Fridge frosts up weekly

[allendick]

On my 2007 Bavaria 50, the entire heat exchange 'radiator' in the counter fridge frosts up solid after a week or so.

I find I have to defrost the thing periodically if I want it to go down to the 40 degrees or less that is safe for foods.

Of course if food and drink are kept in sealed containers, less moisture is circulating and the time between frost-ups is longer, but try to explain that the crew.

Am I the only person experiencing this? Am I doing something wrong? Or is this a normal feature of boat fridges?

Are there tricks besides limiting the moisture that get loose in there?

[SailingHarmonie]

Making SURE the door seal is good is what you might look at.

That and giving the crew 40 lashes.

The is not normal to need to defrost weekly. That is extreme.

[Sailingallday]

Try a new thermostat. Mine was doing similar (and a host of other problems). New thermostat fixed it. Now go a couple months without defrost.

[hlev00]

Test the gasket sealing the door with the dollar bill (or euro or whatever) test. Close the lid / door with a slip of paper between the gasket and the opposing surface. You should not be able to pull it out easily. If you can, you have a gap that is letting in outside air. Repeat around the opening.

Harry

[allendick]

Thanks for both replies. When I say a week, it could be ten days.

Also, I have suspected the control but I see that on this boat the sensing capillary tube is woven through the whatchamacallit. I have not seen that before.

[allendick]

I don't think the door seal is the issue. However, things are done on the counter that generate water or juice and on occasion water is spilled and gets in the cracks between the lid and counter. Even then I seldom see appreciable water entering the fridge.

I think all that moisture must come from open containers and produce, and it seems that defrosting is necessary periodically no matter what precautions are taken.

[deblen]

Try a small 12V fan blowing across/at condenser thingy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kNfNfHTgCo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnRKj7_BtNw

[flightlead404]

Every time you open the door you let warm moist air into the fridge/freezer. That moisture condenses and freezes. Keeping boxes of air in the fridge to fill up space will help. Opening the door less will help. The air is much more humid on a boat than in your air conditioned house, which is one reason its less of an issue at home.

[allendick]

Thanks. Actually it is quite amazing how the cold air in the counter fridge stays down and how little warm air enters. This is obvious when defrosting. To speed it up, a fan or hot water is needed.

We also see this effect in stores which have open top freezers to display frozen goods. The cold air is heavier and mostly stays down in the freezer. A fridge or freezer with a vertical door is entirely different because all the cold air falls out each time it is opened.

I have to assume that the ice comes from evaporation within the fridge, both from any spills that enter, and from unsealed containers.

[allendick]

> Try a small 12V fan blowing across/at condenser thingy.

This fridge does have a fan that is supposed to do that but in spite of it the entire thing was a block of frosty ice. I have my doubts about the control and have not checked for a defrost circuit.
If it does defrost, though, then the water falls to the bottom and if it is not sponged out, the cycle repeats? (I do wipe out any water I see on the bottom already).

I had a fridge guy onboard to recharge it recently but was not there to interview him.

I will just have to be a closer observer.

I got some good hints here.

[Cheechako]

Moisture is the cause and it has to come from somewhere. Door seal is often a culprit. But make sure the drain is draining and water hasn't accumulated in the bottom or hose.

[allendick]

This fridge has no drain.

[wholybee]

It's not liquid/moisture already in the box, because that moisture would not evaporate and condense. Its already cool. Its warm air coming inside, which then condenses as it cools. The tiniest leak is enough, because the cold air creates a slight vacuum and pulls the warm air in.