Dometic refrigerator condensate hose

[Richard RV]

I've been trying to diagnose my Dometic refrigerator's increasing interior temperatures. I'm in Phoenix and the coach has been baking in the sun, so
some rise in temperature is expected. In my searches I've run across numerous references to a couple of condensate drain hose related issues.

The first is whether the drain hose has what Dometic calls a "check valve" inserted in the end of the hose. Shown at the bottom of page 23 in the
diagnostic manual:
https://fourwheelcampers.com/NewDometicRefrigeratorManual.pdf
It's not really a check valve allowing one way flow, it's simply a plug that has some holes drilled in it. My refrigerator did not come with one and
I've been using it without one for a few years.

The second is whether the refrigerator condensate house has a loop or S-curve in it to hold water and act similarly to a P-trap.

My questions:
- Does your Dometic refrigerator have such a condensate line check valve/plug, and/or in your experience are they standard?
- Do you loop your condensate line or have you seen looped lines?
- If you added the plug or loop did that actually have an effect on refrigerator cooling?

Thanks in advance.

Richard
--
'77 Birchaven TZE...777;
'76 Palm Beach with 18,477 verified miles;
‘76 Edgemonte

 

[Ken B]

Richard, My Dometic, which I installed, has a condensate hose but no check valve in the end. I ran it to a plastic tray, like a small baking pan,
where the water ends up and is evaporated off from there. I never thought of using a p-trap to prevent warm air from traveling in the reverse
direction and back up the hose. It sounds like a good idea.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana

 

[Richard RV]

Hey Ken. Yeah, it's one of those (many) things that just seemed so simple I never gave it any thought. Apparently some of the symptoms are inability
to maintain suitable refrigerator temperatures in hot weather, and excessive frost build up. Somebody on one forum said they coiled the loop in
Summer and took it out in Winter so the trapped water wouldn't freeze and block the drain line.

Simple enough, just wondering if it's a known thing - I've never seen it, or maybe just never noticed it.

Richard
--
'77 Birchaven TZE...777;
'76 Palm Beach with 18,477 verified miles;
‘76 Edgemonte