Refrigeration Question

[dis-patch]

I've owned this boat about a month now. It has a water cooled Adler Barbour Cold Machine, dual refer w/large freezer box. When i first viewed the boat I noticed that the freezer box was just caked with ice and just assumed that the owner hadn't taken the time to defrost it. After we closed and I boarded her for the first time I shut the system down and defrosted the freezer box. Within 2 weeks the ice reappeared and as caked on as before. I wondering if anyone out there has any insight or can help me extend the life of my freezer so i'm not defrosting every 2 to 3 weeks. Or is that normal?

 

[Tantor]

Yes, keep it full minimize air in it. But two to 3 weeks is not bad...

 

[Rick Templeton]

Keeping it full will reduce the cycling of the freezer unit which is contributing to the frost buildup. We keep ours somewhat full and place water filled gallon jugs inside when we leave. Also try turning the t-stat down slightly, that will also help to reduce the cycling.

 

[Don Lucas]

I did 2 things that helped:

1 - added weather seals to the lids
2 -stopped allowing things with water/ice exposed to the air inside the units

but defrosting every 2-3 weeks if the boat is used all the time isn't that bad

 

[Steve Dion]

The first thing you want to do is to prevent air infiltration. You do not need to keep the box full to prevent the frost build up. We leave ours running 24 x 7 and have very little frost.

You can get door insulation that will stick on. It does a good job. We have had issues making it stick but you can make it work.

 

[scottdube]

Put a bung or something similar in the drain. It is a source of warm moist air. We did that while in the Bahamas made a difference but you still end up defrosting once in a while...

 

[dis-patch]

Thank you all for the very enlightening comments. I'm glad to hear that what I am experiencing is quite normal and that part of my maintenance routine will be defrosting the freezer box at least once a month. I've been told that it runs more efficiently when there is not a tremendous build up of ice around it. This forum and all of you rock.

 

[charliegrau]

I have drop in freezer and refrig boxes. I was able to reduce the frost quite a bit by covering the hatches with a towel or a microfiber dish drying mat. I laid them out so they covered the edges around the hatches. Keeping the boxes full and closing the drain bung as others have mentioned should help as well.

 

[Jeff]

A wine cork works pretty well in the drain hole. When it's time to spray out the frig just pull the cork and hose everything out. As others have commented about a good lid gasket. Test it using a dollar bill or piece of paper. Put the dollar between the seal and frame of the frig and see if there is significant resistance to pulling it out. Test all the way around the frame. My 20 year old Adler Barbour is still cranking away!!!

 

[Bill Roosa]

dont stopper the drain. put a 360 degree loop in the drain line. It will act like a sing trap as water will fill the low spot and keep the cold air in but still allow the drain to flow.

 

[Don Lucas]

Why would I need the drain to flow? The only time there is liquid in the box is when I defrost it.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

dont stopper the drain. put a 360 degree loop in the drain line. It will act like a sing trap as water will fill the low spot and keep the cold air in but still allow the drain to flow.

With no water in such a drain trap, cold air would continue to be lost.

I too don't understand what the problem is with simply blocking the drain. We have done that on every boat we ever owned.