Refrigerator vent baffle

[Ksz426]

Hi everyone.

Now that it's 100+ degrees here in Phoenix my refrigerator is struggling to keep below 40 degrees. I was thinking of adding some additional fans to the rear vent as others have done.

I removed the upper panel, to see how much room I have or not. From what I've seen other post, it looks to me that the baffle is a lot lower than it should be.

Should I extend it up? If so, how much? To the bottom of the fins? I think I'm still going to add an extra fan or two.

Thanks.

[ChuckS]

Look on about page 24 of this installation manual..this is for Dometic series of fridges

https://www.dometic.com/assets/18/26/3313238_81826.pdf

[jsb5717]

Part of the issue is that the design is inefficient. Some have used some flashing to direct the baffle over the the fins so that any, ANY air movement from the bottom vent has to go through the fins. After doing that, then adding fans at the top of the outer vent will help move air through the fins as well as remove hot air build-up on top of the fridge. Those 2 things should help quite a bit.

You can also add fins to inside the fridge to better move the cold air around but I would do the above first

[Ksz426]

Originally Posted by ChuckS

Look on about page 24 of this installation manual..this is for Dometic series of fridges

https://www.dometic.com/assets/18/26/3313238_81826.pdf

Hi Chuck.

Thank you. Picture # 24 on page 23 shows a half inch gap between the baffle and fins. But that’s for a top vent, it looks like. Would it be the same for the side vent on mine?

Thanks.

[markcee]

I'll be watching this thread as I'm in the Phoenix area as well and have same issues in very hot weather with my slide-mounted Dometic DM2872. From what I've read over the last couple years, it seems like slide mounted fridge's are a lot more prone to overheating and undercooling due to their inability to vent efficiently.

Even though my baffle appears to be installed appropriately, I believe that I was shorted the 2 fans that I believe is called for in the the install manual. Looking down from the top vent I neither see, nor hear any fans.

Aside from yanking out the fridge, I see no way to install the fans in the appropriate location at this point. I am planning on using one of the DIY methods...perhaps mounting 2 fans low blowing air up the baffle and 2 mounted at the top to suck it out.

[bobbecky]

On the ARPrv site, there is install info for their fans, which can be bought on Amazon, at least similar fans. We have the 12 cu ft Norcold which has the factory fans but the added fans from ARP really add serious air flow to our slide mounted fridge. https://www.arprv.com/rv-fan-vent.php

[ChuckS]

Originally Posted by Ksz426

Hi Chuck.

Thank you. Picture # 24 on page 23 shows a half inch gap between the baffle and fins. But that’s for a top vent, it looks like. Would it be the same for the side vent on mine?

Thanks.

I don’t have a picture to show you but my Dometic 1350 mounted in a slide out with two wall vents has maybe 1/2 inch clearance between the baffle and the coil fins

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by markcee

I'll be watching this thread as I'm in the Phoenix area as well and have same issues in very hot weather with my slide-mounted Dometic DM2872. From what I've read over the last couple years, it seems like slide mounted fridge's are a lot more prone to overheating and undercooling due to their inability to vent efficiently.

Even though my baffle appears to be installed appropriately, I believe that I was shorted the 2 fans that I believe is called for in the the install manual. Looking down from the top vent I neither see, nor hear any fans.

Aside from yanking out the fridge, I see no way to install the fans in the appropriate location at this point. I am planning on using one of the DIY methods...perhaps mounting 2 fans low blowing air up the baffle and 2 mounted at the top to suck it out.

If you can see, look at the top fins on the left side for a thermal switch. No switch, no fans.

[JJnLilly]

On our previous unit the refrigerator was in the slide and it had a hard time keeping up so I added two fans at the top and one at the bottom. Bottom one pulling air in and blowing it up and the top ones exhausting the hotter air.