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Frequently Asked Questions
all you ever wanted to know about refrigeration, plus some...
Why does gas refrigeration make sense?
Gas refrigeration makes sense in situations where electricity is unreliable, unavailable, or very expensive. This would include remote or isolated locations -- perhaps used by hunters, outdoorsman, vacationers, or missionaries. Gas refrigerators and coolers are also popular for use with recreational vehicles (RV's).
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How does gas refrigeration work?
The basic principle is to create cooling through evaporation. An ammonia mixture permanently sealed inside the cooling unit is heated by a gas burner, which causes it to circulate inside the unit before it evaporates and creates a cooling effect. The liquid circulation of the unit is purely gravitational, so there are no moving parts to wear out, which means fewer repairs. The continuous heating, evaporating, and condensing is a never-ending cycle that keeps your food and beverages cold on the hottest days, without worry or maintenance! It's also worth mentioning that because gas refrigerators do not have a compressor, their operation is totally silent.
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For a more detailed explanation of how gas refrigeration works, including a schematic diagram, click here.
What kind of gas does a gas refrigerator run on?
The standard type of gas is LP (liquid propane). We also sell a kerosene model, along with parts. Our technicians can convert LP gas refrigerators to natural gas, although the official American Gas Association (AGA) does not approve such a conversion and it may cause problems with your insurance company. Conversions can also be made to use butane.
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Does gas refrigeration work during hot weather?
The short answer is: yes. For instance, our Servel has a freezer compartment that is one of the largest on the market and the biggest one that really keeps food cold in hot weather. Even on the hottest days, a Servel will keep your ice cream frozen solid. Ice cream requires colder temperatures than almost any other frozen food. The Servel works so well that freezer temperatures stay below 0° F even in 100° F heat!
If you want, you can "help" your refrigerator during very hot weather by ensuring air flow around the back of the refrigerator, for instance with a fan. And if you are using a gas refrigerator in an RV, don't leave the RV locked up, with all cooling turned off, sitting in the sun -- the RV will turn into a bake oven, which isn't good for any refrigerator!
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Is there anything else I should be aware of?
All gas refrigerators have a small burner that creates the flame to provide the needed power. With the kerosene refrigerator, there is no thermostat, so you need to adjust the burner manually. (We do sell extra burners for the kerosene refrigerator.)
Additionally, it is important that your refrigerator be level, particularly when running. Because gas refrigerators are based on gravity (see the question "How does gas refrigeration work?" above), if the appliance is not leveled, the circulation of coolant will be slowed down, which could inhibit its effective operation.
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Do you have any other unique appliances?
Yes, we do! Here is a listing of some of the other non-electric or low-electric appliances we have available:
In addition, we have thousands of unique, hard-to-find, fun and functional items available on our e-commerce site -- too many to list here. These items would include grain mills, hand water pumps, flashlights that don't require batteries, wood stoves -- including wood cook
stoves of all shapes and sizes, soap-making kits, cheese-making supplies, barrels and kegs, lots of how-to books, a complete line of kitchenware, and hundreds more!
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Is There a Recall on Gas Refrigerators?
There is a recall on Servel refrigerators made during the first half of the 1900's. There is no connection between the Servel refrigerators being recalled and the current line of Servel refrigerators. Although today's Servel refrigerators use similar technology, they use an American Gas Association approved burner of completely new design. (The burner design of the older refrigerators is the reason for the recall.) Under the recall terms, you can receive $100 for your old refrigerator. To learn more about the recall, click here.
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Why did my old refrigerator fail?
Servel's last for decades because they have no moving parts in the cooling unit. No moving parts means there is no mechanical wear-and-tear. However, the coolant mixture is quite corrosive. As a result, the older cooling units usually have quite a bit of corrosion inside. Typically, pieces of corroded metal erode away and float around inside the cooling unit. Sooner or later, one of these will lodge in an orifice inside the cooling unit, blocking the flow of coolant. When this happens, the refrigerator no longer works.
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My refrigerator was working when I bought it. Now it doesn't. Why did it quit?
