Dometic refrigerator

[David Brady]

Folks,

My refrigerator is very, very difficult to open -
sometimes. My wife has to really tug on the handle,
and I use the freezer door handle as a fulcrum
to apply leverage to get the door open. It is
intermittent though. Sometimes it opens easily,
other times it's next to impossible. The door
seems to use a garden variety magnetic seal
which shouldn't be able to apply this kind of
clamping force. There has to be a vacuum
effect taking place inside the fridge, but the
hose leading from the drip plate just below
the inside cooling fins is free and clear. Anyone
else have this problem?

TIA,
Dave
'02 LXi, Smokey
Virginia


--
Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.322 / Virus Database: 266.11.17 - Release Date: 5/25/2005

[Ralph L. Fullenwider]

Dave:

Is the slide lock in the handle broken or the spring missing causing it to
partly lock in place? Just a thought.

Safe travels,

Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
Dream_35_Team
'85FC35 in Oklahoma
Ralph's RV Solutions
http://home.swbell.net/rlf47/index.htm

At 10:37 PM 6/1/2005 -0400, you wrote:
>Folks,
>
>My refrigerator is very, very difficult to open -
>sometimes. My wife has to really tug on the handle,
>and I use the freezer door handle as a fulcrum
>to apply leverage to get the door open. It is
>intermittent though. Sometimes it opens easily,
>other times it's next to impossible. The door
>seems to use a garden variety magnetic seal
>which shouldn't be able to apply this kind of
>clamping force. There has to be a vacuum
>effect taking place inside the fridge, but the
>hose leading from the drip plate just below
>the inside cooling fins is free and clear. Anyone
>else have this problem?
>
>TIA,
>Dave
>'02 LXi, Smokey
>Virginia

[Jeff Miller]

Dave:

Does it happen mostly when re-opening after closing, especially just
after closing the freezer door? I have had this problem, after
closing the door the air inside rapidly cools and contracts, causing
a vacuum strong enough to prevent normal opening for about 10seconds
(can hear the air pull in around the seal).

- Jeff Miller


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, David Brady
wrote:
> Folks,
>
> My refrigerator is very, very difficult to open -
> sometimes. My wife has to really tug on the handle,
> and I use the freezer door handle as a fulcrum
> to apply leverage to get the door open. It is
> intermittent though. Sometimes it opens easily,
> other times it's next to impossible. The door
> seems to use a garden variety magnetic seal
> which shouldn't be able to apply this kind of
> clamping force. There has to be a vacuum
> effect taking place inside the fridge, but the
> hose leading from the drip plate just below
> the inside cooling fins is free and clear. Anyone
> else have this problem?
>
> TIA,
> Dave
> '02 LXi, Smokey
> Virginia
>
>
> --
> Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> Version: 7.0.322 / Virus Database: 266.11.17 - Release Date:
5/25/2005

[David Brady]

Ralph, Jeff,

Thanks for your replies. It doesn't seem to be
the latch. The latch is a pin at the top of the door
which clearly retracts when I press the lever at
the door handle. It does seem to be associated
with a vacuum and seems to be related to cooling
as Jeff suggested. If I open and close the door
in quick succession, it's easy. If I wait a minute,
then it's very difficult. The rapid cooling idea seems
to fit. Isn't there some kind of pressure relief inside
the refrigerator chamber?

Dave

Jeff Miller wrote:

>Dave:
>
>Does it happen mostly when re-opening after closing, especially just
>after closing the freezer door? I have had this problem, after
>closing the door the air inside rapidly cools and contracts, causing
>a vacuum strong enough to prevent normal opening for about 10seconds
>(can hear the air pull in around the seal).
>
> - Jeff Miller
>
>
>--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, David Brady
>wrote:
>
>
>>Folks,
>>
>>My refrigerator is very, very difficult to open -
>>sometimes. My wife has to really tug on the handle,
>>and I use the freezer door handle as a fulcrum
>>to apply leverage to get the door open. It is
>>intermittent though. Sometimes it opens easily,
>>other times it's next to impossible. The door
>>seems to use a garden variety magnetic seal
>>which shouldn't be able to apply this kind of
>>clamping force. There has to be a vacuum
>>effect taking place inside the fridge, but the
>>hose leading from the drip plate just below
>>the inside cooling fins is free and clear. Anyone
>>else have this problem?
>>
>>TIA,
>>Dave
>>'02 LXi, Smokey
>>Virginia
>>
>>
>>--
>>Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
>>Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
>>Version: 7.0.322 / Virus Database: 266.11.17 - Release Date:
>>
>>
>5/25/2005
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>



--
Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.322 / Virus Database: 266.11.17 - Release Date: 5/25/2005

[John Suter]

Hi Dave,

No need to feel alone with your Dometic, the Norcold
plays the identical suction game, especially the right
freezer side.

