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A couple of nights of cold winds blowing against the fridge side of the van had us chittering, so is there a solution?

The draughts were coming from around the fridge and cooker cupboards, from the vents for the fridge, but can we use those vent covers without causing any fridge proiblems?

Hi, thats what the covers are for, to be used in the cold. I use mine every year, infact i have put them on now. hope that helps.

floppy

I tried to get some covers but I must have been explaining wrong where do you get them from

Although covers help they arn't the solution , there should be a baffel plate fitted at the back of the fridge that directs hot air out of the vent , it also stops wind blowing inside . On our caravan although the baffel plate was in place it wasn't sealed correctly around the edges and this caused a cold blast of wind to come thro the cutlery drawer , i sorted the gaps with gaffer tape and a small amount of mastic . To check yours you'll need to remove the top fridge out side vent .

Info found on the net

Poor performance can also arise where the fridge installation is less than ideal. Newer vans are quite good in this respect but older ones sometimes left a little to be desired. The most critical area is that immediately above the rear of the fridge. All the warm air arising from this area should be ducted straight to the top vent via an upwards sloping plate and given no chance to hang around. This will help to create the necessary draught to pull cool air in via the bottom vent. A possible sign of an installation problem is if the worktop above the fridge becomes warm.

atb

Wizard

Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 24/10/2009

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This sounds to me as if the back of your fridge is venting into the caravan. This should not be the case. There is no way that any air from the fridge vent should be felt inside the van.

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No, that is normal. There will be a small corrugated metal tube from the gas burner which does exit directly at the vent itself. The winter covers do not cover this part of the vent. Otherwise the vents are to cool the radiator at the back of the fridge, in the same way as a domestic fridge at home works.

This draught does also make a mockery of those who put dehumidifiers either electric or chemical in their vans over the winter in the hope it will keep the van dry.

I disagree. There should be a a plate at the top of the fridge to the underside of the cabinet that does not allow any flow of air from the rear of the fridge into the caravan interior.
This plate, usually light aluminium, is fitted to the rear top of the fridge and is mastic sealed to the underside of the cabinet.

Any air entering the van through the bottom vent behind the fridge, should only be able to escape through the top vent.

There is ofcourse the extra vent solely for the chimney.

No air from the rear of the fridge should be allowed to enter the van interior.

Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 24/10/2009

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I disagree. There should be a a plate at the top of the fridge to the underside of the cabinet that does not allow any flow of air from the rear of the fridge into the caravan interior.
This plate, usually light aluminium, is fitted to the rear top of the fridge and is mastic sealed to the underside of the cabinet.

Any air entering the van through the bottom vent behind the fridge, should only be able to escape through the top vent.

There is ofcourse the extra vent solely for the chimney.

No air from the rear of the fridge should be allowed to enter the van interior.

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Why not?

Our last two caravans have had the space behind the fridge open.

>>> Why not?  <<<

Well for one thing, you will get drafts from the vents coming into the interior of the caravan.

And two, if you have the fridge on gas and because the flame is not totally enclosed by the chimney, then you could potentially have gas fumes coming into the caravan, carried there by a draft from the vents.

The original question was, why are they getting drafts from the vents into their van. The answer is that there is no baffle plate to stop them.

This baffle plate can be a sod to refit properly if the fridge has been removed for say servicing and I suppose it is easier just to chuck it away rather than fiddling about resealing it in place.

Thankfully on our new van the fridge is a compression one and therefore is 12v only. No servicing and no gas fumes, therefore no need to have grills on the side of the van.

I honestly cannot see the point in having well fitted doors and windows if you are going to allow the wind to whistle through open vents, into the caravan interior.  

Hmmmmm, seems I need to get Kirkcaldy Caravans to check and see if they refitted the baffle plate when they took the fridge out to check the pipework (see my post "Sterling Europa from Kirkcaldy Caravans" in the Caravan topic) as the problem was not there before.

We know it's a new occurance as when we were in Aviemore and had the full blast of the New Year winds blowing from that side to the extent we had so much snow plastered on the window we couldn't see out, we never noticed the draught. I've just been outside and checked the 'van in the garden and the draught is quite noticeable as it's a bit blowy here in the east of Fife right now, despite the conifer hedge being three feet away.

Looks like the baffle suggestion by LobeyDosser could be right. Anyone else got this problem on a new (2008) 'van? 

We were reluctant to buy vents to use when we were in the caravan as we had heard that they were for "storage only".

We were reluctant to buy vents to use when we were in the caravan as we had heard that they were for "storage only".

I think you mean winter covers , they are ment to be used when the temperature is 10 degrees or lower , they stop the fridge from over cooling . I also use mine when i storage for just a bit of added rain protection .

atb

Wizard

Quote: Originally posted by blondieandi on 27/10/2009

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Every caravan Ive had wind has whistled through thee vents and been draughty, I just took it as normal!! Im on my 5th!!

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We insist on insulated vans that have well sealed double glazed windows and properly sealing doors, yet we accept draughty fridge areas and think of that as normal?????

Well I certainly would not. Thankfully I am now on a van with a Waeco Compression Fridge and have kissed goodbye to vents, draughts and yearly servicing.