Dometic Refrigerator problem

[dgerstel]

I have a Dometic New Dimensions 12ft side by side refrigerator that is starting to act up. Up until now the large finned plate in the back of the refrigerator side has always frosted up while in operation. Now after a "melt down"� on our return home, only the bottom ¼ and left ¾ of the plate is icing up. This causes problems of not enough cooling and over cooling at night due to the temp sensor being mounted on the right side of the plate where it is not as cool. I have checked out all of the controls, etc. But feel it is failing. My main problem at this point is that all of the repair people I talk to say that the plate does not frost up. Can anyone with the same unit tell me if your refrigerators cooling fins frost up or not?

Thank you for any info.
Dale

[dgerstel]

I have a Dometic New Dimensions 12ft side by side refrigerator that is starting to act up. Up until now the large finned plate in the back of the refrigerator side has always frosted up while in operation. Now after a "melt down"� on our return home, only the bottom ¼ and left ¾ of the plate is icing up. This causes problems of not enough cooling and over cooling at night due to the temp sensor being mounted on the right side of the plate where it is not as cool. I have checked out all of the controls, etc. But feel it is failing. My main problem at this point is that all of the repair people I talk to say that the plate does not frost up. Can anyone with the same unit tell me if your refrigerators cooling fins frost up or not?

Thank you for any info.
Dale

[Gary RVRoamer]

It should not frost up. Frost usually indicates an air leak around the door seals, allowing moist (and warm) air to enter the fridge and resulting in frost build-up. Setting the temperature control too high can also cause it. Believe it or not, frost on the cooling fins actually inhibits cooling of the fridge.

[GaryKD]

Frost forms on my fins, but only after weeks of use, in a hot humid climate with kids.

[dgerstel]

Gary

Does the frost form on the whole fin area? Now that it is having a problem it has changed to icing on less than ¼ the total area. The ice is forming from the water condensing above it on the fins that are not cooling normally and running down onto the small cool area. The normal frosting is very slight but over the entire area. Frost only builds up after many weeks of use in humid areas.

Dale

[GaryKD]

When the frost begins to form, is is pretty much even starting at the bottom and working up. The frost is thicker in the middle than the ends, but not by much.

We just finished 6 weeks of touring with the grand kids. Never defrosted the refer. The frost had filled between the fins at the bottom to about 1/4 the way up. After that it tapered off to nothing at the top.

In addition, I have a fridge mate running, positioned on the bottom shelf in the right rear corner.

[Bob (WA0MQE)]

Ours had never frosted in the past, even during our 3 month snowbird trips to Arizona. But this last winter we were gone for 5.5 months. Spent about 3 weeks in southern California, then back to Yuma, AZ for the remainder of the time. During the 3-weeks in California (mostly San Diego) the refer started frosting on the fins and continued. Freezer frosted up heavily where the ice maker is. It stayed that way the entire time. I was going to defrost it, but had no place to put our cold items so let it go. It still stayed cold enough so didn't worry about it.

Only when we got back home to Colorado and I shut everything down, did it finally melt. I think it had to do with the high humidity in California.

[Paulin]

Does your refer have a door heater and was it on or off? I understand this is to be used in high temp and humidity climates.

Paul

[dgerstel]

Paul

It has a high humidity and a low ambient temp switch, they are all in the correct position.

Dale