Dry Ice for broken refrigerator

[RiverRat]

I purchased a used Dometic refrigerator for my 1965 Safari. Bench tested excellent before installation but now has a leak (ammonia)? Is it possible to use dry ice in it or will the CO2 ruin my day? I was thinking cut a hole in the rear for an exhaust fan. Would that be necessary?

[Foiled Again]

I am sorry that I don't have a diplomatic way of saying this - don't cut a hole in the back. Such a "repair" will only contribute to the legend that all PO's (prior owners) do more damage fixing problems than the problems caused in the first place.

If you can afford it, get a replacement cooling unit. If you have to wait to buy one, you could use plain ice in the ICE BOX - just have a tub to catch the water that runs off as the ice melts. Most refrigerators seal up really nicely and a 5 or 10 lb block of ice should last for 2-4 days. Of course, don't open the door unless you have to. Ice cubes will melt a little faster.

Here we have to run with the propane off whenever going through tunnels or over bridges, so I've gotten into the habit of tossing a bag of ice into the vegetable bins before going on a long trip - so I don't have to stop and relight the reefer 3 or 4 times in a day.

good luck, Paula

[68 TWind]

Use the dry ice till you get it fixed. You breath out C02 on every breath! The small about of C02 from the melting of dry ice will not hurt you (don't touch it with bare skin).
They use it for packing vaccines shipped all over the world. Nurses open the containers every day in pediatric clinics all over the country and remove their vaccines from the dry ice. If there were any danger I don't think the government would allow it, do you.

[A W Warn]

Dry ice will be no problem, I have used it short term in an emergency. It will freeze what is near by or touches and keep things cool that are slightly away. In hot weather you will need a medium size block in the freezer and a smaller one on the top shelf in the fridge. If I remember correctly, that lasted just over 24 hours and cost around $10-15 for the two chunks.

If you do not need to freeze anything, regular ice in an ice chest will be far less expensive.

[dznf0g]

As long as the box isn't air tight. Put some dry ice in our bear barrels for meat on the 4th day up in the Boundary Waters. The bear barrel is airtight and the gas built up a lot of pressure, swelled the barrel lid and upon release of the sealing ring blew the lid up into the air. Note to self....that don't work...but steak on the fourth evening sure was nice.

[jdalrymple]

Originally Posted by 68 TWind

Use the dry ice till you get it fixed. You breath out C02 on every breath! The small about of C02 from the melting of dry ice will not hurt you.....

Exactly the point, one expels carbon dioxide. We need oxygen to breath.

Dry ice sublimates fairly quickly, and as has been mentioned it off gases with enough volume and pressure to blow the lid off a bear resistant barrel.

Enough CO2 gas can also create an oxygen deficient atmosphere in a closed space.

I am not saying a small amount used carefully in an unvented RV fridge or the semi-closed space of an Airstream trailer will cause problems, but neither is dry ice a completely benign substance.


Regards,

JD

[doorgunner]

I've been using dry ice for years, it's no problem. currently I put 3 lbs wrapped in a brown paper bag on the bottom of my Yeti cooler. Cover it with ice cubes, layer in the beer, approx 36 can or bottles, intermix ice cubes with beer containers. place a cut to fit piece of reflectix bubble foam on top of all that and close the lid.COLD BEER for 6 days, no problem.no worries about outgassing pressure build up as the lid is opened every so often for an adult beverage.
Also for fun,, place a few small chunks of dry ice in a plastic soda bottle, fill about 7//8 with water, then GET away.The pressure build up can happen quickly. The bottle ruptures with a loud "report". sort of like a cherry bomb. gotta have some fun while drinking.
So dry ice in a dead fridge is no problem. hunters, fishermen, boaters, etc, use this stuff all the time.

[cwf]

Don't handle DI without gloves. Freeze to didgidts.

DI in a cauldron of soapy water makes nice effects of smoldering.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by doorgunner

I've been using dry ice for years, it's no problem. currently I put 3 lbs wrapped in a brown paper bag on the bottom of my Yeti cooler. Cover it with ice cubes, layer in the beer, approx 36 can or bottles, intermix ice cubes with beer containers. place a cut to fit piece of reflectix bubble foam on top of all that and close the lid.COLD BEER for 6 days, no problem.no worries about outgassing pressure build up as the lid is opened every so often for an adult beverage.
Also for fun,, place a few small chunks of dry ice in a plastic soda bottle, fill about 7//8 with water, then GET away.The pressure build up can happen quickly. The bottle ruptures with a loud "report". sort of like a cherry bomb. gotta have some fun while drinking.
So dry ice in a dead fridge is no problem. hunters, fishermen, boaters, etc, use this stuff all the time.

wait! one cooler with 36 beers lasts you 6 days????? You need a helper....call me.....

[2005 ford]

Originally Posted by jdalrymple

Exactly the point, one expels carbon dioxide. We need oxygen to breath.

Dry ice sublimates fairly quickly, and as has been mentioned it off gases with enough volume and pressure to blow the lid off a bear resistant barrel.

Enough CO2 gas can also create an oxygen deficient atmosphere in a closed space.

I am not saying a small amount used carefully in an unvented RV fridge or the semi-closed space of an Airstream trailer will cause problems, but neither is dry ice a completely benign substance.

Regards,

JD

Dry ice , use carefully, give me a break. What? When the dry ice vaporizes the CO2 will suck all the O2 from your lungs, LOL.

[jdalrymple]

Originally Posted by 2005 ford

Dry ice , use carefully, give me a break. What? When the dry ice vaporizes the CO2 will suck all the O2 from your lungs, LOL.

Oh, one of the dry ice in the water bottle crowd.

Have fun. Saw one of you guys in the ER just a while back, minus 3 fingers.


Regards,

JD

[2005 ford]

Dry ice on the bottom of a cooler that is sealed with duct tape keeps meat frozen for days. Used to use it when tent camping for two weeks. Now there is nowhere to purchase it locally. Like anything that's used improperly you can get hurt by it.

[fireflyinva]

We use dry ice regularly to boost our fridge into cooling at the start of trips all the time. It works great, though it can freeze everything!

[ROBERT CROSS]

.....I would be more concerned with the leaking ammonia, you may have a bigger safety problem there.

Bob

[doorgunner]

Originally Posted by jdalrymple

Oh, one of the dry ice in the water bottle crowd.

Have fun. Saw one of you guys in the ER just a while back, minus 3 fingers.


Regards,

JD

Oh that idiot;,He probably already was missing his fingers, was out on the water "noodling" or some other fool thing. They never give you the facts as to what really happened to get them in the ER.

[RiverRat]

I towed the trailer on it's maiden voyage from KY to west Co and the dry ice in the bottom of the fridge worked perfectly! I am considering cutting an access hole in the side of the trailer, then one in the back of the Dometic (after removing the cooling unit) so I can access my cold refreshing beverages from outside. I do not anticipate a problem with a FO( Future owner) as I the CO (current owner) have stipulated in my will to be interred in the Safari (along with the blood sweat and tears) The family plot is plenty big enough and my cousin has a track hoe that he said can do the job! Who knows.. some
FAA (future alien archeologist) might find the stream and after more blood (green?) sweat and tears might use that access hole to add a star drive and head out to distant galaxy's far far away....... thanks to all for the insight and help. RR

[Wabbiteer]

Dry ice can make the plastic interior & door shelve tubs on refrigerators brittle from the extreme cold - wrap the dry ice in a towel and place in a metal pan on a rack, then be gentle loading or tossing glass/canned beverages around...