Posted 2013-10-14 12:01 PM (#155348) Subject: Winterizing and refrigerator on or off?
Member
Posts: 45 Location: Mead, WA
Getting ready to winterize my l.q. trailer and put it into storage (plugged in with a battery tender). Is it better to leave the empty fridge running or should I turn it off?
Posted 2013-10-14 5:35 PM (#155353 - in reply to #155348) Subject: RE: Winterizing and refrigerator on or off?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 656 Location: Rayne, LA
I also leave mine running between trips but if storing for an extended period I would turn it off. We ride pretty much year round, but I was raised with a family that did camp periodically thru the year and would always turn it off between trips.
Posted 2013-10-15 9:00 AM (#155362 - in reply to #155348) Subject: RE: Winterizing and refrigerator on or off?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
If you have no plans to use the fridge over the winter, turn it off and open the doors. It's a mechanical unit, subject to wear and expensive repairs. Why subject it to years of unnecessary wear for no reason? One winter's continuous operation, would probably exceed the wear of several summer's partial usage. As well, it will cost unnecessary money to keep it running.
Posted 2013-10-15 4:48 PM (#155368 - in reply to #155348) Subject: RE: Winterizing and refrigerator on or off?
Member
Posts: 45 Location: Mead, WA
Thanks for all the replies. I was looking for an answer with a mechanical reason behind it and I think Gard nailed it. In the back of my mind I wondered if the compressor was better left on....but decided to turn it off for the winter.
Posted 2013-10-15 5:51 PM (#155371 - in reply to #155348) Subject: RE: Winterizing and refrigerator on or off?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 656 Location: Rayne, LA
Actually doesn't have a compressor. It works off a pilot flame and a heating element that causes the gas to move within the system that transfers heat and makes things cold.
Posted 2013-10-15 10:43 PM (#155374 - in reply to #155371) Subject: RE: Winterizing and refrigerator on or off?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
During an extended storage, running the fridge on gas would be expensive, and instead, the electrical heater would probably be utilised. This would involve running the converter through the LQ's electrical system as well.
Posted 2013-10-16 5:03 AM (#155380 - in reply to #155348) Subject: RE: Winterizing and refrigerator on or off?
Veteran
Posts: 136 Location: Watertown, TN
Looks like the further north you are, the more likely you would be to turn it off. After the first frost we drain all the water and blow the lines out but we are subject to ride year round. So, we keep the fridge running.
Posted 2013-10-16 2:49 PM (#155386 - in reply to #155348) Subject: RE: Winterizing and refrigerator on or off?
Member
Posts: 47 Location: South Dakota
I live in the frozen tundra of South Dakota. My fridge gets turned off when I winterize. I clean it extremely well and shut the door. If I leave it open I forget about it when I pull the trailer and it would probably break something banging around. I've done this since the trailer was new in 06. I also keep my trailer plugged in all winter to trickle charge the batteries. I turn it back on in the spring before my first trip and leave it run for the season.
Winterizing and refrigerator on or off?
