Gas-Fridge Explains Why That Refrigerator in Your Garage Doesn’t Work in Winter

All summer long you’ve used that old refrigerator in your garage to store cold drinks and ice cream treats. Then the weather outside falls into the 20’s and now the “garage fridge” just doesn’t seem to be getting cold enough. Gas-Fridge would like to explain what’s happening.

Believe it or not, refrigerators actually work better in warmer temperatures, than they do in cold temperatures. Most refrigerators have a cold control in the refrigerator section that controls when the refrigerator runs. When the refrigerator runs, the coldest air goes into the the freezer section and it then “shares” some of this cold with the refrigerator section.

So the problem arises when the outside air temperature gets down into the 30’s or 40’s, the refrigerator section is already cold enough and never tells the unit to make cold air, so suddenly the freezer doesn’t seem to be working. And then the problem gets worse.

Now that the cold control is not telling the refrigerator to run often enough, and not at all when it gets into the 20’s for a period of time, the freezer may be sort of frozen, but so is the refrigerator section. Now you can’t keep food in the refrigerator section because it will freeze. Now those everyday items that freeze at about 32 degrees (milk, soda, water) may even explode as they become frozen which could cause a major mess in the refrigerator.

So, if you have an old “garage fridge”, you should probably give it the winter off, since it really not able to function properly in the cold weather. In addition, if it is a compressor style refrigerator, the oil in the compressor is really not designed for use in cold weather and the owner’s manual states that it should only be used in “normal household” temperatures.

Next time you’re looking for a great refrigerator, why not consider an EZ Freeze Refrigerator which is completely non-electric requiring only propane or natural gas to cool and freeze food goods. Gas-Fridge is one of the nation’s premiere dealers of gas appliances and we would love to show you the benefits of utilizing gas appliances and help cut the electrical cord! To learn more about our company, please give us a call at 928-636-6674 or visit our website at http://www.gas-fridge.com.

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Gas Fridge explains some of the differences between older and modern gas refrigerators

Gas Fridge, your leading online retailer for off the LP gas refrigerators, is here to explain some of the changes that have been made from some of the first propane refrigerators. We’ve come a long way when it comes to gas cooling, and it will be very apparent after reading through this article. The most common type of old-school refrigerator was the SERVEL brand refrigerator, so all our comparisons will be made with that particular brand.

Efficiency - Old gas refrigerators used A LOT of propane - upwards of ¾ a gallon per day, whereas modern refrigerators use around a ¼ to ⅓ a gallon a day. This was due to the design of the absorption system not being as thermally efficient as it could be. Modern day systems are engineered to be incredibly efficient and can run for a long time while using minimal fuel. This change in fuel efficiency happened right around 1970, though improvements continue to happen over time.

Venting - The older SERVELs would have very large burners that were very inefficient with the way they burned their fuel. This would lead both to higher fuel usage and dangerous carbon monoxide (CO) buildup. Some of the worst offenders (pre 1950s) were measured to emit up to 1500 parts per million (PPM) of CO gas in very short amounts of time. In a 10 to 20-foot room, 300-400 PPM is considered dangerous and will begin to cause detrimental health effects. New fridges, however, are significantly more clean-burning due to their decreased fuel usage and increased airflow. Post 1980’s fridges, on average, will emit around 20-30 PPM, which is well below the recommended amount from appliances in a residential area. At this rate, no one should ever need to worry about CO poisoning with a modern-day propane refrigerator.

Legality - The inconvenience of having to vent an old SERVEL brand fridge could very well be enough of a reason alone to want to purchase a new EZ FREEZE refrigeration. And, if you live in Canada, it might not be a good idea to purchase a SERVEL that is pre- 1980, as it is completely illegal. In the United States, there is often a $100 disposal cost involved with these old machines too. While many people love these old fridges because they have lasted for 70+ years, they are a danger to yourself and others and should be dealt with by calling SERVAL action committee and 1-800-782-7431

If you have an old SERVEL brand gas fridge, it is time to think about getting a replacement. Modern fridges are more efficient, fast to cool your food, cheaper, lighter, and safer too. To learn more about gas refrigerators, or to shop for a new one. contact Gas-Fridge at 928-636-6674 or visit our website at http://www.gas-fridge.com

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Understanding what an Absorption Refrigerator is, and why should choose Gas Fridge for your next EZ Freeze Refrigerator

What is an Absorption Refrigerator? It’s a lot simpler than you might expect. Gas Fridge is here to tell you all about Absorption Refrigerators and how to make an informed purchase when shopping for off the grid refrigerators.

