Do refrigerators explode? Because I think mine may have done.
- Thread starter limbodog
- Start date
that looks nice! I'd probably need to find one that fits the space exactly as there's no room above the alcove to expand, but I still like the idea.
Ok, I would not have expected that to be at all likely. Especially without being visible (I walk past my starboard side where the outlet is every day on the dock) did you have an ice-jam on the exterior?
When the refrigerator shuts down, so does the water pump.
Depending on where yours discharges, the line to that point, may not be freeze protected by boat interior heat.
Mine ran under by cockpit and above the marina water level on the hull. Therefore totally exposed to outside temperatures. Even thought it may be salt water, it can still freeze.
In addition to Gunni's point above on the refrigerant heat exchanger, in extreme cold, the water can freeze on exit.
If you are a live aboard, then your refrig would just throw a breaker, but if not, you can bust a water line.
If you are NOT there and the busted line thaws, the refrigerator water pump can start again and...
SINK your Boat!!!
Jim...
Seems like you'd want to make sure the last foot of hose has a downward angle if possible so that it drains out rather than keeping fresh water right next to the hull. I'll have to keep that in mind when I look into fixing this sucker. Also could install a very small hose heater on it, tho' that seems a bit like overkill.
What you want to do is freeze protect your boat. Your boat, your method.
I had to figure out how to do mine for our use.
Put it this way...
If our outside temps fall below 25°F for more than 6 hours,
1) I close the seacock on my frig water.
2) Manually disconnect the discharge hose off the water pump discharge.
3) Observe the water draining back to the bilge, since it is the low point, on my boat.
4) Turn off the frig first, of course.
5) Reconnect when weather permits.
6) Rinse and repeat
Or
Do what Gunni suggested.
Jim..
I had to figure out how to do mine for our use.
Put it this way...
If our outside temps fall below 25°F for more than 6 hours,
1) I close the seacock on my frig water.
2) Manually disconnect the discharge hose off the water pump discharge.
3) Observe the water draining back to the bilge, since it is the low point, on my boat.
4) Turn off the frig first, of course.
5) Reconnect when weather permits.
6) Rinse and repeat
Or
Do what Gunni suggested.
Jim..
Limbodog,
This may help you. As I was searching this form I found in the Hunter 34 owners mods a modification by Ray Keenan titled "cheap refrigeration " he essentially used a dorm regfrigerator
And stripped it down to just the compressor, evaporator, and condenser and installed it into his ice box, running the unit on Ac power. This was very creative and apparently worked well.
Hope this helps.
This may help you. As I was searching this form I found in the Hunter 34 owners mods a modification by Ray Keenan titled "cheap refrigeration " he essentially used a dorm regfrigerator
And stripped it down to just the compressor, evaporator, and condenser and installed it into his ice box, running the unit on Ac power. This was very creative and apparently worked well.
Hope this helps.