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03-01-2012, 04:01 AM
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#1
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ogdensburg
Posts: 55
M.O.C. #8100
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Dometic refrigerator climate control not working?
We have a Dometic refrigerator model DM2862 in our 2009 3400RL. We have been on the coast in SE Texas since late January. It has been quite humid most of those days, as we have experienced before (we have been here for part of two winters with this unit and no refrigerator issues up until now). The finned evaporator developed drops of water almost immediately after we arrived so temp was turned down from 4 to 3. The climate control switch was, and is, in the ON position. This morning, we found all but five of the fins completely frosted up; so much so that there is no space between them, only frost. The last five are partially frosted. We have a freezer full of frozen fish so do not want to defrost if we can fix this issue another way. Suggestions and recommendations would be most welcomed.
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03-01-2012, 05:00 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: corning
Posts: 694
M.O.C. #6635
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Frosting up that quickly is not normal. Sounds like a gasket on the door has failed.
We go 3 months in the Florida Keys and are not that frosted.
I know of no other way than defrosting to get rid of the frost.
I have heard of people putting their frozen food into a good cooler and then using a hair drier on low heat to defrost quickly. But I have not tried it myself.
Check the owners manual for precautions. Do not use sharp objects.
Good luck.
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03-01-2012, 06:47 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Benson
Posts: 3,121
M.O.C. #1658
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I agree with camper4, it sounds like your door is not sealing properly. We have a foldup insulated cooler we put the frozen food in while defrosting. Dometic does not recommend a hairdryer but we have cautiously used one on occaision. All it takes is an air flow into the compartment to speed things up
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03-01-2012, 07:19 AM
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#4
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ogdensburg
Posts: 55
M.O.C. #8100
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by camper4
Frosting up that quickly is not normal. Sounds like a gasket on the door has failed.
We go 3 months in the Florida Keys and are not that frosted.
I know of no other way than defrosting to get rid of the frost.
I have heard of people putting their frozen food into a good cooler and then using a hair drier on low heat to defrost quickly. But I have not tried it myself.
Check the owners manual for precautions. Do not use sharp objects.
Good luck.
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Thank you for your response. The gasket seems to be fine. It has defrosted so we'll start over and see what happens. Thanks again. BTW... do you know what the white tab, that is attached to the fin on the far right, is for? It slides up and down. The rep told us when we did our walk through but we've both forgotten and it's not mentioned in any of the refrigerator literature we have.
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03-01-2012, 07:32 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Gardnerville
Posts: 749
M.O.C. #2165
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That tab holds the temperature sensor. I can't remember the particulars, but there has been more than one thread talking about it and how to adjust the temperature.
The climate control prevents condensation from forming on the outside of the refrigerator. It doesn't have anything to do with keeping frost off the fins.
Bob
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03-01-2012, 07:57 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Winfield
Posts: 7,327
M.O.C. #6846
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The sliding tab is the temperature control for inside the fridge. The easiest way to remember it is up (think North) is for colder, down (think South) is for warmer.
Bingo
__________________
Bingo and Cathy - Our adventures begin in the hills of WV. We are blessed by our 2014 3850FL Big Sky (previous 2011 3750FL and 2007 3400RL) that we pull with a 2007 Chevy Silverado Classic DRW CC dually.
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03-01-2012, 07:57 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: corning
Posts: 694
M.O.C. #6635
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Since your seal appears to be okay, I can only offer that you should limit the time the door is open as much as possible. As mentioned above, there is no inside auto defrost so the longer the door is open, the faster the coils frost up, especially in humid wether.
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03-01-2012, 08:48 AM
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#8
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ogdensburg
Posts: 55
M.O.C. #8100
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Thank you everyone for your input. It's been very helpful. I'm sure it's the hubby who's taking something out of the frig more often than I am.  We'll keep an eye on that.
I'm going to do a bit of studying up on that temperature control inside the refrigerator so I have it set correctly.
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03-01-2012, 09:51 AM
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#9
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Cleveland
Posts: 366
M.O.C. #8881
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I installed a fan that hooks on the fin's about a month ago.. so far there is no frost on the fins..I got it off Ebay for $15 with free shipping.. Refrigerator seems to be a little colder than before.. I even turned it down one notch..
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03-01-2012, 10:15 AM
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#10
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ogdensburg
Posts: 55
M.O.C. #8100
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by lfw
I installed a fan that hooks on the fin's about a month ago.. so far there is no frost on the fins..I got it off Ebay for $15 with free shipping.. Refrigerator seems to be a little colder than before.. I even turned it down one notch..
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lfw...what is that fan called?
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03-01-2012, 11:29 AM
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#11
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Cleveland
Posts: 366
M.O.C. #8881
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Here is the item #250905640959
I see he raised the price a little and now is charging for shipping...Mine runs all the time.. I just followed his directions.. He was very good at answering all my question..
lfw
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03-01-2012, 04:09 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Benson
Posts: 3,121
M.O.C. #1658
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