What exactly is an Absorption Refrigerator? In an Absorption Refrigerator, the unit refrigerates itself by moving the hot air inside to the outside of the fridge. This process uses a sealed system containing a solution mixture of ammonia, water, sodium chromate, and hydrogen that is boiled by heat. The ammonia in the system is the main driving component, causing the change from liquid to gas, and back again. This pure ammonia liquid conducts heat away from the unity using aluminum plates on the back of the fridge. This system uses no moving parts at all and is accomplished using a combination of thermodynamics and the physical properties of gases.

The system is very specific in design, meaning a slight change in piping angle can lower performance and efficiency. A small solution ingredient difference will also change the gas refrigerator performance, as well as any weak welds will shorten the fridge’s life. Strict quality control is vital toward good production results. That’s why, at Gas Fridge ou

We rate the EZ Freeze quality control as the best in the industry. EZ Freeze is the only company that produces the entire product in-house, from start to finish. EZ Freeze spends over half their time in quality control checks to make sure their product is the best it can be. And, the EZ Freeze absorption units are interchangeable at any time with a new unit, meaning that repairs are easy and cheap. When we asked about why EZ Freeze has such strict quality control measures, we weren't surprised with the answer: "We realize that most of our fridges are used in remote areas. Hard to get to and from areas. It puts a great hardship on the consumer if there is a failure and we just don't want to see that happen."

As you can tell, we choose EZ Freeze for a reason. Their attention to quality is unmatchable and their products are easily repairable when something does go wrong. So, when you begin to look for a new Absorption Refrigerator, make sure that you call Gas Fridge at either 928-636-6674 or by visiting our website at http://www.gas-fridge.com
r many years of experience in using and servicing gas fridges and freezers, we choose the EZ Freeze brand.

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A little about maintaining your gas fridge or gas freezer – Information from Gas-Fridge

A gas fridge or freezer is a wonderful thing! For those people in remote locations without power, and areas prone to extended or unpredictable power outages, a gas fridge or freezer can be a life saver. Keeping food fresh or frozen makes life in remote locations easier and, during the winter months, the only real possible solution. Gas-Fridge brings you information on maintaining your gas fridge and freezer.

Because there are no moving parts in these gas refrigerators and gas freezers, there's not much maintenance needed. One very important thing you can do to keep the unit working to its maximum efficiency is to clean the flue periodically. The flue will soot up due to impurities in the gas. The dirtier the gas, the more soot will develop.

Getting started:

Cleaning the flue is simple. Turn the unit off and let the flue cool for a while. Place something over the burner orifice to protect it from the falling soot. Place a rag or piece of tin foil under the unit to catch any falling soot. Remove the baffles from the flue (if any). Be careful!! They may be hot. Use the Flue Brush and gently scrub the full length of the flue. Rotate the brush a few times to get all the soot possible.

One other common occurrence is debris in the burner air intake. If the gas fridge or gas freezer has been sitting for a while, spiders like the smell of propane and will make webs in the burner area and the unit will not light or burn with a dirty foul flame. Dirt, dust, pet hair, insects, lint, or anything migrating behind the gas fridge will increase the chances of the burning running foul.

Next step:

While in use, if the flame tip is yellow or orange, then chances are there is debris in the burner tube and air intake. It is very easy to remove. Turn the unit off. Using a piece of 1/4" flexible rubber hose, just aim it at the Air Intake of the Burner and blow through the other end to clean out the debris. Using compressed air or "air in a can" works well also. Be sure the unit is off and cooled before using "air in a can" since it can be highly flammable. Re-light the unit and visually check the flame. It should be a crisp blue flame with a white or yellow tip.

Continued maintenance:

Your refrigerator will give you years of trouble-free service if you do the following simple maintenance we mention above. To prevent debris from getting into the burner tube and creating most issues, it's a good idea to vacuum under and around your gas refrigerator or gas freezer often.
Checks every three to six months will help. Refer to the operator’s guide provided with your refrigerator for more details.

A more detailed description for servicing gas refrigerators is available on DVD along with many other troubleshooting and repair tips and tricks on our website. We hope you have found these tips helpful, if you have any questions or comments, please contact Gas-Fridge directly at 928-636-6674 or visit our website at http://www.gas-fridge.com.

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