Leaving the refrigerator running???

[mmathias3]

I would like to know how many of you leave your refrigerator running while not on the road? We usually take 1 or 2 short trips a month, otherwise, the mobile man cave stays parked in the barn. I have been told by a service tech to leave it on, because cutting it off for long periods of time can cause the lines to detiorate or rust and clog which equals a expensive fix. Thanks for you help

[NLOVNIT]

We leave ours on if we're headed out several weekends in a row. Otherwise, it's off between trips.

Lori-

[deaton]

Since I have free power in my rental storage garage, I leave the coach plugged in and the refridgerator on. It's just easier and the beer stays cold - for maintenance work - and the condiments don't rot. I do believe it's also better for the refridgerator to be kept running that to sit idle. Batteries stay charged just right as well.

If I didn't have the power, and had to leave it running on gas, I would shut it down.

[Clifftall]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NLOVNIT We leave ours on if we're headed out several weekends in a row. Otherwise, it's off between trips. Lori-

We do the same and most will not believe this but depending on the setting you leave it on and the outside temp , it costs $20-$30 a month. A few friends of mine actually proved this with a meter.

[ga traveler]

I have been to factory schools on both Norcold and Dometic ref. According to the instructors almost all cooling coil failures are due to stoppage in the expansion tube. The cooling mixture is water and ammonia. They also add zinc chromate to help stop rusting. The more you run the ref. the more the expansion, the more buildup. I was told to leave the ref. running if you are going to use it within a week, But shut it off if it wil be longer.

["007"]

I have left my fridge working all summer pass years would use it as back up for house fridge.
Since the fires and screwed up recalls it gets emptied between trips now plus as Cliff said it is expensive to keep running between trips.

[richvkansas]

So, ga traveler, the mfgs say if your not using it, turn it off? So, using it shortens the life of the cooling unit more than not using it? I thought it was the other way around (no, I can't tell you where I heard or dreamed that). When we are not on the road, it is home and plugged in.

[HMXDave]

Last 3 trailers and 2 MH's we plug in and leave the fridges run from April until October. At home plugged in, out in the bush on LP...never an issue.

[ga traveler]

RichVKansas I started motorhoming in 1974. At that time the rule was, never park off level. You could ruin the cooling coil in just a few hours. the manuf. changed the design and now they say it will take days to damage the boiler and coil. WE were also told to leave the ref. running. I was told this was because the home ref. (servel made a home ref. that ran on gas.) ran all the time and they lasted almost forever. But in the real world, they found the Rv ref. didn't fare better. I just posted this for information. This is what I was taught at school. If you feel better running are not running, suit your ownelf.

[Wayne M]

Considering all the present day problems regarding "fires" with refrigerators, I'm going to keep mine off when in storage. It just gives me peace of mind if nothing else.