Servisystem Amonia Based Home Refrigerator

[lindadameron]

I have a small refrigerator that came from the Greenbriar, a luxury hote/resort. It looks like furniture - not a refrigerator. It is not cooling as well as it should. I called appliance repair who advised me after inspecting it that they have no idea how to repair it. The lettering on the back says: "Mfg: Servisystem Armerica, Inc. Herndon, VA - Model 1RH-03 - Free standing household refrigerator."

Can anyone tell me how to find someone to inspect and repair it? The pictures are attached. I would love to have another such unit if anyone knows where I might obtain one. I can't find anything on the net.

Many thanks in advance for your help.

 

[lindadameron]

Servisystem Amonia Based Home Refrigerator Front

I could only attach one picture so here is a picture of the front.

 

[lindadameron]

Servisystem Amonia Based Home Refrigerator Front

I could only attach one picture so here is a picture of the front.

 

[hunter]

If youc an't find someone to repair this particular mode

...take it to an RV repair place.

Refrigerators in RVs use this technology to cool.

 

[combo52]

Poorly Cooling Absorption refrigerator.

 

What temperature is it maintaining and what is the average room temperature where it is located?

 

Usually these refrigerators have a difficult time getting any colder than 40 degrees and they may take a day or more to freeze ice and the ice will not be any colder than 15-20 degrees. These are not only not very powerful but consume as much power as a new 25 cubic foot SXS refrigerator. The only great thing about these is they are almost silent.

 

[volvoguy87]

R717

I can claim some responsibility for this one. One of my service-tech friends called me after seeing this and had his customer (lindadameron) call me and ask what to do. I reccommended she post here since someone here would know a thousand times more than I do. He said the refrigerant was R717 (ammonia).

Now that I can see pictures, I can see that it's an absorbtion-cycle refrigerator like those used in motorhomes. These refrigerators tend to be very expensive and the reason why the Greenbriar purchased this must have been for silence in guest rooms. I'd tend to agree that contacting a service technician who services RV and motor home refrigerators would be the best option.

Absorbtion refrigerators are used in motorhomes and other places where electrical service is flaky or not available because they operate via a heat source (like a gas flame). This fridge likely uses an electric heater.

The link below is to the Wikipedia page on absorbtion refrigeration to explain how it works.

Clear as mud?
Dave

Absorption refrigerator - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[hunter]

Exactly!

Since I often camp with my small camper in areas without electricity, the fact that the frig can run on gas is why they are there.

Some of the "high end" fifth wheels that are quite obviously used only for "snowbird" residences have only 120V AC refrigerators in them.

And the downside, yes, is that it takes at LEAST 24 hours for them to cool down and they are NOT energy efficient. OTOH in an RV they are ideal, and typically, the frig is relatively small. (Mine has a 4 cu foot frig in it. OTOH for wifey and me it holds almost a week of cold stuff and what more do you need for 'camping' anyway? I like something bigger at home though).

 

[wiskybill]

Flip it

I just installed a new frige in my motorhome last week. The old one was just not cooling well and was 23 years old. No apparent ammonia leaks but I was having some problems with the controls. Decided not to put any money in the old one.

They are pricey. Mine is 5.5 cu ft and gas/elec and cost $840! Tried to buy it locally but saved $400 buying on the net from out of state RV dealer and installing myself.

There is a trick that my get yours cooling again but it is probably on borrowed time as was mine. This is assuming that you don't have a leak in the cooling unit. You would smell the ammonia if you did.

This comes from many RV forums and I have never yet tried it myself but you have nothing to loose and it won't cost anything.

Turn off the frige and unplug and empty it. Turn it completely upside down and leave it for at least 24 hours. Turn upright again and leave it for another day.
Plug it back in and turn it on and see what happens.

The reasoning that this may work is - over time sediment builds up in the cooling unit and plugs the tubing preventing circulation of the ammonia. Flipping will sometimes get it back in circulation. This is not a cure as the sediment will probably again settle, but you may get a little more life out of it.
Cooling units can be replaced but in the case of RV friges a new frige is usually more cost effective.

Hope this helps. If it works it will give you time to start looking for a suitable replacement.

Bill

 

[arbilab]

Absorption systems are not necessarily anemic. A friend's RV unit froze a gallon of water overnight. I just put it in to chill for the drive home the next day but it froze solid.

Absorption is cost competitive when running on natgas. On electric or propane, less so. One does pay for the fuel flexibility in the RV idiom. Many RV absorption systems will operate from 12VDC, 120VAC, or propane.

No mini/hotel fridge will reach zero F or reach operating temp from room temp in 24 hours, regardless what system is used. Look at the thing. It's intended to chill beverage cans and MAYBE make ice EVENTUALLY. There is probably nothing wrong with it.