I have heard Dometic and Norcold seminar speakers
suggest the cause is a combination of "great sealing"
combined with inadequate owner cleaning of the gaskets
wherein food "sugars" breakdown chemically, become
sticky and hold the gasket to the frame. I say,
"nonsense." I've followed their recommendations for
cleaning with warm soapy water after every trip and
the one door still acts the same, but no others.
Let's blame the engineers! ;-}

John Suter
2000LXi Norcold 1200RIM


--- David Brady wrote:

> Folks,
>
> My refrigerator is very, very difficult to open -
> sometimes. My wife has to really tug on the handle,
> and I use the freezer door handle as a fulcrum
> to apply leverage to get the door open. It is
> intermittent though. Sometimes it opens easily,
> other times it's next to impossible. The door
> seems to use a garden variety magnetic seal
> which shouldn't be able to apply this kind of
> clamping force. There has to be a vacuum
> effect taking place inside the fridge, but the
> hose leading from the drip plate just below
> the inside cooling fins is free and clear. Anyone
> else have this problem?
>
> TIA,
> Dave
> '02 LXi, Smokey
> Virginia
>
>
> --
> Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> Version: 7.0.322 / Virus Database: 266.11.17 -
> Release Date: 5/25/2005
>
>




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[George Lowry]

FWIW, I have a built in refrigerator in our house that does the same
thing. I think it is an indication of getting a good seal, just the
opposite if the usual complaint.

George Lowry
'95 WBDA 4203 & GM 4106 (for sale)
Spearfish, SD


John Suter wrote:

> Hi Dave,
>
> No need to feel alone with your Dometic, the Norcold
> plays the identical suction game, especially the right
> freezer side.
>
> I have heard Dometic and Norcold seminar speakers
> suggest the cause is a combination of "great sealing"
> combined with inadequate owner cleaning of the gaskets
> wherein food "sugars" breakdown chemically, become
> sticky and hold the gasket to the frame. I say,
> "nonsense." I've followed their recommendations for
> cleaning with warm soapy water after every trip and
> the one door still acts the same, but no others.
> Let's blame the engineers! ;-}
>
> John Suter
> 2000LXi Norcold 1200RIM
>
>
> --- David Brady wrote:
>
>
>>Folks,
>>
>>My refrigerator is very, very difficult to open -
>>sometimes. My wife has to really tug on the handle,
>>and I use the freezer door handle as a fulcrum
>>to apply leverage to get the door open. It is
>>intermittent though. Sometimes it opens easily,
>>other times it's next to impossible. The door
>>seems to use a garden variety magnetic seal
>>which shouldn't be able to apply this kind of
>>clamping force. There has to be a vacuum
>>effect taking place inside the fridge, but the
>>hose leading from the drip plate just below
>>the inside cooling fins is free and clear. Anyone
>>else have this problem?
>>
>>TIA,
>>Dave
>>'02 LXi, Smokey
>>Virginia
>>
>>
>>--
>>Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
>>Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
>>Version: 7.0.322 / Virus Database: 266.11.17 -
>>Release Date: 5/25/2005
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________
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[Tom Warner]

John I cant see how a dometic could ever establish a vacuum in the
refrigerator if the vent tube that runs from a tray just under the freezer
to the outside is properly routed and not plugged. I have never had that
problem with either new Dometic that I installed over the last 5 years.

Tom
1982 FC35
Vernon Center,NY

At 05:32 AM 6/2/2005 -0700, you wrote:
>Hi Dave,
>
> No need to feel alone with your Dometic, the Norcold
>plays the identical suction game, especially the right
>freezer side.
>
> I have heard Dometic and Norcold seminar speakers
>suggest the cause is a combination of "great sealing"
>combined with inadequate owner cleaning of the gaskets
>wherein food "sugars" breakdown chemically, become
>sticky and hold the gasket to the frame. I say,
>"nonsense." I've followed their recommendations for
>cleaning with warm soapy water after every trip and
>the one door still acts the same, but no others.
>Let's blame the engineers! ;-}
>
>John Suter
>2000LXi Norcold 1200RIM
>
>
>--- David Brady wrote:
>
> > Folks,
> >
> > My refrigerator is very, very difficult to open -
> > sometimes. My wife has to really tug on the handle,
> > and I use the freezer door handle as a fulcrum
> > to apply leverage to get the door open. It is
> > intermittent though. Sometimes it opens easily,
> > other times it's next to impossible. The door
> > seems to use a garden variety magnetic seal
> > which shouldn't be able to apply this kind of
> > clamping force. There has to be a vacuum
> > effect taking place inside the fridge, but the
> > hose leading from the drip plate just below
> > the inside cooling fins is free and clear. Anyone
> > else have this problem?
> >
> > TIA,
> > Dave
> > '02 LXi, Smokey
> > Virginia
> >
> >
> > --
> > Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
> > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> > Version: 7.0.322 / Virus Database: 266.11.17 -
> > Release Date: 5/25/2005
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>__________________________________
>Discover Yahoo!
>Get on-the-go sports scores, stock quotes, news and more. Check it out!
>http://discover.yahoo.com/mobile.html
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

