Dometic refrigerator

[Jeff Miller]

As in the post to which you responded George, the vacuum is created
while the contracting air OVERWHELMS the available make-up air volume
available from the condensation tube. It was also mentioned that this
is temporary. If the end of the tube is in water, it would further
inhibit the venting effect of this tube as it would have to suck
water into the tube to replace the air volume lost in the
refrigerator.

This is not simple theory, but experience. My coach 'Fridges have
done this, as do my home 'fridges and freezer. I can hear the air
hissing around the gaskets as they vent air in, with the Norcold in
the coach it actually pulls the door closed further and latches it,
slowly relaxing back out as the vacuum depletes.

As far as gaskets, I prefer to keep them clean, but the hinge-side
gasket I clean and apply a little plumber's grease (or Vasolene). The
hinge-side gasket has to slide when opening/closing, and the
lubricant helps the gasket to seat properly and avoid deformation of
the gasket, it is in the owner's maintenance manual of my main home
fridge.

- Jeff Miller


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mrdonut12" <mrdonut12@y...>
wrote:
> Jeff,
> Thanks for the tips on the air filter and the disposable
> painting coveralls.
> Regarding the fridge, there's one thing your theory
> doesn't cover.
> He said, "There has to be a vacuum
> effect taking place inside the fridge, but the
> hose leading from the drip plate just below
> the inside cooling fins is free and clear."
> If the hose from the inside of the fridge to the outside
> of the fridge is clear, how can it pull a vacuum?
> I think it's sticky weather stripping. I had this happen
> on the outside storage compartments of a 5th wheel.
> If I spent a lot of time cleaning them, they'd release easily
> for a while (until I needed to clean them again)....
>
>
> George Witt
> 1981 FC 35
> Lincoln, Nebraska
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jeff Miller"

> wrote:
> > Simple physics. The cooling air contracts, if there is
insufficient
> > make-up air volume to keep up with the contracting air then a
parital
> > vacuum is established.
> >
> > It is possible that your Dometics didn't seal properly, I have
found
> > that the Norcold tends to seal better, and the units larger than
your
> > FC model are more prone to the temporary vacuum, especially the
side-by-
> > side.
> >
> > - Jeff Miller