Are fridge vent covers a benefit?

Askit's current thread got me thinking about this. (It does happen!! )

If it is correct to assume that their main function is to prevent the fridge getting too cold in the winter, why not leave them off and turn down the thermostat instead? For a start, you would use less gas when off hook-up (and you wouldn't have to search for where you put them when you took them off last Spring!! )

A fridge thermometer (which we don't have) could be worth getting I think. That would take away the guesswork.

Dave

Hi,
For what its worth I never took mine off, keeps out draughts and bugs, fridge worked ok even in hot weather,
Chris

Same as Chris. Fridge seems very efficient and even in 30 plus temperatures I never bother to remove the vent covers.
Al.

I may be completely wrong but I think the covers are there to allow the fridge to get hot enough to work as the absorption method requires the elements to heat up to operate properly.

I would guess that the vents without covers are designed for ambient temperatures up to say 30C so there is too much cooling available in cold weather. In very hot weather even those vents will not be enough, hence I have fitted a thermostatically controlled fan that cuts in when it gets to 60C behind the fridge
Winter covers will not affect the efficiency in cold weather, IMHO. But they will keep out the cold. The fridge should not use more gas if they are not fitted, in fact the reverse will apply if they restrict the airflow too much. And you should not need to alter the thermostat, unless you turned it up because the fridge was not coping - and, in theory, that should not have helped the cooling process. Absorption fridges rely on adequate rear cooling rather more than compressor types as, without it, the cooling process will just stop. Turning it up when it is not coping may well make matters worse.
I don't motorhome in winter so my winter covers are to keep the weather out.
All the above is my own thoughts - tell me if I am wrong. (Peter?)

Reading the Dometic operating instructions ........ as I usually don't .. I quote;-

"When the outside temperature falls below +10C the winter cover should be fitted!! This protects the unit from excessively cold air which could have adverse effects on the performance of the unit."
Also .... "You should attach the winter cover if the vehicle is taken out of service for a longer period of time or while it is being cleaned from the outside!"

Liam

My recollection from the handbook of our last AS (1998 Clubman) is that the cover was provided to keep out rain, snow and travel-spray etc. No mention of efficency of the fridge. The fridge worked equally well, with or without covers.
I followed those instructions. My general practice was to leave it on, taking it off if no rain etc ... if I remembered.

So that would accord with Gromit's opening theory.

Liam wrote:Reading the Dometic operating instructions ........ as I usually don't .. I quote;-

"When the outside temperature falls below +10C the winter cover should be fitted!! This protects the unit from excessively cold air which could have adverse effects on the performance of the unit."
Also .... "You should attach the winter cover if the vehicle is taken out of service for a longer period of time or while it is being cleaned from the outside!"

Liam

Interesting that the AS owners manual repeats the Dometic instructions as above except that AS state +8C as being the critical time to fit the covers!!

Liam

Jaytee wrote:I may be completely wrong but I think the covers are there to allow the fridge to get hot enough to work as the absorption method requires the elements to heat up to operate properly.

Jaytee and Liam are absolutely right. If you get a freezing wind blowing at the side of the van without covers, the fridge will not cool.

Peter Brown wrote:

Jaytee and Liam are absolutely right.  If you get a freezing wind blowing at the side of the van without covers, the fridge will not cool.

Nor if there's a scorching hot wind blowing - can't win can we!

Thanks Jaytee. Liam and Peter. Something new learned every day.

Dave

Gromit wrote:

Peter Brown wrote:

Jaytee and Liam are absolutely right.  If you get a freezing wind blowing at the side of the van without covers, the fridge will not cool.

Nor if there's a scorching hot wind blowing - can't win can we!

Thanks Jaytee. Liam and Peter. Something new learned every day.

Dave

I think I learn something new from this forum daily, it's great 

Never had covers fitted to my Lancashire so removing them isn't a problem so now I wonder should I fit them?

I have put my winter covers on today, do when the van is drained down, although it is used all year.

The only good thing about a freezing wind is that it saves money on the fridge!!