[John Suter]

Tom, our vacuum develops in the right-hand freezer
section of the Norcold. Both freezer sections appear
sealed and I don't recall seeing any vent tubes from
there; however, the refrigerator has a catch pan under
its fins, with a tube to the rear and outside for
drainage.

John


--- Tom Warner wrote:

> John I cant see how a dometic could ever establish a
> vacuum in the
> refrigerator if the vent tube that runs from a tray
> just under the freezer
> to the outside is properly routed and not plugged. I
> have never had that
> problem with either new Dometic that I installed
> over the last 5 years.
>
> Tom
> 1982 FC35
> Vernon Center,NY
>
> At 05:32 AM 6/2/2005 -0700, you wrote:
> >Hi Dave,
> >
> > No need to feel alone with your Dometic, the
> Norcold
> >plays the identical suction game, especially the
> right
> >freezer side.
> >
> > I have heard Dometic and Norcold seminar
> speakers
> >suggest the cause is a combination of "great
> sealing"
> >combined with inadequate owner cleaning of the
> gaskets
> >wherein food "sugars" breakdown chemically, become
> >sticky and hold the gasket to the frame. I say,
> >"nonsense." I've followed their recommendations
> for
> >cleaning with warm soapy water after every trip and
> >the one door still acts the same, but no others.
> >Let's blame the engineers! ;-}
> >
> >John Suter
> >2000LXi Norcold 1200RIM
> >
> >
> >--- David Brady wrote:
> >
> > > Folks,
> > >
> > > My refrigerator is very, very difficult to open
> -
> > > sometimes. My wife has to really tug on the
> handle,
> > > and I use the freezer door handle as a fulcrum
> > > to apply leverage to get the door open. It is
> > > intermittent though. Sometimes it opens easily,
> > > other times it's next to impossible. The door
> > > seems to use a garden variety magnetic seal
> > > which shouldn't be able to apply this kind of
> > > clamping force. There has to be a vacuum
> > > effect taking place inside the fridge, but the
> > > hose leading from the drip plate just below
> > > the inside cooling fins is free and clear.
> Anyone
> > > else have this problem?
> > >
> > > TIA,
> > > Dave
> > > '02 LXi, Smokey
> > > Virginia
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
> > > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> > > Version: 7.0.322 / Virus Database: 266.11.17 -
> > > Release Date: 5/25/2005
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >__________________________________
> >Discover Yahoo!
> >Get on-the-go sports scores, stock quotes, news and
> more. Check it out!
> >http://discover.yahoo.com/mobile.html
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>




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[Jeff Miller]

Simple physics. The cooling air contracts, if there is insufficient
make-up air volume to keep up with the contracting air then a parital
vacuum is established.

It is possible that your Dometics didn't seal properly, I have found
that the Norcold tends to seal better, and the units larger than your
FC model are more prone to the temporary vacuum, especially the side-by-
side.

- Jeff Miller


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Tom Warner
wrote:
> John I cant see how a dometic could ever establish a vacuum in the
> refrigerator if the vent tube that runs from a tray just under the
freezer
> to the outside is properly routed and not plugged. I have never had
that
> problem with either new Dometic that I installed over the last 5
years.
>
> Tom
> 1982 FC35
> Vernon Center,NY

[Tom McCarthy]

Dave,

What's the issue? Too many of us cannot keep the refrigerator door
closed. Have you looked at some of the rally pictures lately? ;-)

Tom McCarthy
95 PT42
Poway, CA

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, David Brady
wrote:
> Folks,
>
> My refrigerator is very, very difficult to open -
> sometimes. My wife has to really tug on the handle,
> and I use the freezer door handle as a fulcrum
> to apply leverage to get the door open. It is
> intermittent though. Sometimes it opens easily,
> other times it's next to impossible. The door
> seems to use a garden variety magnetic seal
> which shouldn't be able to apply this kind of
> clamping force. There has to be a vacuum
> effect taking place inside the fridge, but the
> hose leading from the drip plate just below
> the inside cooling fins is free and clear. Anyone
> else have this problem?
>
> TIA,
> Dave
> '02 LXi, Smokey
> Virginia
>
>
> --
> Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> Version: 7.0.322 / Virus Database: 266.11.17 - Release Date:
5/25/2005