What type of gas does a Servel run on?
Answer:
Natural gas or LP gas - all that is needed is to change the orifice
spud on your burner. Correct orifice spuds and turbulators are
available on our Parts & Service Page.
Are parts still available for the older Servel?
Answer:
YES! Well, yes and no. Most of the functional parts - the ones
necessary for the proper operation of the older Servels, are available,
either new or used. However, because of the recall (see below), many of
the cosmetic parts are getting hard to come by. There is also a brand
new retrofit burner for the Servels that is available from Maine Gas Refrigerator that is very nice.
Can a vintage Servel lose it's charge, and can it be recharged?
Answer:
Yes it can lose it's charge, BUT YES it CAN be recharged. However - do NOT try this yourself! It is dangerous to do so, as
the contents of the cooling system are under pressure! Have it done by
a qualified service technician. For a list of them, go HERE .
Aren't the newer gas-powered refrigerators more efficient than the older Servels?
Answer:
Yes, but it's all relative.
Without boring you with all the math (you can see it HERE ), here's the bottom line:
* A modern, 12 cubic foot gas-powered unit costs $0.63 per day
to operate on LP gas, and $0.45 per day on natural gas.
* A modern, 18 cubic foot gas-powered unit costs $0.78 per day to operate on LP gas, and $0.57 per day to operate on natural gas.
* The older Servel, like mine,
costs $1.15 per day to operate on LP gas, and $0.83 per day on natural
gas.
* A modern, General Electric
electric (compressor operated) 12 cubic foot unit costs $0.52 per day
to operate.
* A modern, General Electric electric (compressor operated) 18 cubic foot unit costs $0.54 to run.
So -
The smaller, modern-built refrigerator
operating on natural gas is CHEAPER to operate than an electric model, and the larger modern ones are just barely more expensive than the electric model!
AND the older Servel's are really not THAT much more to run on natural
gas either! Either way, it's not a lot of expense, especially when you
take into
account that you're getting added heat in the winter from either unit.
If you operate your older Servel properly and don't open and
close it a lot - only when you need to - it won't use too much gas. There
are also newer style, more efficient burners available for the older
models, if that's an issue to you. Not
only that, if the compressor goes out on an electric refrigerator, you
DON'T want to know what it would cost you to replace it! Most folks
just buy a new one.
Are the vintage Servel refrigerators safe to operate in my home?
Answer:
I believe that they are, BUT -
they have to be installed and serviced
properly and regularly. Most of the people who have had problems with
them haven't maintained them correctly. While not difficult, it IS
necessary, and many people simply didn't do it, or they messed with it
without knowing what they were doing. This led to the government
getting involved (of course). Properly installed and maintained, they
are perfectly safe, in my opinion. That said, I advise anyone who
wishes to use one of these indoors to get a GOOD Carbon Monoxide
detector and place it in the same room with it - it's a small price to
pay to be SURE you are safe!
I WANT ONE! Where can I find a vintage Servel?
Answer:
Start with the people one our Parts & Service Page -
they are the best choice for finding a used Servel. If you know of someone who is experienced in servicing these units, please e-mail me at:
todd@vintageservelrefrigerators.8k.com . I also have a
listing of Servel's for sale that I have found through Craigslist. The
listing is updated at least twice a month, and can be found HERE .
Are there things I can do to make my Servel work better?
Answer: Yes! There are many things that you can do to make your Servel work better. Here are a few suggestions:
1. GET THE SERVICE MANUALS! The
Servel is a precision device designed to work flawlessly for many years,
BUT it has to be installed and maintained properly, or it won't! Get
your Service Manuals from one of the sources found on our Literature Page .
2. Proper air circulation - There
has to be adequate circulation around the unit, especialylly cooling
fins. Make sure they're clean and the clearances are in keeping with
the instructions found in the Service Manuals.
3. Make sure it is LEVEL - this
isn't as hard as it may seem, but is a LOT more important that one
might think. The cooling system is operated using gravity, and an
out-of-level Servel won't cool properly.
4. Make sure the burner flame is correct -
A. The Orifice Spud
and Turbulator have to be the right ones for your unit. These get
changed over time by people who may or may not know what they are
doing. Get the Service Manuals, determine what you need, then go to our Parts & Service Page and order what you need, if you don't have it.
B. The Burner has
to be clean and properly assembled. Again - get the Service Manuals and
learn how, or hire someone to do it for you.
C. The Burner must be properly installed and adjusted. Again - get the Service Manuals and learn how, or hire someone to do it for you.
5. Make sure the Flue System is CLEAN! Next
to a dirty/out of adjustment burner, a dirty flue system is the biggest
reason for having problems with a Servel giving off Carbon Monoxide,
which is what got the government involved in the recall of vintage
Servel refrigerators (see FAQ below). Follow the instructions in the
Service Manuals about cleaning the Flue System TO THE LETTER, and, if
your Burner is properly set up, it is my experience that you won't have
any problems with Carbon Monoxide.
6. Install a circulation fan inside the refrigerator cabinet - This
is a neat little battery-operated fan that you place on the bottom
shelf of your Servel. It gently blows the cooler air inside (cold air
falls - warm air rises) the lower portion of the cabinet up and around
the food. The savings of gas and uniformity of cooling of the food is
noticeable. These can be purchased at any good RV supply house for less
than $20, or online at merchants like this one: FridgeCool Refrigerator Fan .
7. Do not "pack" the food inside your Servel so tightly
that the cold air cannot circulate properly around it - A
common mistake, jamming the refrigerator with food, or putting very hot
food in it before it has time to cool adequately, will overwork your
Servel, use more gas, and cause your food to spoil.
8. Be sure your thermostat is properly set - The
thermostat will need to be adjusted, depending upon the ambient
temperature outside the refrigerator, how much food is inside, etc.
Check the Service Manual for how to properly adjust your thermostat.
What about the recall of older Servel refrigerators?
Answer:
This came about as the result of an investigation of the vintage
refrigerators by the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Because
a few owners didn't properly maintain and operate their older Servel's,
the CPSC decided that they were dangerous, and set up something called
the Servel Action Committee. Though it has no authority to force people
to do turn in their old Servel's, it does
have the authority to force the company that ended up with Servel's
liabilities as the result of a purchase in 1969 to pay for the recall (unbelievable, huh?). This company, Gould,
Inc., of Eastlake, Ohio, is a maker of medical and electrical
components. Though they have never made refrigerators, they are being
forced by the CPSC to pay $100 plus disposal costs to anyone who
has a Servel and applies for the money. To date, this government
intrusion has cost Gould, Inc., over $20,000! There is a brand new retrofit burner for the Servels that is available from Maine Gas Refrigerator that eliminates the problems the CPSC has with the original burner setup, so destruction is really not necessary, in my opinion. If you want to know about the recall go HERE.
©Servel Corporation
Entire Site, Concept, Layout, and Information
Copyright © 2009-2010 by Todd W. White
Servel is a
registered trademark of the Dometic Corporation.
All other
trademarks as noted.
If you own a
pre-1960 Servel refrigerator, the Federal Government's Consumer Product
Safety Commission would like you to have your Servel destroyed.
Go HERE to read their reasoning for wanting you to do so.
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