Fridge vent flyscreens
We recently purchased a new Chausson 510 and while investigating winter covers for the fridge vents we have spotted that we don't have flyscreens on these vents. I'd have expected these to be standard but before I take the matter up with the dealer I thought
I'd ask anyone else who has this unit whether theirs was fitted with these screens?
Also, while it is a Theford fridge/freezer which is fitted the vents look more like those for a Dometic appliance. I've read of this on a different forum while looking into the covers (figuritively, not literally!) - is this likely?
Thirdly, and apologies for going on, how easily should the outside covers come free? I've undone the two retaining clips on each vent however the seal apparently connecting to the van starts to lift when I pull the cover; I don't want to gemmy it off if
I am likely to cause damage.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Comments
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I have never heard of fly screens for fridge vents in 45 years of caravanning and MHing. Have you found a gap in the market?
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I have never heard of fly screens for fridge vents in 45 years of caravanning and MHing. Have you found a gap in the market?
My brother-in-law has a caravan with fly screens behind the vents Tinny.
They are hard to see when looking up between the slats. In fact we only found them when we removed the vents using the two sliders and the top one had a fly screen that was beginning to melt in the corner. Apparently it had been touching the hot pipes so
we carefully bent the pipe away and all is well now.Back to the OP, DD if it is a newish caravan maybe the sealant is still very tacky and it will take some careful persuasion to remove the vent. No damage should occur as long as the two sliders have been undone.
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Swift had a Thetford and so did our Pilote. Both had the same troubles, always to warm. Never did get the bread to freeze in the Swift. Anyway back to your query. Neither had fly screens but our Laika with it's Dometic Fridge / Freezer does have flyscreens. Depending on where you are I have a couple of winter covers in the garage that came with the Swift. The vents can be hard to get off especially if they get sealer on them. Simple to remove just have to be careful.
The Dometic ones we have have two clips on the left hand side that you push upwards.
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we definitely had fly screens on our tall Thetford fridge freezer.
our current Dometic Tec Tower has
these but the kit doesnt seem to show fly screens nor have i seen any wjen fitting my vents this week.0 -
Also, while it is a Theford fridge/freezer which is fitted the vents look more like those for a Dometic appliance. I've read of this on a different forum while looking into the covers (figuritively, not literally!) - is this likely?
My fridge is similarly equipped. Cann't say I have noticed any fly screening. The covers should come off quite easily once you have undone the locking screws. Once the srews have been undone the cover is only held on by a couple of tabs hooked under the bottom of the vent. Tip the top slightly forward and lift upwards. It should not pull the vent itself away from the side of the van at all even if it is only fixed with mastic. Are the vents not fixed with screws to the side of the van as well as with mastic?
peedee
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Peedee, interesting that in my link (and on my van) the Dometic covers clip into the top first and are then 'locked' by turning two large plastic 'screwheads' through 90 deg....
so, top in first when fitting....bottom out first when removing.
the reverse of your vents?
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I think so BB, I haven't fitted them yet this year but did just look at my vents when I went out with the dog this morning and it does look as though they are fitted with a mesh inside but on this model there are no screws holding the vents in place.
peedee
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we definitely had fly screens on our tall Thetford fridge freezer.
our current Dometic Tec Tower has
these but the kit doesnt seem to show fly screens nor have i seen any wjen fitting my vents this week.Write your comments here...BB do you have to buy 2 of these or do they come as a pair?
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My unit is fitted with Thetford fridge vents and does have a separate flyscreen sandwitched between the vent cover and the frame. A previous motorhome was fitted with the same and on that I did have an issue at one time with getting the cover off the upper
of the two vents. The non-setting compound used in installation of the frame on that vent had oozed out and was effectively sticking the cover in place. Having release the clips I ran a thin blade around the affected area and managed to get the cover eased
off. I then cleaned off any excess compound off the cover and frame with white spirits before replacing.Incidentally, I was also supplied with winter covers, which limit air flow through the vents when clipped over the normal vent covers. These are for use during temperatures below something of the order of 3 deg C. I have used these several times and the
fridge works fine with them on. Apparently, if the ambiant temperature is too low, the heating element has difficulty vapourising the refrigerant.0 -
My Bolero is fitted with a Dometic fridge freezer and has bug screens behind the vents. My previous Bessacarr, a version of the Bolero,was fitted with a Thetford fridge freezer and also had bug screens behind the vents.
The winter covers for the Thetford just clipped in and never seemed secure but I never lost one when travelling. The Dometic covers are held in more positively by turn screws, the same as BBs.0 -
Thanks for the responses, with those suggesting the sealant had created a bond winning the (non-existent) prize! I've followed the advice and used a blade to separate the two parts - and there is no flyscreen.
The frame for the vent is attached by screws so I would have had to go some to pul it all apart!
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The Dometic vents fitted to all three Rapido's I've owned have have screens fitted.
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Why do you want fly screens for a fridge, Th fridge should be sealed off from the van at the back of the fridge body, unless you have a Swift of course, in that case the bits of foam thats glued to the back of the fridge frame fall of due to the heat from
the fridge. I cured mine years ago by re enginering the seals.0 -
i guess, might stop critters getting into the exposed 'gubbins' at the rear of the fridge, outside of the seal....
not sure if we have them now, i think not.....
ill check sometime....
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