Question Residential Refrigerator

[lostinfla]

Since our coach is plugged in at all campgrounds while on the road, and 24/7 while at home, I pretty much leave the AC set at a higher temp when not occupied to keep things purring along and moisture control. I was thinking of leaving the fridge run (like home units) at a higher temp setting with a few things in the freezer just to keep it happy. Not sure if shutting it off when we have it in storage (behind the house) is the best idea. Things sometimes don't start up or reboot and work the same. What say ye?

 

[Buster]

That's what I do. A/C set at 80 and fridge running with a few things in it like condiments and a few cans of beer and soda pop. I also keep some ice in the freezer and check on it to see if it melted. As long as it didn't, I know I didn't lose power for any length of time. I don't adjust the temp setting on the fridge though.

 

[newmarokie]

one of the old "lake" tricks for when you are not always around. Freeze a styrofoam cup about half full of water. After frozen lay a penny on top of the ice. You can always tell at a glance if the power has been off for a extended period of time.

 

[lostinfla]

If the power goes out in the coach, it goes out in the house, so I'm not worried about that.

 

[Richpatty]

I have always debated this…. I tend to shut the fridge off when not in use. Mostly because we do not travel as much as we would like. As far as the theory that keeping it running is better, I wonder if it matters since the compressor, fans, etc. cycle on and off all the time anyway, so shutting it off is just like one cycle anyway, yes? . Plus it saves me money in electricity.

I have been turning the fridge off since the RV is new with no issues…and although it does not mean I am right, it has not hurt me either…

My 2 cents.

 

[lostinfla]

I have always debated this…. I tend to shut the fridge off when not in use. Mostly because we do not travel as much as we would like. As far as the theory that keeping it running is better, I wonder if it matters since the compressor, fans, etc. cycle on and off all the time anyway, so shutting it off is just like one cycle anyway, yes? . Plus it saves me money in electricity.

I have been turning the fridge off since the RV is new with no issues…and although it does not mean I am right, it has not hurt me either…

My 2 cents.

We've always turned it off and left the doors open, but I'm thinking now I'll let it run.

 

[MarkMaxPayne]

I have always debated this…. I tend to shut the fridge off when not in use. Mostly because we do not travel as much as we would like. As far as the theory that keeping it running is better, I wonder if it matters since the compressor, fans, etc. cycle on and off all the time anyway, so shutting it off is just like one cycle anyway, yes? . Plus it saves me money in electricity.

I have been turning the fridge off since the RV is new with no issues…and although it does not mean I am right, it has not hurt me either…

My 2 cents.

Ditto. I turn mine off and prop the doors open to air out while storing. On the Samsungs this also tends to help with the icemaker as my inline water filter that is built into the fridge likes to freeze up at the connection where it twists into fridge itself (Samsung says this happens when you get air in the water lines to their icemaker).

Decommissioning it, propping the doors open, and ensuring the filter is removed has helped to ensure no surprises come spring when I'm ready to get going on the road again.

Best,
-Mark

 

[Kevin D Pem]

one of the old "lake" tricks for when you are not always around. Freeze a styrofoam cup about half full of water. After frozen lay a penny on top of the ice. You can always tell at a glance if the power has been off for a extended period of time.

Should use a nickel. Ever see what happens to the penny? What a waist of half a thought.

 

[Neal]

I never turn mine off. Things fail when powering on/off such as lightbulbs etc. Mine stays on and at normal settings as well.

 

[osuallen]

We turn ours off and prop the doors open when we winterize, but leave it on all rest of the time, including between trips. We leave condiments a few staples/regular items and several bottles of water or thermal mass.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

Two things I never turn off are the inverter and the refrigerator and I don't change the settings on the refrigerator. My auto gen start is always enabled also.

 

[AbdRahim]

Mine is only idle for three months, but I am with Jim, they stay on. Frezzer also full. Ready to roll.

 

[team bradfield]

Always on, full of bottled water, beer and condiments, freezer has ice and overflow foods

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I don't worry about turning off a refrigerator. My view is it does it on it's own, what 10 or more times a day? Then what? They last 20 or more years!

I say do what you want. Residential fridges are resilient.

 

[Roadglide117]

I never shut mine off, apartment manager told me that almost all fridge control boards made in asia, not made to last (8-10 yrs). Turn them on and leave them run. Sitting off is not good for them. I've not any problems doing this.

 

[Richpatty]

I guess I am in the minority… but I will not travel until as late as June this year…and my last trip is usually around October….so why run it for 6+ months with nothing in it?

 

[Boat Bum]

I shut mine off after every trip while it's parked, albeit on a very sloped driveway. I will run it overnight before a trip on this same sloped driveway w/o issue; so far.

 

[J&JD]

I guess I am in the minority… but I will not travel until as late as June this year…and my last trip is usually around October….so why run it for 6+ months with nothing in it?

Couldn’t agree more. We always shut ours down after a trip and open the doors. I don’t buy the argument that shutting them down is bad for the system. If you leave it on it cycles itself on/off 24/7. Why leave it on?
When we purchased the coach, the tech going over everything with us told us the easiest way is to get all the settings the way you want them, and just turn the refrigerator breaker off. So far so good.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I never shut mine off, apartment manager told me that almost all fridge control boards made in asia, not made to last (8-10 yrs). Turn them on and leave them run. Sitting off is not good for them. I've not any problems doing this.

There yah go! I don't go for bells and whistles. Simple analog thermostat for me. Number one component to fail is a capacitor. The Asians are years ahead of us when it comes to electronics. I would explain why, but that would become political.

It would be nice if the people with opinions, were also experts