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"There are vents all over caravans that air gets in!! You know ventilation!!"

Aye, it's a wee bit more than 'ventilation' or I'd not have posted the message! I spoke to the workshop today and it looks like the insulating baffle has dropped when the fridge was refitted, hence daylight between the inside of the van and the vent openings, so even when the cupboard doors are closed there's space for enough draught to keep a hanging dishtowel on the move.

Glad to hear that they have sussed the problem.

Perhaps others will now have theirs checked and also have the bafle replaced, if not to cut down the draughts, but at least for their own safety!

Well, we had the engineer out again and he checked the seal behind the fridge and said all was well, but suggested using vent covers. So we fitted them (£32) and it was better, sitting in the back garden, but a weekend in Aberdeen soon proved that this was not the solution as it was just as bad when the wind had a chance to get a good skelp at the side. So bad in fact that a dishtowel, hung over the edge of the worktop and used to dim the fridge light at night, was blowing back and forth. 

I took the covers off the next morning as te temperature had risen a bit and the draught was unbearable. I intended to have the fridge out this coming weekend and have a look but the engineer called on Monday morning to say he'd been at a Thetford day and had mentioned the problem, and they admitted that the seals became useless if the fridge has been removed, requiring a 'duct tape repair'.

Seems there have been numerous faults with their fixtures and fittings but they didn't see fit to alert the engineers by bulletin to let them know.

Great Service eh?

Further to what I said earlier in this topic, it would appear that since 1989, all vans that have 3-way fridges, should have a baffle plated fitted to stop any air from the back of the fridge reaching the van interior.

It was also in that year that 3-way fridge manufacturers did away with the ventilation slots on the base and top of the fridges.

for safety reasons the baffle plate should be tightly fixed to the top of a fridge to prevent the gases when using fridge on gas entering the caravan and should be checked on annual service

I'm with you on that Lobey, and luckily we avoided using the fridge on gas as I was unsure that all was well.

RLcara, you will no doubt have seen my other post relating to the caravan (Sterling Europa from Kirkcaldy Caravans) so you'll see why we're so angered about what might appear to be a minor problem, though I suppose if we're gassed overnight it'll not be so minor! The planned engineers call today didn't materialise, so we'll just wait and see what he does when he gets here, which I think will be next week now.

We have so little faith in the caravan that I turn off the gas at the bottle overnight now, which with a new'ish van and a recent service should not be the case, and is a pain in the erse when trying to keep the place warm during the night as the electric heating is so poor and a fan heater dries up the air and leaves me with a furry mooth. Mind you, that's maybe the single malt!

I know for sure that the dealer had been servicing gas and electric up until around a year ago with no certificated staff, though I beleive that problem has been addressed.

We're off over the New Year again but wonder if that's wise, which is how we feel every time we go away, and the usual remark from our caravanning pals is "Well, what'll be next to break?"..................

The engineer has been out and fitted a baffle to the fridge, so we'll check at the weekend to see if it makes.

Quote: Originally posted by Jake Drummond on 08/12/2009

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The engineer has been out and fitted a baffle to the fridge, so we'll check at the weekend to see if it makes.

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Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 08/12/2009

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Quote: Originally posted by Jake Drummond on 08/12/2009

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The engineer has been out and fitted a baffle to the fridge, so we'll check at the weekend to see if it makes.

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A lit candle moved slowly around the fridge edge will soon show by the flickering flame, any draughts still present.

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Quote: Originally posted by corrakid on 10/12/2009

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Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 08/12/2009

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Quote: Originally posted by Jake Drummond on 08/12/2009

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The engineer has been out and fitted a baffle to the fridge, so we'll check at the weekend to see if it makes.

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A lit candle moved slowly around the fridge edge will soon show by the flickering flame, any draughts still present.

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         Or if there is any gas leaks, i don,t think i would be trying this.

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If there is any Gas Leaks, I think I would rather find out by the careful use of a Candle than not waken up in the morning because I had been gassed in my sleep!

Hi Jake, I "tested" the gas side of an old caravan fridge in the greenhouse.

You are okay, they don't go Bang. Just an almighty Whoosh!!!!

Apart from losing my eyebrows, there was no other damage, but the wife said the whole greenhouse lit up like a volcano. .

Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 10/12/2009

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Quote: Originally posted by corrakid on 10/12/2009

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Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 08/12/2009

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Quote: Originally posted by Jake Drummond on 08/12/2009

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The engineer has been out and fitted a baffle to the fridge, so we'll check at the weekend to see if it makes.

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A lit candle moved slowly around the fridge edge will soon show by the flickering flame, any draughts still present.

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         Or if there is any gas leaks, i don,t think i would be trying this.

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If there is any Gas Leaks, I think I would rather find out by the careful use of a Candle than not waken up in the morning because I had been gassed in my sleep!

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Hmm , how do you use a candle carefully ?
Gas explodes when a naked flame is put close to it .

atb

Wizard

Ps now for anybody reading this post YOU DO NOT search for gas leaks with a candle or any naked flame . If you think you have a gas leak seek professional help .