, plus a fire suppression system. I will feel safely protected.

My other options don't look so good. No exact fit new RV refrigerator is made, and a residential too would need cabinet work. Besides, this is a u295, so going all electric is not practical.

Re: refrigerator woes (fire)

Reply #16 – June 04, 2014, 10:43:14 pm

yes, almost every residential requires the shelf below the refrigerator to be lowered and rebuilt. Â Getting a counter depth with a very close but not quite as wide width will result in the least work.

My residential cost $800 for parliament to install (included removal of Dometic, and the RandR the side window where the old went out and the new went in. French door Haeir counter depth for $1400 and $800 install. Â Cheaper and better than Dometic.

Never have a coach again with an RV refrigerator unless it is a class B and then I am not sure.....

Good luck on the RV ref rig, sounds like your plan is the best option if not going Residential

BTW, I have 3 8D and factory Prosine 2500 - no changes or modifications and it is all doing just fine.

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #17 – June 04, 2014, 11:19:07 pm

Quote from: Tom Lang – June 04, 2014, 09:38:13 pm

My RV repair guy showed me something interesting, and verygoos about Foretravel.

The fire was five minutes or less, probably burning hydrogen gas from the cooling unit. Damage was confined to the area behind and above the metal plate put there to confine fires. BTW, this plate is added to recalled refrigerators. The flame was escaping from the top of that plate, about the size of my fist. I am sure it was licking the inner surface on the outside wall.

But here is the remarkable thing. The inner surface is a blue foam material, and it shows absolutely no sign of being subjected to fire. I don't know what this foam is, but am sure glad Foretravel put it there.

I am having the damaged parts replaced, the cooling unit, burner, ignitor, electric elements, circuit board and cover, plus some wires. I plan to add a thermal DC disconnect to prevent restarts after a fire, plus a fire suppression system. I will feel safely protected.

My other options don't look so good. No exact fit new RV refrigerator is made, and a residential too would need cabinet work. Besides, this is a u295, so going all electric is not practical.

A fire suppression system has to have a yearly inspection by a licensed professional. Includes refilling, etc. Have not seen many owners who will be disciplined enough to do it after the first year or two. Store owners with insurance policies dependent on the inspections, usually didn't get around to it until fire prevention caught it during inspections.

Pierce

Re: refrigerator woes (fire)

Reply #18 – June 04, 2014, 11:41:52 pm

We have two 8D GEL house batteries with an electric fridg and we boondock ok. We are not all electric as our hot water tank, furnace and stove top burner use propane, just not fridg anymore.

Re: refrigerator woes (fire)

Reply #19 – June 05, 2014, 12:06:24 am

A cold plate refrigerator could be made as an exact fit. AC/DC, too. Sea Freeze of America - Custom Refrigeration

best, paul

Quote

My other options don't look so good. No exact fit new RV refrigerator is made, and a residential too would need cabinet work. Besides, this is a u295, so going all electric is not practical.

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #20 – June 05, 2014, 02:41:55 pm

I was looking over the American Coach forum and noticed a couple had lost their coach to a refrigerator fire. This after market refrigerator protective controller came up. It is an add on unit the shuts down the heat for 10 minutes if it over heats. Won't prevent all types of refrigerator fires, but looks like the most common one. I have ordered one. I like the concept. Cost is $120 I thought that was cheap insurance. Anyone have any experience with this unit?

ARPrv | RV Refrigerator | RV Fridge Control | Install by Cooling Unit | RV Fires

Roy

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #21 – June 05, 2014, 03:22:06 pm

Although mine is not under recall, I plan to add a part from the recall kit. This is a thermal circuit breaker mounted on the flue to kill DC power to the refrigerator if it gets too hot. It has a reset button.

The recall also includes a metal sheet positioned to direct the flame away from the outside wall. My non-recall 1492 already has this.

I like the simplicity of this approach.

By the way, with the DC power off, the propane will also be off. Even without a fire suppression system, the fire will stopn an the cooling unit empties. I wonder how long that is? Apparently this is what Norcold and Domestic are counting on.

Propane

Reply #22 – June 05, 2014, 06:19:25 pm

I did not have a Propane off on my 01 with no DC power. The lines are still charged.

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #23 – June 05, 2014, 07:42:20 pm

Roy, I believe Barry Beam had one of those installed on his coach.
He might be able to give you some insight on the product.

Richard B

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #24 – June 05, 2014, 08:12:50 pm

Quote from: John S – June 05, 2014, 06:19:25 pm

I did not have a Propane off on my 01 with no DC power. The lines are still charged.

The lines will still be charged, but the controller won't open the valve to the burner nor fire the igniter without DC power.

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