Do both fridge/freezer have to be on?

[kfrere]

I know. You tech/maintenance guys will roll your eyes at this one! I'm female but not blond so cut me a little slack please.

My new 2016 Interstate has the fridge on top of the freezer. Each has its own door and internal on/off dial. This weekend I need the fridge but not the freezer. Is there any reason I still need to turn on the freezer? Should they both run at same time even though separate controls? Does turning the freezer on somehow help the fridge?

Thank you for already teaching me so much!



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[Ron_CA]

I don't see why they would. Try it, then you will know for certain.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by kfrere

My new 2016 Interstate has the fridge on top of the freezer. Each has its own door and internal on/off dial. This weekend I need the fridge but not the freezer. Is there any reason I still need to turn on the freezer? Should they both run at same time even though separate controls? Does turning the freezer on somehow help the fridge?

They are separate units and will run separately.

In fact other AirForums members have discovered that ventilation in the back of the units is inadequate for running both together, causing them to run inefficiently. The coils on the back of the fridge are heat exchangers, and if the air is already hot back there, there's no place for the heat from the coils to go. Supposedly Airstream is working on a fix for that in the form of cooling fans and/or ducting, but it remains to be seen if they'll do a recall to retrofit Grand Tours that were sent out the door before the fix was developed.

So you'll probably find that the fridge runs better without the freezer running as well, and vice versa.

[UKDUDE]

Humm, the Bambi I had before my Interstate had a manually switchable fan located behind the refrigerator. I'm guessing The factory may come up with something similar.


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[73shark]

Hope they dump the hot air outside the van as mine comes shooting out the vent over the microwave and while that's OK in the winter, it really sux in the summer.

[m.hony]

I guess trailers are different. There is only one set of controls for both.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by m.hony

I guess trailers are different. There is only one set of controls for both.

You have a trailer with Nova Kool 12v/120v refrigerator and freezer that can't use propane? I thought Airstream only put them in the Interstates.

[kfrere]

Protagonist you are correct - as usual. I've had the fridge only on since 5:00 last evening. It's running noticeably colder than a couple of weeks ago when both units were on. Outside temps in the high 80's both times so I agree with the comment that the fix should be done to vent to outside - just to help AC not work so hard.



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[m.hony]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

You have a trailer with Nova Kool 12v/120v refrigerator and freezer that can't use propane? I thought Airstream only put them in the Interstates.

No-
The trailer has a Dometic 120 volt AC/propane-
The older Interstates have a smaller single door refrigerator/freezer-
The point of my post was simply that it had never occurred to me that they could be run separately or that anyone would want/need to.


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[gghayes]

I have the 2014 interstate and on a trip to Texas in June, my freezer worked perfectly, but my refrigerator would only go down to 53 in the day and 48 at night. We took it to the dealer and after they kept it for 3 weeks, they said they fixed the problem by putting in a fan behind the unit. We just got back from a 3 week trip and I had the same temp readings as before, except at night when the outside air was 50. does anybody have any suggestions for me? I don't want to take it back to the same dealer. Should I call airstream?

[73shark]

Personally I would call Airstream since they have been reported to be working on a fix for this problem.