Technical Tips
This page is reserved to provide you with some handy hints that may help prevent some common problems encountered while using your recreational vehicle in the Algarve. These are guidelines only and should not be treated as an instruction manual.
Caravan and Motorhome Fridge Problems
The Algarve is the sunniest place in mainland Europe and can become hot in the summer. One of the most important ways to keep your fridge functioning efficiently is to ensure it is well ventilated.
People often think they should turn the fridge thermostat up to make the fridge cooler. Wrong! Turning the thermostat up will increase heat behind the fridge, whereas, turning it down decreases it. If your fridge has stopped working, or is performing badly, this is often enough to restart the convection process. It generally reduces the thermal load at the back of the fridge and aids convection. Finding the right balance is the tricky thing.
If the fridge works at night but not during the day, this is likely to be down to poor ventilation.
If you're having problems with your fridge, follow these steps to trouble-shoot the problem:
- Is your vehicle level? This is a common factor in fridge malfunction. You may require levellers* to help level your vehicle if you are camped on uneven terrain.
- Have you over-stocked the fridge? The air inside the fridge needs to circulate, so cramming too much in may cause problems.
- Turn the thermostat down. Do this a little at a time to see if it improves the problem.
Only in the event that none of these steps has resolved the problem, then Remove vent covers completely. This increases ventilation and may be enough to get your fridge going again. If this helps, then the problem is a ventilation issue and you may need to fit fans. 12V themostatically controlled fans* can be fitted to improve air flow. These are available from CamperServ for purchase and fitting.
If your fridge still doesn't work, then the problem is not ventilation and you should consult a professional. Contact us to assess the problem. We recommend that you do not attempt any fridge repairs, unless suitably qualified. Gas leaks can be a serious consequence of DIY repairs.
Foul Smelling Fridge
There are two distinct smells that may emanate from your fridge. Each identifies a different fault:
- Bad Egg Smell
This generally means that there is bad combustion, and will be followed by black staining around the top vent or flue outlet. This can be caused by a number of things. We recommend that you DO NOT remove the burner and stick a pin through the jet. No matter how gently you do this, it alters the shape of the hole which is set by the manufacturer. Cleaning the burner alone will not solve the problem. All related components, including the flue, require to be cleaned and this requires specialised equipment.. Please consult a professional.
- Amonia Smell
While fairly rare, this is a cooling system failure and will require a new cooling unit or fridge. Remember to check your manufacturer's warranty as some manfucturers provide 3 year warranties as opposed to the standard 2 year warranty. Thetford fridges all come with 3 year warranties.
Please remember that fridges fitted in caravans and motorhomes are NOT the same as domestic fridges. Only use companies who are qualified in caravan and motorhome fridges.
* Available from CamperServ.
Click here to see a full range of accessories, parts and spares
Beware of the Campsite "Experts"
Over the years, we've been asked to fix countless problems that have been caused or made worse by well meaning friends or accessory salesmen who tour camp sites. It's always temping to try to save money in getting what seems like a small repair job done, and of course, it saves you having to pack everything up and drive to a service centre. Totally understandable, but ask yourself the following:
- Does the guy who's about to drill holes in your very expensive vehicle actually know what he's doing?
- Is the guy who's about to take your boiler to pieces a qualified engineer?
- Are you putting yourself at risk of a gas or water leaks if the job goes wrong?
Be careful when considering buying a 'bargain' from the touring salesman. We recommend that you apply caution when making fairly large purchases for obvious reasons. For example, can they give you a guarantee for the product? If they can, have you checked out that the guarantee is valid? It goes without saying that you should always check out a company before parting with any cash. It could save you a lot of hassle in the future, and not leave you out of pocket if the appliance fails and you then discover the manufacturer's gurantee isn't valid.
The other thing to be wary of is having having an accessory fitted by the guy you bought it from. Solar panels, air conditioning units, awnings, etc. need to be fitted properly, and with the correct products recommended by the manufacturer for fitting. If the job hasn't been done properly, can you contact them to come back and fix it?
Obviously you would apply your own discretion when choosing to buy a product, or have a repair done, but it's worth thinking twice and paying only once.