We often hear from people who bought a 1930's Servel gas refrigerator that was working. When they got it home, it didn't work anymore. This happens because in the process of moving, the refrigerator was bumped around. (The old Servels often weigh over 400 lb.) The shaking knocks loose large pieces of corroded metal from inside the cooling unit. As soon as you relight it, the cooling unit plugs and the refrigerator quits.
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Can I recharge my old gas refrigerator myself or at the local air conditioner repair shop?
Servel refrigerators do not use standard freon coolant. They use an ammonia-based coolant. Conventional recharging will not work. The ammonia is under extreme pressure. DO NOT CUT OPEN THE COOLING UNIT! You could be severely injured if you do cut it open. For a detailed description of how your refrigerator works, click here.
Lehman's has a recharge service and we also have a list of people who can recharge. If you know of someone who can recharge, let us know and we will add their name to the list. Please email us to request this list.
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Is recharging usually successful?
Servel did not make refrigerators from about 1950 to the 1990's. They were made under the Whirlpool name for a brief period in the 1950's. Most of the Servels in use today were made during Servel's heyday in the 1930's. So, your refrigerator is either very old or very new. (If it looks "old" it's probably from the 1930's.)
Repairs on a refrigerator that old aren't likely to last long. As a result, many recharging services will not guarantee their work on older Servel or Whirlpool refrigerators. Although we offer a recharge service, we believe that recharging the old Servel's is a poor investment. For that reason, we've made the difficult decision to not recharge the older (pre 1955) models, as have most other recharging services.
The first step to recharging is a thorough steam cleaning. This steam cleaning is supposed to remove all the corrosion. It doesn't always work. This means that when the refrigerator is recharged and put back into service, it soon quits again. This happens at least a third of the time. Be sure to ask your recharging service if they will stand behind the repair if the refrigerator stops cooling. Sometimes the inside of the cooling unit is so badly corroded that the steam cleaning actually blows holes in it. If this happens, we recommend replacing the refrigerator. Recharging usually costs around $500. So, it's probably a questionable investment when you buy a new one for little more than twice that much.
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Can I get my refrigerator going without recharging it?
There are two common maintenance issues that are often forgotten. Both can affect the cooling power of your refrigerator.
- The burner must be clean. The constant movement of gas through the burner creates static electricity. The static charge attracts dust, which disturbs the gas flow. Make sure the burner is clean. Usually, it can be cleaned by gently blowing with compressed air or by vacuuming.
- The chimney must be clean. Most refrigerators have a movable "baffle" that is hanging inside the chimney. (The baffle is often nothing more than a coiled piece of sheet metal.) Remove the baffle and use the special brush supplied by the manufacturer to clean the chimney. Make sure it is free of dust and spider webs. If you need to buy a brush, please contact us for pricing and information.
Email: info@lehmans.com or call our freindly customer service representatives at 1.888.438.5346
In the older Servels, there are two additional things you can try. Turn off the refrigerator. Put a pan of very hot water in the freezer and leave it there overnight. In the morning you can turn it on.
If this doesn't work, stand the refrigerator upside down for a couple hours. (Many Servels weigh over 500 lb. Make sure you have enough help to upend it without damaging the refrigerator or hurting yourself.) Then, stand it upright and let it stand for several hours. Finally, relight. Because of their age, neither of these solutions has a very high success rate but they are certainly worth a try.
If you have a Sibir (made in Switzerland and sold in the USA mostly during the 1980's), turn off the refrigerator, disconnect the gas and empty the refrigerator. Immediately (while the cooling unit is still hot) tip the refrigerator to the right so that the top edge of the fridge is level with your waist. Hold it there for two minutes. Then, stand it up and tip it to the left. Again, hold it so the top edge is at waist level for two minutes. Next, tip it to the right again. Hold it at waist level for two minutes. Then stand it up and light it immediately. This works about 40% of the time. (NOTE: Most Sibirs weigh about 200 lb, so you may need help to tip it.) If you smell ammonia or see yellow stains or salt residue on the outside of your cooling unit, the refrigerator cannot be used without repairs. DANGER: Ammonia fumes can scar lung tissue and may even be deadly if concentrated. Make sure the leaking refrigerator is in a well-ventilated area.
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