Retro fit - Fridge insulation - what to use

[gregcope]

hi all,

Never had great fridge performance in our 1996 Starlight 35 (Bowman built). Had a marine fridge engineer, and bar a little more gas it was fine (plate gets to -20c quickly).

So, I drilled a hole from the outside, in the cupboard, and found that the 25mm or so gap had nothing in it. I surmise that either there was no insulation or it has all failed. Bit of a shame as the rest of the build quality is good.

So - what to retro fit? I cannot remove the outside woodwork, so I would like something I can inject.

Any suggestions welcome?

I have been warned off builder foam, but have had success with this in the past, by ensuring I do not inject too much and have some suitable pressure relief holes.

 

[sarabande]

If you can ensure that the pieces will not fall through a gap into the bilge, what about vermiculite ?

https://www.travisperkins.co.uk/Silvaperl-Vermiculite-Insulation-Granules-V4-100L/p/947421


And these look very efficient

http://www.plasticsportal.net/wa/plasticsEU~en_GB/portal/show/common/plasticsportal_news/2007/07_291


Both inserted into the gap from a hole high up.

 

[nigelmercier]

There was a thread about this a couple of years ago, I particularly liked the idea of blowing EPS beads with a hairdryer, but there were concerns about water absorption, perhaps Neopor in #2 above will be the solution.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Polystyrene beads, as used for bean bags?

 

[macd]

So, I drilled a hole from the outside, in the cupboard, and found that the 25mm or so gap had nothing in it.

A gap with nothing in it is quite the best insulation you can get. Pity you drilled that hole and let the air in.

Seriously, most aerosol foams are open-cell, which will absorb water over time, reducing the insulating value (and possibly becoming a smelly mess). Much better is a closed-cell foam designed for the purpose. Your friend Mr Google should find it easily enough.

Incidentally, if the gap is a mere 25mm all-round*, don't expect the fridge to be very efficient. It sounds like to only way to increase this would be to add sheet isuation internally...possible, but a bit of a faff. If you can remove the entire top of the fridge, removing the box and making a new one would be the best solution (from the point of view of isulation), but of course you'd end up with a smaller fridge.

Is it possible that the fridge is a box within a box, and your 25mm was to the outside of the outer box? If so, you may not have a problem at all. Careful measuring should reveal whether this is the case.

 

[gregcope]

Incidentally, if the gap is a mere 25mm all-round*, don't expect the fridge to be very efficient. It sounds like to only way to increase this would be to add sheet isuation internally...possible, but a bit of a faff. If you can remove the entire top of the fridge, removing the box and making a new one would be the best solution (from the point of view of isulation), but of course you'd end up with a smaller fridge.

Yes. Been thinking about doing a retrofit. Maybe next year.

Is it possible that the fridge is a box within a box, and your 25mm was to the outside of the outer box? If so, you may not have a problem at all. Careful measuring should reveal whether this is the case.

Yes appreciate that....

 

[Hydrozoan]

... there were concerns about water absorption, perhaps Neopor in #2 above will be the solution.

I could not see anything at that link about water absorption (or lack thereof) by Neopor - did I miss it?