Rusty water from refridgerator vent

[BuckBarker]

I moved to FL from AZ 3 years ago and almost since getting here I have had a problem with rusty water running out of my Norcold fridge vent. Not a lot but enough to leave stains on the side of the rig. I stuck my fat head in the back of the fridge opening and it is very rusty. The coils and tubes are coated with surface rust. I removed the vent cover from the roof and all looks well except for all the rust on the tubes. The design of the cover will allow wind-driven rain to blow in and we see that from time to time.
There are no leaks anywhere in the roof. Anyone else have this problem? Is the fridge safe to use with all the rust on the tubes? Any ideas on how to handle this problem?

[BuckBarker]

tboss wrote:
rusty or brown stains can also mean rotten wood behind the wall

I can feel quite a ways up the wall from the side vent and all is dry. The rusty condensation is coming from the rain/water entering through those pesky little holes on the side of the fridge roof vent and then hitting the coils on the back of the fridge. I never had this problem in AZ cause high humidity there was generally 10%. Here in FL it is typically 75% or higher. It really never gets completely dry.

[WoodGlue]

BuckBarker wrote:

WoodGlue wrote:
Gotcha, and it's Ms. Woodglue! 🙂

Whoda' thunk?

That's ok! 🙂

[tboss]

rusty or brown stains can also mean rotten wood behind the wall

[GrumpyandGrandm]

There could be a roof leak that is migrating over to the fridge area. Water doesn't always come out where it went in with a RV.

[BuckBarker]

WoodGlue wrote:
Gotcha, and it's Ms. Woodglue! 🙂

Whoda' thunk?

[WoodGlue]

Gotcha, and it's Ms. Woodglue! 🙂

[BuckBarker]

Mr. Glue, the rusty water is trickling out the side vent BUT the water is entering through the roof vent. Unless I get any other "idears" I will start aluminum fabrication to shield those pesky roof vent side holes from the rain getting in.

[WoodGlue]

I never suggested stuffing a towel into a roof vent!

I thought maybe the side compartment was where the OP was having a problem.

WoodGlue

[BuckBarker]

The towel is only in there when the fridge is off. I even taped a note on the fridge door reminding me of the towel.

[Gene_in_NE]

WoodGlue and BuckBarker - I hope your refrigerators are not constructed like mine. If I stuffed a towel in the vent opening on the roof, the towel would slowly slide down the chimney. Plus that vent is supposed to allow air to move freely up that vent. If I stuffed a towel anywhere on the lower end, the flame from the burner would start a hot fire.

[BuckBarker]

Mr. Glue, I jammed an old towel in the vent opening and that should help the condensation from running out but still won't stop it from getting in.

sctkev.....The vent cover is in fine shape. Along both sides of the cover are a row of holes approx. 1/2" x 4". I was thinking of fabricating a small aluminum awning for both sides of the cover to help keep the rain out.

[svtkev]

check the fridge roof vent , maybe cracked or leaking

[WoodGlue]

Perhaps put a towel or similar in the area before it runs down the side of your rig. The rinsing that towel out.

WoodGlue