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Grand Master · 10-21-2009, 11:59 PM

I have installed a new Dometic gas/elect refrigerator (model 2510).

When I shut the door while the frig is running, the door seems to be sucked in by vacuum, making it very difficult to reopen the door for a few minutes.

Anyone else experience this, and have solution?

If you try and reopen the door right after closing, it is next to impossible.

Mike Brumback
1963 Tradewind

Inland RV Center, In · 10-22-2009, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grand Master

I have installed a new Dometic gas/elect refrigerator (model 2510).

When I shut the door while the frig is running, the door seems to be sucked in by vacuum, making it very difficult to reopen the door for a few minutes.

Anyone else experience this, and have solution?

If you try and reopen the door right after closing, it is next to impossible.

Mike Brumback
1963 Tradewind

Mike.

The gasket around the door, has a continuous magnet in it.

That does give the feeling of something sucking the door closed, but it's nothing more than the magnet, at work.

That type gasket, is in all RV reefers.

Andy

Steve & Susan · 10-22-2009, 06:02 AM

I think that is how it is supposed to work.
Our upright freezer at home works the same way.

CanoeStream · 10-22-2009, 06:06 AM

The effect is much stronger if I try to open the door fast. Easy does it goes better. This isn't consistent on mine -- most of the time it's reasonable. But when it gets a mind of its own I lower the lights, play soft music, tell it how I see its warmth amidst the cold cuts...

Tin Diesel · 10-22-2009, 06:45 AM

Our Dometic is 10 years old. We have the same problem on the freezer door. If we try to open right after closing it, it so difficult to do we worry about breaking the handle. The bottom (fridge) door is OK.

I don't think it has anything to do with magnets, because magnets don't change their attraction over time (at least not ten minutes!)

I too hope somebody has come up with an answer. This problem is causing me to space out my gin & tonics longer than I would like!

Steve & Susan · 10-22-2009, 06:57 AM

I believe it has to do with the rapid change in temperature of the door and its seal upon closing the door - waiting a few minutes lets all components reach a consistent temperature and the door opens easily. When there is a temperature differential, there is a 'vacuum' created and the door is difficult to open.

Beginner · 10-22-2009, 07:07 AM

Inside the fridge and everything in it is cold.
When you open the door you let the cold air spill out and warm air replaces it.
Door gaskets are not perfect seals but they can be very good.
As the new warm air cools it shrinks, This creates a vacuum inside the fridge.
Due to the door gasket not being perfect the vacuum sucks in air from outside until the pressure is equalized.
To demonstrate this concept open the offending door (fridge or freezer) and close it.
Wait five minutes.
Open it again.
It should be a lot easier to open.
Beginner

Grand Master · 10-22-2009, 07:19 AM

The previous two posts make sense as I reflect on the laws of physics.

Now can someone explain why a home refrigerator doesn't have this same effect (at least not to the degree of our Dometics). Perhaps there is a lesson that can be applied to our RV frigs to reduce this annoying tendency.

Mike Brumback
1963 Tradewind

Steve & Susan · 10-22-2009, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beginner

Inside the fridge and everything in it is cold.
When you open the door you let the cold air spill out and warm air replaces it.
Door gaskets are not perfect seals but they can be very good.
As the new warm air cools it shrinks, This creates a vacuum inside the fridge.
Due to the door gasket not being perfect the vacuum sucks in air from outside until the pressure is equalized.
To demonstrate this concept open the offending door (fridge or freezer) and close it.
Wait five minutes.
Open it again.
It should be a lot easier to open.
Beginner

Or don't open your fridge unless the inside of your AS is 35 degrees

AirsDream · 10-22-2009, 08:21 AM

I'm betting that it's because the interior of the home machine has a vent - for draining during defrost cycle, that the Dometic doesn't have ... ?

And it may be that due to modest cooling ability, Dometic has had to seal their units much more carefully than the typical home fridge, which has a much more capable cooling ability and so doesn't need to be as well sealed ...

I solve this problem on the Dometic by simply reaching around the door with fingertips of the hand that has not released the little handle latch, and displacing the gasket itself slightly. Seal broken, the door opens easily.

Well, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it!