Cleaning Side Vents Boler

[jeanpierre]

Hi, I am new to the forum and have been looking around at the threads with no luck finding an answer to the question of cleaning out the outside vents for the fridge.

I am wondering if it is worth doing? It's still winter in Saskatoon, so it will be a while before I get back to work on the trailer. I am pretty sure my Boler is a 77. The fridge is working but I always need to have it turned up to max for it to be cold. I am wondering if there is maybe dust, dirt and who knows what in there that is affecting the venting and causing some problems? Any advice?

I have also been looking at tank repair and have found many helpful threads on the subject. That and the fridge are the major projects for this summer. A couple years ago I repainted the inside, new floor, repainted exterior and had new curtains and fabric...

It's slowly coming along...

Thank you, Jean-Pierre.

[Lizbeth]

Cleaning is always a good idea. I think the biggest problem with the under counter fridge is lack of air flow for the vent because it is side vented not top vented. Heat rises and it has to move sideways as opposed to up.

Several people have installed computer type fans to help the air move. Some people have also reworked the baffle system to encourage the hot air to move up also by adding a 45% angle piece of sheet metal. In my Boler I'm not sure if there is room to do this with the large drawer I installed.

I don't have the original outside vent as it was missing on my trailer. I made a door with a vent. I prop it slightly open to help air move.

[jeanpierre]

Hey Lizbeth,

Thanks so much for your reply. I figured it would be a good thing... Who knows, it could be 1977 when it got cleaned last... Mainly because it came out of the factory! LOL! I will give it a cleaning, and see about mounting something to help out with the airflow... I was thinking I would use my air compressor to blow out the vent areas after removing the covers. Then I think wash down whatever I can reach with a light detergent... Thanks so much for your help. I'll keep posted with how bad it is, to maybe prompt other owners to have a look at the situation.

[Carol H]

Camping world also sells a small battery operated fridge fan that I use on really hot days to help my fridge out a bit.

[Lizbeth]

Carol are you talking about the one that goes inside the fridge? If so I use one of those too, it does help even out the interior temperature so the stuff on the bottom doesn't freeze.

[Donna D.]

Pete Dumbleton... RIP... mentioned putting mylar flaps inside the refrigerator.The kind you might see in a warehouse that separates rooms. I know he did it, and he said it was very functional and helped prevent the "cold" from pouring out when he opened the refrigerator door. He could reach between the flaps to grab what he wanted, but essentially the refrigerator portion was "sealed." Does this make sense the way I described it?

I too use an inside-the-refrigerator-battery-operated fan. I guess it works, the themometer says the 23 year old 3-way I have, stays cold once it gets to operating temperature.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Lizbeth

Carol are you talking about the one that goes inside the fridge? If so I use one of those too, it does help even out the interior temperature so the stuff on the bottom doesn't freeze.

Yes it the one the goes inside. It a small blue box type.

[Donna D.]

Like this? Valterra Products - FridgeCool Fan with On/Off Switch - Refrigerator Accessories - Camping World mine must be the cheaper model... doesn't have an on and off switch.

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by jeanpierre

The fridge is working but I always need to have it turned up to max for it to be cold. I am wondering if there is maybe dust, dirt and who knows what in there that is affecting the venting and causing some problems? Any advice?

Small trailers with under-the-counter refrigerators are prone to cooling problems if not installed correctly.

Venting an RV Refrigerator is my go-to reference that explains the problems and what some solutions are.

RV Refrigerator Efficiency 101 also has good information.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Like this? Valterra Products - FridgeCool Fan with On/Off Switch - Refrigerator Accessories - Camping World mine must be the cheaper model... doesn't have an on and off switch.

Yup Donna thats the one I have. It doesnt seem to use up a great deal of power when left on as it lasts a long time between battery changes. I just leave it in the fridge and turn on as the weather heats up.

[Bill K]

Sometimes mine won't start and I have found that blowing on the fan blades in the correct direction will start it.

Bill K

Originally Posted by Carol H

Yup Donna thats the one I have. It doesnt seem to use up a great deal of power when left on as it lasts a long time between battery changes. I just leave it in the fridge and turn on as the weather heats up.

[jeanpierre]

Thanks for all the tips everyone. I will give the vents a good cleaning and test things out... Then I will look in to one of those fans of the outside, because my fridge is so small... If all else fails I will go with one of the small interior fridge fans... The weather is heating up here, I hope to get on this sometime near the end of April! I will post with my results.