Refrigerator and Freezer air leaks!

[skykingtwo]

I have been coping with leaky seals in the tops of both refrigerator and freezer for as long as I have owned my 1992 Passage 42. It causes the compressors to run more than they should and makes ice that has to be defrosted!

I have taken the lids apart and tried several different seals but none works better than the other. I have a leak detector (used for car trunk leaks where one places a transmitter inside the trunk, closes the lid and "sniffs" for the ultrasonic signal on the outside.) It seems worse at the hinge side but generally leaks all around.

Has anyone got a great solution for this problem? g

 

[kimelmore]

If you find a solution please post it. I'm on my 2nd set of "new" gaskets and am still fighting leaks. GRRrrrrr

 

[Benny17441]

I suspect that the amount of excess compressor running time due to a lid air leak would be negligible; it is mostly dictated by ambient temperatures inside the cabin and the number of times the lid is opened. Top loader refrigerators tend to keep the coldest air at the bottom so I would be most concerned about air escaping from the drain hole stopper into the bilge. A front loader refrigerator does spill its cold air every time the door is open but a top loader tends to retain it pretty well. Marine refrigerators live in a very humid environment so having to defrost seems to be a necessary task to be performed periodically.

 

[Stu Jackson]

I suspect that the amount of excess compressor running time due to a lid air leak would be negligible; it is mostly dictated by ambient temperatures inside the cabin and the number of times the lid is opened.

Benny, as almost always )) is right. Many of us cover the lid with something as simple as a towel at night to cover that thin slit, but that's not really where the heat loss comes from.

Richard Kollmann's website, the refrig guru, covers it well. Insulate is like location in real estate. Repeat three times.

 

[JamesG161]

Has anyone got a great solution for this problem?

All of the above comments are true! Benny's post #3 is a good summary.

But...
I am doing the same as you. Perhaps we are chasing a "mechanical rabbit". The Admiral jumps my case about HER refrig/Freezer, when ice "stalactites" form from dripping condensate at the seals.

It takes almost no compressor work to cool dry air, when compared to condensing humidity and then freezing it.

I will add tips to this post as I have them, because I would like to at least reduce defrost times.

BTW I significantly reduced ice formations by improving the freezer door air leaks.
Jim...

 

[skykingtwo]

Thank you all for your helpful posts. The refrigerator (top and front load) is not the problem except to the extent it is located next to the engine compartment and for long cruises has a hard time keeping up with engine heat; the problem is my Admiral hates defrosting her freezer too. I have a plug in the drain hole to the bilge and in between the ref/freezer so that is not the "leak". Clearly it is coming from the lid air leaks and forming stalactites.

I have purchased a seal that I believe I can install in the lid or freezer frame and when I get to it I will post pictures her and see if it works (can I post pictures here or at least a link to a picture) g

 

[JamesG161]

I have a plug in the drain hole

I use an old face cloth "plug" in the drain, this stops air and still drains water through the cloth "drip drip".
I am now trying a rechargeable small fan to move air up to refrig and am setting its thermostat to a higher setting. This is to help move the freezer air to the most frequent opened door area.
My hopes is that it will cause "sweating" liquid water dripping instead of cold plate frosting.
Jim...

 

[skykingtwo]

LET ME KNOW HOW THAT WORKS! g

 

[JamesG161]

The DC powered "face fan" that we never use, was tried for about 5 battery changes. It was placed in the bottom and pointed at the starboard cold plate at max flow. A battery change was about 6 hours with 2 AA rechargeables. I also set the upper (refrigerator part ) thermostat higher than normal.
Findings...
1) No defrosting of cold plate.
2) No ice cycle formations
3) Fan broke, so it didn't like ≈25°F, or was cheap azz.
4) Less sweating at door. (this is can be caused by cabin humidity changes too)
5) Refrig part temperature a bit lower, even with raised thermostat.

Next step is a better Battery fan and maybe a some idea on how to restrict air flow to refrig part.
Jim...

PS: I am searching for a better door seal still.

 

[Ted]

A month ago I added an inexpensive battery operated fan in my refrigerator. It made the temperature within the box more uniform but more importantly (for me at least) it eliminated the frost on the cold plate. Still running continuously after 30 days on the original battery. It also has a replaceable carbon filter to help keep the refrigerator smelling fresh.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Camco-Fridge-Airator/14504360

 

[JamesG161]

A month ago I added an inexpensive battery operated fan in my refrigerator.

Nice find! Saved me a lot of shopping and testing.

And this will let me flush the sea water refrig line easily too.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/29764290
Same maker. You have to see the video on how this works. Now that is a handy tool!
Jim...

 

[Sailm8]

I have one of these and works great. http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/fridgecool-fan-with-on-off-switch/38134
I also filled plastic bags with packing peanuts to fill unused space when the fridge is only partially full of food. I still get some frost on the condenser but nothing like it used to be. Whenever possible we cover the lid with an inch thick piece of purple foam board from Home Depot.

 

[JamesG161]

plastic bags with packing peanuts

Lower air volume, faster cooling, less cycling. Good Tip!
Jim...

PS: Beer and soft drink cans work too. Burp.

 

[Stu Jackson]

I still get some frost on the condenser but

The thing INSIDE is the evaporator. The condenser is the thing next to the compressor that rejects the heat.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

A month ago I added an inexpensive battery operated fan in my refrigerator.

Every so often an "of course !" moment is revealed. No more frozen lettuce, warm milk, and cool"ish" cider. Thanks for the idea.

 

[JamesG161]

A month ago I added an inexpensive battery operated fan in my refrigerator.

I bought that Camco fan and it has been running for 30 days. The fan was pointed at the cold plate. It was still running fine and only a spot about 2 inches was "frost free". It did help on keeping the upper refrigerator unit cooler. I was disappointed in air flow volume (very low), at least from my boat's refrig size.

I suspect a much much higher air flow fan is needed. So my search continues for a battery operated fan for cold temperatures.
Jim...