Fridge Vents & Draughts
Morning all, was wondering if anyone could help? I picked up my new MH and spent the first night in it over the weekend. I noticed that there was a slight draight coming from below the drawers under the cooker. Could this be becasue of the vets on that side
of the van?
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Lot depends on who built it. We used to get a real cold draught from the top of the fridge in the Swift MH but our new Laika does not seem to have the same problem. Even putting vent covers on the Swift did not stop it. You will always get some draughts.
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Sorry it is a swift I have got. the rear of the van maintained a nice temperature during the night, it was only this one area that i felt it., Would putting a towel or draight excluder cause any real issues?
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Cheers thanks I have fridge vent covers will try them this weekend. Not really bad, but noticable all the same. it was just me that was getting the brint of it, the kids and wife were fine.
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Oh right, thanks, I did wonder as there was no draught from the fridge just under the cooker, so that may explain it. I will put a towel to block the draught. Thanks JVB and all for you assistance.
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I will have a look under the van tonight and see if there are drop holes.
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Instructions from the Fridge/freezer manufacturers state quite clearly that there should be a draughtproof seal between the fridge and caravan / mhome mounting.
The reason being that carbon monoxide from the burner can enter the caravan when the fridge is run on gas.
So if (are lucky enough!) to wake up with a muzzy head and the fridge is run on gas, that could be the reason why.
Conversion builders tend to miss this slight but important point on the assumption all users use them on electricity.
Maybe more of a problem wild camping in mhomes than caravans than use 12v or 240v more as an option.
Rgds
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Before deciding whether or how to eliminate this draft you may wish to consider the following. All Caravans & MH’s have some vents placed at floor level and some high level ventilation usually around the Sky-lights to ensure a flow of fresh air into what otherwise would be a sealed box. Without this ventilation condensation would build up and the oxygen levels would be depleted during periods of habitation. A Gas Cooker usually has a floor level vent directly underneath it, as it requires a good supply of air/oxygen to burn correctly and also to serve, as has already been mentioned, a Gas Drop-out point. It is especially important from a safely point of view, not to block off this vent. It must also be recognised that the Cooker and Hob are not vented to the outside and that the exhaust gases that are both harmful and full on moisture are released into the van. The manufacturer has constructed these vents in order to overcome these potential hazards.
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Before deciding whether or how to eliminate this draft you may wish to consider the following. All Caravans & MH’s have some vents placed at floor level and some high level ventilation usually around the Sky-lights to ensure a flow of fresh air into what
otherwise would be a sealed box. Without this ventilation condensation would build up and the oxygen levels would be depleted during periods of habitation. A Gas Cooker usually has a floor level vent directly underneath it, as it requires a good supply of
air/oxygen to burn correctly and also to serve, as has already been mentioned, a Gas Drop-out point. It is especially important from a safely point of view, not to block off this vent. It must also be recognised that the Cooker and Hob are not vented to the
outside and that the exhaust gases that are both harmful and full on moisture are released into the van. The manufacturer has constructed these vents in order to overcome these potential hazards.Write your comments here...Yep that jyst about sums it up better to have a slight draught than be dead
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.......Yep that jyst about sums it up better to have a slight draught than be dead
But, as described above, the draught shouldn't be from the back of the fridge .... that should be sealed from the interior of the caravan/motorhome . Draughts from the fitted vents are to be expected.
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.......Yep that jyst about sums it up better to have a slight draught than be dead
But, as described above, the draught shouldn't be from the back of the fridge .... that should be sealed from the interior of the caravan/motorhome . Draughts from the fitted vents are to be expected.
Although the OP’s post is entitled ‘Fridge Vents & Draughts’, it go on to state …“
I noticed that there was a slight draught coming from below the drawers under the cooker…” this leads me to believe that this particular draught is in no way associated with the Fridge Vents.0 -
The fridge should be sealed so if you are running it on gas the exhaust gases exhaust to the outside not into the van. Might be gas drop holes causing the draft but it wouldn't bet on it.
exactly, the fridge should not allow any draught in from outside, any unburnt gas must be vented outside.
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Apologies for my confusion in title and then subsequent openign statement. This was my thought the draught could be coming from the vents. I checked the fridge last night and the surrounds and no draughts so completely sealed as should be, i went under the
MH and found the open drop down vent that most described under the cooker, this is my source, Thanks all for the information. I think a towel or draugth excluder along the bottom drawer will work fine.0 -
I too had a howling wind around my Swift fridge but I re-engineered it and cured it, the problem is that swift continue to pruduce rubbish and call it a motor home.
My answer was to remove the fridge and build a proper fitted box arround the the vents so thet the fridge fitted closely.
It has to be said that this fault is possible killer as carbon-monoxide is poision and has killed hundreds if not thousands over the years, if its new I would take it back.
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If it's a new MH take it back, point out the draught and ask them to sort it out.
Putting a towel or draught excluder in place is a 'bodge up' and shouldn't be necessary on a new vehicle.
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there should be no serious 'draught' from an internal drop vent....these are generally quite small holes on the underside of the van and a horizontal wind wouldnt really penetrate there....
they are to gently let excess CO out, not a gale force wind in.....
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The problem is that swift continue to produce rubbish and call it a motor home.
I have to agree with you on that statement. After owning a Bolero for 3 years I was glad to see the back of it. I just got fed up with repairing it. It was to much agro taking it back as Swift insist on photographs of everything before they let the dealer do the repairs. So we could only take it in during the week and they would then contact us with a date for repairs.
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All just to clarify, there is no draught from the fridge or the surrounds of the fridge as per my last post. This has only been a slight (and emphasise the slight) draught found from the drawer under the cooker. nowhere else in the van has any form of draught.
Apart from already having to fix the catch on the gas locker door (Spring fell off on the inside mechanism as i was maybe a bit to keen to make sure it was closed) i am more than happy with the motorhome and i made sure of looking at all fixings and fittings,
seals inside and out etc as its a 500 mile round trip to the dealer. This weekend we are away again so will continue to keep an eye out for anything else.I really appreciate everyones comments and assistance.
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