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Old 08-01-2020, 04:29 PM   #1
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Exterior fridge compartment cleaning

How do you folks clean your outside frig compartment? Manual says compressed air but that doesn't remove all the dirt. Wet cloth? Can you hose the inside gently? TIA
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Old 08-01-2020, 04:45 PM   #2
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I use a vacuum where I can, compressed air some, and mostly a wet cloth.
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Old 08-01-2020, 04:58 PM   #3
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Can you hose the inside gently? TIA
Hope so, I do. Yes, after long drives on dusty roads it does get grubby. Hand cleaning would be pretty ineffective.

There is a drain hole so water can mostly drain. Then a wipe or compressed air dry off.

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Old 08-01-2020, 06:09 PM   #4
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Thanks Ron & Bob! I did use the hose & was worried I killed it!

Can I ask another ? Of you two? I think I understand how the hot water tank fills but correct me if I’m wrong. After filling fresh tank do you turn on hot tap & pump then assume tank is full once water comes out spout? Would assume you would need to add more water to tank to replace what went into hot water tank.
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Old 08-01-2020, 06:48 PM   #5
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Thanks Ron & Bob! I did use the hose & was worried I killed it!

Can I ask another ? Of you two? I think I understand how the hot water tank fills but correct me if I’m wrong. After filling fresh tank do you turn on hot tap & pump then assume tank is full once water comes out spout? Would assume you would need to add more water to tank to replace what went into hot water tank.
1) Not necessarily; If the hot water heater valves are set to bypass you will get water out of the hot water side of the faucet but the water heater will still be empty .
2) If you fill your water heater from your onboard fresh water tank , when the water heater is full you can add 6 more gallons to your fresh water tank .
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Old 08-01-2020, 06:53 PM   #6
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Yes, that's correct. Although the first water that comes out of the hot water tap doesn't mean that the hot water tank is full. If you close the tap at that point then the first time that you use hot water you'll get a lot of burping and spurting of water because there's still air in the tank even though some water has come out of the tap. Run it until the burping stops.

Yes, the hot water tank fills from the fresh water tank so it needs topping up after filling the hot water tank.

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Old 08-01-2020, 07:11 PM   #7
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Yes, the hot water tank fills from the fresh water tank so it needs topping up after filling the hot water tank.
Ron

Can it not also fill from city water? I've connected to city water and, after some time, opened the pressure relief valve and let water flow for a while.
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Old 08-01-2020, 07:41 PM   #8
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Can't help you with filling the HW tank, I've been told I've been doing it wrong for the last 15 years.
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Old 08-01-2020, 09:56 PM   #9
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Can it not also fill from city water? I've connected to city water and, after some time, opened the pressure relief valve and let water flow for a while.
You could although I think the OP was referring to filling with a hose.

Rather than open the PRV it's better to just open the hot water tap plus it purges the line from the tank to the tap of air. I cringe every time I hear of folks opening the PRV. All that crud that's just sitting there inside waiting to move out can contaminate the valve seat and cause a dripping valve.

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Old 08-02-2020, 08:26 AM   #10
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Rather than open the PRV it's better to just open the hot water tap plus it purges the line from the tank to the tap of air. I cringe every time I hear of folks opening the PRV. All that crud that's just sitting there inside waiting to move out can contaminate the valve seat and cause a dripping valve.
I'm with you on that.

Another along the same line is folks who use an AC breaker in the panel as a switch. They are meant for line protection and isolating the circuit for working on it, not regularly switching the circuit on and off.

The risks might not cause a problem, but why risk it if you don't have to?
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Old 08-02-2020, 10:49 AM   #11
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How do you folks clean your outside frig compartment? Manual says compressed air but that doesn't remove all the dirt. Wet cloth? Can you hose the inside gently? TIA
Like Friendly Giant used to say "Look Up. Way Up". Installing solar using fridge vent access and look what I found. Screen was rusty so decided to cut off. Now trying to find comparable screen and hard to find. Anyone replace and source?
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Old 08-02-2020, 10:56 AM   #12
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I had to cut mine, but not to the edge like you did. I wired in some 1/4" hardware cloth to close it back up.
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Old 08-02-2020, 11:54 AM   #13
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Like Friendly Giant used to say "Look Up. Way Up". Installing solar using fridge vent access and look what I found. Screen was rusty so decided to cut off. Now trying to find comparable screen and hard to find. Anyone replace and source?
This should work fine.

https://www.amazon.com/TIMESETL-Stai.../dp/B07S67DPPS
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Old 08-02-2020, 02:10 PM   #14
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Tom,
The size I need is 6x22. This mesh is woven and if cut the strands on new perimeter will be loose.
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Old 08-02-2020, 03:18 PM   #15
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A small paint brush , a shop vac and wipe with a damp rag
I avoid using compressed air when cleaning mechanical equipment, I’ve seen it destroy as much as it clean .
( Forces dirt into unwanted areas )
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Old 08-02-2020, 03:30 PM   #16
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You can also purchase the screen mesh material at Lowe’s or Home Depot

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Old 08-02-2020, 03:35 PM   #17
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Tom,
The size I need is 6x22. This mesh is woven and if cut the strands on new perimeter will be loose.
The mesh can be cut with tin snips to size. The mesh is then glued to the vent base. I would use 3M 5200 - it will never come off.

Or..... take a bunch of dicor sealant off and a bunch of screws then buy a replacement vent base. The screen Dometic uses does tend to rust though - the stainless mesh should last longer.

https://www.dometic.com/en-us/us/pro...f-vent-_-47021

https://www.amazon.com/Dometic-33126.../dp/B00BUS00XI
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Old 08-02-2020, 03:52 PM   #18
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I had to cut mine, but not to the edge like you did. I wired in some 1/4" hardware cloth to close it back up.
I did the same, left a 1/2" around the perimeter and used it to wire a new screen on.

On my 19 I was kind of disappointed to find the less than 6 month old screen was already pretty rusty. Too bad that it's not s/s.

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