Anyone still have a gas refrigerator?

[mavei511]

Just wondering if anyone still has a gas refrigerator after the "recall". I believe they(the CPSC) just wanted another non-CFC alternative off the market so they fabricated the story about excessive carbon monoxide produced by the burners of the old Servels. They worled very well. My grandfather had one in his office in the mid 60s.

Online I found a handful of manufacturers still making them . Sadly they're too expensive for their size. Whatcha think of the new ones?

 

[58limited]

If the fridge is properly vented it is safe. However, there were in fact problems with carbon monoxide if the fridge was not properly vented. Based on their posts in previous threads on this subject, I believe some members here have first hand knowledge of relatives affected by it.

I have a 1948 Servel S-800 that works.

 

[goatfarmer]

Proper venting, along with making sure the flame is burning clean is the key to gas refrigerators.
Amish country is about an hour away, and gas refrigerators are popular over that a way. There are several manufacturers who still make them, among them is Dometic, who make them for RV applications.

 

[tomturbomatic]

The dangerous condition came from their being used in small cabins and similar enclosed spaces where they sat unused for long periods of time. People came in, lit the refrigerator without bothering to make sure the accumulated dust and cobwebs were not blocking the air intake for the burner, then went to sleep--for good. Adsorption systems could also run off kerosene.

 

[laundromat]

Dometic and Servel

We sell and service these and have great results except for those who don't have any clue what they need to do to properly run them.

First of all,you need two seperate gas tanks.When one empties,you turn off the gas,reverse the flow to the second tank,remove the empty one and have it refilled,the replace the empty one,now full so the gas will be continuous.If youy don't do this,the unit will need to be 'burped' before it will work properly on gas.Ours work on gas and electric in case the fuel empties but,once the gas is gone,air gets into the line and needs to be released or 'burped' before it will work again.Those who follow the proper procedure love them and they have them a long time.They are nothing like the old Whirlpool/Servel units that were huge compaired to them but work pretty well.They must be maintained on a regular basis and are equiped with a brush to clean the carbon that acumulates off the burner.i have one in our store and it works fine.Dominic,Servel and Danby are all manufacturers of these and I like the Danby's best.

 

[fltcoils]

The adsorbtion concept is screaming for a solar application

I like adsorbtion for refrigeration. It has the promise of energy independence. There's lots of information on heating these using solar radiation. Easy enough for refrig, run on solar in summer, cool using environment in winter. just browse "solar adsorbtion chiller"

An extension of the concept would use it in combination with ground air heat exchangers for AC, cool with ducts thru ground, dehumidify using solar adsorbtion.

Add a few good cansolair.com heat exchangers hung on the outside wall and we'd be energy independent for the 2 major systems, refrig and heating/cooling. This works in Canadian winters...

 

[sudsmaster]

Solar adsorption AC.

Someday you might be able to buy one...

http://www.scusolar.org/technology.thermal

 

[rapunzel]

In remote parts of Oz

One can find households with gas fridges and lighting. There are many areas without access to articulated power and people use solar panels, hydro turbines, petrol and gas generators in combination with LPG to run their mod cons.

Bushman Fridges and Freezers | Enjoy Free Shipping

Super efficient & reliable 12V fridges for camping, caravans and off-grid living. We are a 100% Australian owned family company, since 1982.

www.dprefrigeration.com.au