2021 Sundance 283RB Fridge drain
- Thread starter skifreak
- Start date
wdk450
Well-known member
Your newer Dometic refrigerator probably has this newer style condensate drain that goes to an open top plastic container in the lower outside refrigerator access louver cover. According to the video the container is mounted to some cooling unit piping that gets hot in normal operation, and the heat should evaporate any condensate water in the container into the atmosphere. This same system is used on home refrigerators.
No more drain hose coming out the lower outside refrigerator vent cover, as with the older units.
No more drain hose coming out the lower outside refrigerator vent cover, as with the older units.
wdk450
Well-known member
I wonder if somebody has come up with a retrofit kit for all the older RV refrigerators to do this same thing. With all the older (pre -2020?) RV refrigerators out there this could be a big niche market opportunity. I submitted a comment to RV Cooling Unit Warehouse (who sells a variety of complete cooling units and accessory fans, etc. for improving RV refrigerator performance) about this business opportunity.
djpjkglg1199
Member
My older RV's had RV refers (Absorption Models with Propane for travel) and there was an outside Cover to access the rear of my Refers (to change out Defective Main Boards, etc.) Located clearly was the PLASTIC condensate Tub. It would sometimes be BRIMMING in the winter months or colder weather and had nowhere to go.
Solution: I drilled a quarter-inch hole into the bottom and ran a small piece of tubing to allow it to drain outside of the Cover. I cleaned the TUB from time to time with a paper towel as it would scum up.
Solution: I drilled a quarter-inch hole into the bottom and ran a small piece of tubing to allow it to drain outside of the Cover. I cleaned the TUB from time to time with a paper towel as it would scum up.
jerryjay11
Well-known member
Even household refrigerators defrost drain tubes require periodic cleaning due to scum plugging. When this occurs the defrost water backs up in the freezer compartment, freezes at the bottom and I would have to melt with hot water and sometimes a wire shoved down the drain. On absorption RV fridges the ice won't build up because it doesn't defrost until you shut it down between trips. So, if you notice water in the fridge compartment after turning off the fridge you may want to, know where that drain line is.
Your absorption fridge if working properly is programmed by the control board to do a defrost every 48 hours. Your fridge if equipped with fans will shut down for approx. 40 minutes and allow the frost to melt off the fins at the back of the fridge. It can go into a defrost mode sooner depending on how often it is opened, humidity and amount of food. If you shut it down within the 48 hour timeframe, it will rest itself. Absorption fridges were designed with the small plastic tray to catch the thawed water and allow to evaporate. This was the tough process of the engineering dept. BUT if the tray is full and hasn’t evaporated when you travel the water spills out under the back of the fridge unit and causes wet, moldy wood. I run my tube out through the vent.
jerryjay11
Well-known member
True though folks might like to know it doesn't defrost the freezer, only the fins in the fresh food compartment. The freezer if frosted up will have to be done manually by turning it off. Yes, that drain tube should be run out the vent unlike where I found mine when I first purchased our Pioneer. Stuffed beside the fridge and leaving a puddle in the compartment before. Never crossed my mind until then.
