Where does the heat from my refrigerator go?

[deanoism]

I've got a 2009 Airflyte 12 Shasta, the all-electric model (one of the few). The fan in the Dometic fridge started emitting a hi pitched whine that was driving me mad and I replaced it with a couple of small ball bearing models. The fridge seems to work ok and it's definitely quieter. But when I pulled it out I noticed that there's no place for the dissipated heat to go back there. The bottom of the closet, which sits right over the fridge, gets pretty warm. There are some gaps behind the cabinetry but it doesn't seem likely they lead to any outdoor ventilation. I would trade the sleek outside fiberglass appearance for a little vent in this location, if I could. Seems pretty unsafe. Does anyone have any thoughts on or experience with this?

[ependydad]

There should be a chimney that the heat goes up and out via. It'll be behind the cabinet- between it and the outer wall.

[deanoism]

There is only one vent in this whole unit, it's over the toilet, and there doesn't appear to be any way for this area to connect to it. No vents in the side other than for the AC unit which is below this. The heat just seems to accumulate under the closet and perhaps drift behind it between the closet and the wall.

[ependydad]

On mine, it's a roof vent but plain white:



It's the one that has the wire running into it in the top-left corner of the picture.

Is your fridge a 2-way propane/electric? Or just electric-only?

[formerFR]

with a 'residential' type 120v electric only fridge, there is no 'outside' venting, neither is there one at your home's fridge.... it doesn't need outside ventilation, though because the normal operation of a fridge is that it takes heat 'from' the air, it will get warm, generally around the bottom where the compressor is, and that's what the fans are for.

[deanoism]

The only vent I have on the entire trailer is like the small round one in your pic, and it’s nowhere near the fridge area. You can see it just to the right of the toilet skylight in this photo. This is an all electric trailer, no propane.

[formerFR]

that is a plumbing vent, nothing to do with fridge or anything else.

[fonzie]

Is there a small space between fridge and above cabinet for heat to escape, only need 1/2 an inch for a small all electric fridge.

[deanoism]

formerFR, thanks, and that makes sense in a residential situation, where there's some room around the area, but this is in a very enclosed space. It wouldn't worry me except the floor in the little closet above it is quite warm.

[formerFR]

I get it, but residential electric fridge don't require outside ventilation, which is why you don't have any. Any fridge will make the area around it warm due to the nature of the beast... you can add more fans, if you wish.

[deanoism]

fonzie, yes, there is about that much, maybe 1/2" between the top of the fridge and the bottom of the closet. Still, makes me nervous. The way the "carpentry" works inside there, there is really no place else for the heat to go.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by deanoism

The only vent I have on the entire trailer is like the small round one in your pic, and it’s nowhere near the fridge area. You can see it just to the right of the toilet skylight in this photo. This is an all electric trailer, no propane.

Ahh yeah. I saw you say "all electric" in your original post, but it just didn't register.

The other folks are right- it gets warm, but is typically not vented. There's no reason why you couldn't add your own in the cabinet above.

[deanoism]

OK, well, thanks everyone. I guess the answer is to do nothing and quit worrying about it. The first part is easy...I'll work on the 2nd. Cheers.

[CYAH OUT THERE!]

Can you cut a small hole in the closet and add a small vent cover to use the heat? Would help with humidity in your closet.

[deanoism]

Nice!