Winterize Your Propane Refrigerator

We often get asked by our customers the question of “How to winterize my propane refrigerator?” Since most people understand that a propane fridge absorption system contains water as part of the solution, they assume that the system is subject to freezing in low winter temperatures. Do not fear, the absorption unit is sealed and pressurized and will not freeze due to this fact.


With that being said, there are still a few things you can do for your propane refrigerator to protect it from the weather or from just being unattended for long periods.


The first thing we suggest is to do a full defrost on the unit and completely dry the interior of both the freezer and refrigerator compartments. This will keep any standing water from freezing and breaking interior plastic parts. Remember to empty the water from the interior and exterior defrost trays. Towel-dry the interior. This will also help keep mold from forming.


Keep the doors open slightly. Do this to help prevent the mold forming. We suggest to keep the doors open with only a small piece of cardboard to prevent rodents or critters from getting inside.


Remove any contents such as soda cans that are subject to expansion when freezing. We suggest this anytime the fridge is unattended for long periods even if it continues to be “on”. Since gas refrigerators are highly subject to ambient temperatures, a lower ambient temperature can cause the refrigerator compartment interior to drop below freezing and freeze the interior items. We have seen soda cans explode with enough force to break interior shelves and drawers, not to mention the mess it creates.


Turn the propane system off. First turn the valve at the fridge off while the fridge is operating and let it burn the excess propane from the gas lines and controls. This helps keep spiders and insects from being attracted to the propane smell at the burner. Then turn the main valve at the tank off. This will eliminate the possibility of a small leak depleting your gas supply.


For climates that contain high salt content in the air such as beach homes, we suggest to wax the exterior finish using typical car wax. This will create a barrier and help prevent any possible corrosion.


Lastly, spray an insect repellant around the burner area to further prevent spiders and insects from nesting inside of the burner tube.  This will make your first day of next year’s vacation much more enjoyable.

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LP Gas Fridge by EZ Freeze

Propane refrigerators. Non-Electric. Gas Only!

EZ Freeze gas refrigerators are completely non-electric in operation and use either propane gas or natural gas to freeze and refrigerate foods. That statement is not exactly true, since the LED interior light does use 4 "D" cell type batteries for operation. But the important part does not require electricity or any power source other than gas to both start-up and continuously refrigerate. Simply hook up the gas line to the gas source and light the flame. The fridge will be cooling within the first hour and be completely cooled down in about 8 to 12 hours depending on the size capacity of the unit.


There are a few reasons why EZ Freeze chooses to go this route of completely non-electric as opposed to a dual power (gas or 110 volt AC) operation. The main reason is the fact that EZ Freeze was founded by and currently owned by the Amish. Why would being Amish have anything to do with the power operation of the refrigerators? Amish beliefs include being independent of others and living a simple lifestyle. Not being "plugged in" to the electric grid is a big part of the Amish independence. In a modern day Amish home you will find gas powered refrigerators, hand or gas engine powered clothes washers, and gas powered lighting.


The original development of the EZ Freeze brand was centered on supplying the Amish communities. And the largest gas powered refrigerators were born. From that point, their distribution has expanded to the non-Amish world and now is the most popular brand of propane powered refrigerators.


Another reason for the non-electric design is the simplicity. No circuit boards, solenoids, or motors to complicate the operation. The only moving part of an EZ Freeze gas refrigerator is the thermostat unless you count the water and ammonia solution moving through the absorption system. The solution moves via gravity and pressure. The flame boils the solution and the vapors rise to the top of the unit where they condense back to a liquid. From there it travels downhill with only gravity helping. No motors or pumps involved in the circulation of the fluids within the sealed absorption system.


Other brand gas refrigerators, particularly the recreational vehicle type units, do require electricity to operate on propane gas. The RV industry has gravitated toward the use of circuit boards and solenoids to control the refrigerator temperature and automatic switching devices from one power source to another. All these features have complicated the once simple unit and have dramatically increased repairs within the RV industry. For this reason, most of the home style gas refrigerator brands such as EZ Freeze have stayed away from these devices.


One current brand and some brands no longer in production have offered 110 volt AC capabilities. This addition allows for dual power operation. Operation from the 110 volt AC source is very inefficient. Here is why…. In order for the absorption system to operate, it uses a heat source such as the flame that continuously burns. During the 110 volt AC operation, this flame gets replaced by a 110 volt heater rod. A heater rod is just a heating element that gets red hot to replace the flame heat. This power draw on the electrical system is over twice as much as a standard brand name compressor type electric fridge. The only benefit to this would be for a back-up power source to the gas service if for some reason the gas supply ran out and then enough electricity could be generated to keep the food from spoiling.


The "Gas only" design is totally off grid, simple in design, low on maintenance, and completely silent. Don’t you wish everything was like this?

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“Burping” Your Propane Refrigerator

Over the years, we have heard many different reasons for “burping” a propane refrigerator. Some believe it to be the cure for all problems of a propane refrigerator.

The reason behind the burping procedure is to move the liquid solution or coolant back to the correct location within the sealed cooling system.  The coolant will migrate during transportation, moving, or operating out of level. This may create a “lock” within the sealed system therefore requiring the burping procedure to relieve the lock.

If this lock occurs, the coolant will not circulate properly and little or no cooling will occur.  There is no long term consequence if this occurs unless it is left to run like this for a long period.

TRANSPORTING – For those that wish to transport the unit beyond the delivery point or moving the fridge from one location to another, transporting standing up is recommended but not required. Strap the unit around the sides and over the top using multiple ratchet type straps to secure it. Laying the unit on the side is acceptable. The key to this is to lay the unit on the side so that the boiler is on the downward side. Most modern day built units will have the boiler to your left hand if you are standing facing the box marked “Front”.  This allows for the liquid coolant to stay in the boiler area and will most likely no create a lock when the unit is positioned back upright.

Each brand has slightly different burping procedure suggestions that they recommend for their particular models. Below is a list we compiled of the brands and the procedures.

Danby / Consul Gas Refrigerators – Standing in front of the unit and facing the front door. Lay the unit on the side to the left. Rotate the unit upside down onto it’s head. Reverse this process unit it is standing back on it’s feet. It is only necessary to leave it on each side for a minute. This is what we call the “Full Burping Procedure”. See below image.

Diamond / Miller Refrigeration Gas Refrigerators – We have had success burping this brand in many different ways. The above full burping procedure is usually successful. In some cases it only requires to tilt the unit to a 45 degree angle to the left and then to the right for only a moment. In extreme cases, laying the unit on the front door facing downward completed the process.

Crystal Cold Gas Refrigerators – The full burping procedure or the 45 degree tilt will work on the units.

EZ Freeze Gas Refrigerators – We have never had an EZ Freeze that needed the burping procedure. When transporting on the left side, no burping is necessary when this method is used. Simply stand it up and continue with the installation. The factory does recommend the full burping procedure or just the 45 degree tilt method if a lock does ever happen.

Burping is not a fix all for a propane gas refrigerator that does not cool. It will only fix a coolant liquid solution that is locked and will not circulate properly. Other reasons for not cooling may be: 

• Burner not burning clean
• Partial orifice clog
• Leaking cooling unit
• Internally clogged cooling unit*
• Low propane pressure
• Thermostat failure

*In the case of the internally clogged cooling unit, it is possible for the burping procedure to temporarily fix the low circulation of the solution, but the clog will eventually return and be permanent.

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