I wonder why my van was supplied to me without these winter covers? 

The Dometic fridge/freezer instruction manual says they are not supplied, but are available as accessories. But, since there's an obvious need for them, why didn't A/S supply them as standard instead? I haven't seen the grey ones available in MH/caravan accessory shops, only white ones, for around £30 EACH! 

Grumble, grumble, I left a set of perfectly useable ones on the Rapido 7099f I traded in for Winnie, and it had a concertina sliding flyscreen in the doorway, that Winnie doesn't have!

Regards, Barry.

Stoneb,
They come as standard fitting on all new vans - you should have received them (and instructions on their use) at vehicle hand over. 
Perhaps they are still on the shelf at you dealer - might be worth a call!

Liam

Liam wrote:Stoneb,
They come as standard fitting on all new vans - you should have received them (and instructions on their use) at vehicle hand over. 
Perhaps they are still on the shelf at you dealer - might be worth a call!

Liam

That may be the case now, but I was recently told by my dealer that they were supplied as part of the winterisation pack which (in March 2015) was part of the premium upgrade.

Cymro,
Not sure that is true - the winter covers are identified in the Dometic operating instructions as part of the standard supplied unit - Winter is only mention in the name (Winter cover) context and that they should be fitted in cold weather, i.e. below +8C. In other words the fridge might not operate properly in colder weather - winter or summer - so fit for purpose would spring to mind if they were not supplied as a standard supplied item.
As I understand it the winterisation pack refers to extra features fitted by AS - Cab Blinds, Water Tank heater - Tankblanket, Boiler upgrade and extra insulation.
I think your dealer might have been mistaken!!
Liam

Liam wrote:Cymro,
Not sure that is true - the winter covers are identified in the Dometic operating instructions as part of the standard supplied unit
Liam

But aren't modern vans fitted with Thetford fridges? Mine is, and had no winter covers.

It has now and they cost me nothing other than a few minutes of time with some vinyl flooring and scissors. Does the job and won't be nicked and leaves no sticky when I remove them in the spring!

inspiredron wrote:But aren't modern vans fitted with Thetford fridges? Mine is, and had no winter covers.

Well, mine is a 2014 model and it has a Dometic fridge/freezer, Thetford cooker and Toilet!
I guess it depends on which appliance manufacturer offers AS the best deal for the particular year/model.
  
Liam

Below +10 degrees centigrade it is recommended that fridge covers should be used for the efficient running of the fridge.

It is also recommended to use them when washing your motorhome, to eliminate any water ingress.

I bought grey ones from a motorhome accessory shop for £28 a pair.

Leighton.

Just found this extract on the web for the Thetford Fridge owners manual:-

7.4 Winter operation If you use the refrigerator when the outdoor temperature is below 8°C, install the Thetford vent winter/storage cover (see illustration 9) on the ventilation grills. The cover protects your refrigerator from excessively cold air. The winter cover is a refrigerator accessory obtainable from your caravan dealer. Tip! It is advisable to use the winter/storage cover if you are not going to use the vehicle for a long period of time. IMPORTANT; DO NOT USE THE WINTER/STORAGE COVER IN TEMPERATURES GREATER THAN 8°C AS THIS CAN DAMAGE THE COOLING UNIT AT THE REAR OF THE FRIDGE. Remove the covers & re-fit when placing the vehicle back into storage. 

But it looks like the cover is an accessory! 
I would not be happy with that - on that basis they anticipate your usage to be only when the sun shines otherwise you have to buy the covers as an extra!! 
Cheapskates spring to mind.
Liam

When bought the new caravan 2012 no fridge covers.

All right, I own up, I made a mistake! 

Winnie has a Thetford fridgefreezer N3000-A series with touchscreen, model B. Winter covers are accessories, it says so in the handbook. With Ploughlin's advice I've checked a supplier, plus several others, and found a very wide variety of prices for what appears to be similar items. I'm going to have to check the dimensions of a suitable cover first.

I do like the suggested fix by inspired to above! Now, if only I could find some suitable material......

Regards, Barry.