Plan to eliminate frige smell coming from soaked foam...

[g3bill]

The '73 Frigidaire I'm redoing has had a kinda bad smell for years from the foam around the evap coils and fan. As time passes Polystyrene soaks up the moisture and gives a bad smell that transfers to the food. I got some new High Density foam 3 years ago and its getting bad already after all the work of carving and sawing. The moisture gets sucked up into the foam distroying it so I found a product I think will work to seal the foam. Its an Epoxy thats resistent to impact and moisture of course. Can be applied very thin or recoated while still tacky or later after sanding. I haven't tried it yet but think this will do the job as long as theres no pin holes or cracks, might have to sand foam in some places so as not to force the foam into place. Need to let the foam dry out for a few weeks, repair it and coat it...

I found this Epoxy at Smooth-On, 1800 381-1733 ( http://www.smooth-on.com/Epoxy-Coatings-EPS/c1397_1400/index.html ) The trial size of "Epsilon EPS epozy coatings" which covers approx. 7sf is priced at $29.68 I was told. They have larger sizes but gets pricey and I think the trial size will be enough for what I'm doing. Just thought I'd pass this along...

 

[g3bill]

Pic of copying foam that goes over evap fan. The new piece thats blue was installed 4 years ago and already smells and starting to deteriorate. Wonder if cutting down on the defrost cycles per day might help it stay dryer?

 

[firedome]

Nice job...

of duplicating those complex blocks... looks like a lot of work! Hope the coating treatment works well.

 

[rp2813]

What about a can of Rustoleum "Never Wet" paint?

 

[cfz2882]

nice rebuild of those foam parts!

 

[g3bill]

Thanks for the Compliments, appreciate it cause it did take some time. I remember it being a bit messy grinding that foam. The foam was about 2 1/2" thick so had to add some blocks. What else can one do, not going to find these things in a store

The Rustoleum "Never Wet" paint was considered or something like it when I talked to a grainger Rep? Thing is if the paint gets scratched installing or cracks I'm back to square one, don't want to do this again so will spend a bit more and might last, wont know till its done but the salesman did hit it with his fist and no cracking. All I do know is that smell has got to go. Thats one thing I like about the older friges with metal boxes or even early plastic with I think fiberglass insulation, no smell Maybe this was a SXS issue only? Bill