Country Coach Owners Forum

Country Coach Restoration, Repair & Parts Forums => Country Coach Archive => Topic started by: Denny Bird on March 08, 2017, 07:40:21 am

Title: Acetone smell from dometic Fridge
Post by: Denny Bird on March 08, 2017, 07:40:21 am
Yahoo Message Number: 110197 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/110197)
Eighteen months ago I had my 16 year old fridge replaced with a Dometic DM-2852 model. In Jan 2017 after completing a defrost, we began to smell a strong acetone smell when the cooling box door is opened. No smell when the freeze door opened. Checked all contents and could not find any cause for the smell. After two weeks, completed another defrost, ensuring it had plenty of time for a thorough defrost. Smell persists. There is no oder at backside of fridge or when the box door is closed . Freezer and box both operate at normal temps. I have talked with many RV owners , Dometic Tech rep and had annual service by RV shop; nobody has been able to provide.any help. Comments and suggestions appreciated.

Denny Bird

2001 Intrigue 36
Title: Re: Acetone smell from dometic Fridge
Post by: melandal76 on March 08, 2017, 08:56:42 am
Yahoo Message Number: 110201 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/110201)
it smells like ammonia, you have a serious problem as this means there is a leak and it will get to where you will have no cooling when in the "gas"mode. Other wise, get you a couple of boxes of baking soda, open them and put in the frige. If it is an odder from the manufacturing process, this will take care of that.
Title: Re: Acetone smell from dometic Fridge
Post by: Herb Strandberg on March 09, 2017, 12:30:36 am
Yahoo Message Number: 110207 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/110207)
In the reply where it mentioned "[if] it smells like ammonia, you have a serious problem as this means there is a leak and it will get to where you will have no cooling when in the "gas" mode.

It should have warned that "if it smells like ammonia ... there is a leak ...which can cause a very serious RV FIRE"

RV refrigs use a mixture of Ammonia and HYDROGEN. Ignite the escaping HYDROGEN and you have a VERY SERIOUS RV FIRE.

Just two weeks ago an RV caught fire two spaces away. Two fire trucks and three other emergency vehicles responded with 12 firemen.. Reason for the fire: Dometic 1200 RV Refrig without any recall notices applied and refrig not inspected for three years. Fortunately no one was in the RV. I believe the RV can only be sold for parts.

Check out this very interesting article: http://truckroadservice.com/barth_attachments/Investigating-Absorpt-Refrig-Fires-Part1.pdf 
Herb

CCO Forum Moderator
Title: Re: Acetone smell from dometic Fridge
Post by: Lee Zaborowski on March 09, 2017, 10:38:57 am
Yahoo Message Number: 110211 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/110211)
True enough Herb, but the odor of acetone and ammonia are not similar at all.

Lee

VP Publications, CCI

2007 Country Coach Intrigue 12153
CAT C-13
Title: Re: Acetone smell from dometic Fridge
Post by: Ray on March 09, 2017, 11:24:14 am
Yahoo Message Number: 110214 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/110214)
In an absorbtion fridge.

One other point doesn't matter if electric or gas same issue as the difference is the method of heating the fluid.