residential fridge ice maker water line

[bgholson]

I just replaced my Norcold with a residential fridge. There is the usual outside panel on my coach to access the back of the fridge and icemaker water line. I assume this panel is vented due to heat/gases from the norcold and I assume the residential fridge does not necessarily need this venting.

Should I put some type of insulation in this outside compartment to protect the ice maker water line from freezing and keep drafts out of the coach?

[Dr4Film]

I covered the three vents with Gorilla Tape and used a small section of fiberglass insulation over the ice maker line making sure I did not cover up any of the vent holes on the rear of the fridge.

Most of the time we are at places that are not freezing so the insulation is only there when needed as a prevention for the places that are questionable. Such as last year this time we were working for Amazon in Fernley NV where the temps were below freezing for over a month.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[HD4Mark]

Originally Posted by bgholson

I just replaced my Norcold with a residential fridge. There is the usual outside panel on my coach to access the back of the fridge and icemaker water line. I assume this panel is vented due to heat/gases from the norcold and I assume the residential fridge does not necessarily need this venting.

Should I put some type of insulation in this outside compartment to protect the ice maker water line from freezing and keep drafts out of the coach?

Most of us that did the conversion close off the vents and insulate. Our residential was so close to the back wall I left a very small opening right where the opening at the back of the fridge is and put some window screen over it. I'm not sure it was necessary but didn't cost much.

I can't comment on the line freezing since we go somewhere warm while the temps are like that

[Pigman1]

We substituted a flat plate (appropriately painted) for the lower panel and glued a 1" styrofoam panel to the inside of the plate. I also put 2" of styrofoam in the upper vent on the roof. No drafts or cold air issues any more. We do some cold weather camping and this really helps.

[jesilvas]

You do need to vent it some don't you? I mean, it's like any refrigeration system; it absorbs heat and disperses it somewhere else.

[ohhwell]

Originally Posted by jesilvas

You do need to vent it some don't you? I mean, it's like any refrigeration system; it absorbs heat and disperses it somewhere else.

It should be vented to the inside of the coach.

[Gary RVRoamer]

A residential fridge does indeed need airflow over its cooling coils and the evaporator tray too, but those probably are NOT at the rear. Make sure you know what area of the residential fridge needs good air circulation before you build it in.

That said, you should be able to enclose and insulate where the rear wall opening used to be.

[leatherneck]

I would shut the water to the ice maker off in the cold weather. If I need ice cheaper to by a bag. If the ice maker freezes by tech it will cost a lot to replace.

leatherneck USMC ret
2013 Palazzo 36