Warehouse Appliance discusses absorption refrigeration

At Warehouse Appliance, we have spent years educating homeowners on the benefits of gas refrigerators, but how do they work? They work on the principle of absorption refrigeration, but first, we need to define what absorption refrigeration means.

Simply put, absorption refrigeration “absorbs” the heat inside the fridge.
Removing the heat makes the air inside the fridge cold. The absorption unit or “Cooling Unit” is located in the back of the fridge in a sealed box which contains an array of steel pipes.

Both propane and natural gas are commonly used in absorption refrigerators.
The gas is used to heat the absorption unit. The heat produced by the gas, which is located at the bottom of the unit, activates a chemical mixture inside the cooling unit. When hot, this mixture changes from a liquid into a vapor and begins moving to the top of the unit in the same way coffee is made in a percolator.

Once at the top of the unit, the chemical mixture - which is now ammonia vapor - condenses into liquid ammonia. Now in the liquid state, the ammonia begins pouring down the steel pipes. The pipes, which are in a zig-zag pattern, go through the freezer compart where the liquid ammonia begins absorbing the heat.

Because it is at the top of the refrigerator, the liquid ammonia absorbs the heat in the freezer compartment first and continues flowing down to the fridge. If the ammonia has not reached its maximum absorption in the freezer it will continue to absorb heat from the refrigerator as it moves down the pipes. This process is the reason the freezer cools down before the lower part of the refrigerator.

Now you know the basics of absorption refrigeration. If you have questions about gas refrigerators or freezers for your home or cabin, call Warehouse Appliance at 928-636-1955. Learn more at http://warehouseappliance.com.

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Warehouse Appliance suggests now is a good time to switch to a propane refrigerator

Is there a good time to switch to a propane refrigerator? Warehouse Appliance thinks so. If you're an eager outdoor enthusiast, you probably already know how unimaginably liberating propane appliances are. Propane appliances afford their owners the freedom and pleasure to enjoy hot meals, hot water, cold food safely stored, lighting and more no matter where they are because propane appliances don't suffer from the failures of appliances dependent on electricity.

There has been an increasing interest in switching out traditional electrical appliances for the incomparable dependability and security of propane appliances. With propane, the property owner stores propane in a tank, or tanks, which can vary in size and may require refilling every year or several times a year depending on the climate, where you live, the number of people occupying the house and how many appliances are using propane. And propane users can also shop for the best rates which traditional utility users usually cannot do.

Q:  So when is the best time to switch out your old appliances for dependable, affordable propane appliances?

A:  As soon as your situation allows you to swap them out because the price of freedom is more than worth it. When you consider the cost of dependence on undependable conventional sources of power and the cost to replace food after a power outage, or the inability to have hot water or lighting and the very limited availability of electricity in remote areas, you can easily see the benefits of switching.

Whenever you are ready to upgrade to a gas refrigerator, or any other propane appliance, Warehouse Appliance can answer your questions and help you select the right appliances for your needs. Call Warehouse Appliance today at 928-636-1955. To view our entire product selection of gas refrigerators and more, visit us at http://warehouseappliance.com.

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Warehouse Appliance discusses venting gas refrigerators

One of the greatest concerns for those considering the purchase of a gas refrigerator is how it is vented. Is venting needed? What is the cost? Are there health concerns? Warehouse Appliance discusses venting gas refrigerators.

Venting for refrigerators provides the flow of fresh air directly into the propane burner box and causes the carbon monoxide from the burned propane to exhaust outside. Here are some things you need to know:

• Venting may not even be necessary if the refrigerator is in a large or open space room. In this situation there should be windows and doors to the outside that get opened often. This allows for plenty of fresh air to be exchanged. Venting may not be completely necessary.

• Many opt for venting anyway, so they won’t have to think about opening windows or doors.

• Venting offers more efficiency in a cooling system. This is because heat dissipates more quickly and does not get the chance to pool or linger in the immediate area. And there is always fresh air to draw into the propane burner box.

• Although carbon monoxide emitted from the propane combustion is in quantities that fall well below safety levels, we suggest that our customers install a carbon monoxide alarm in the room for added safety. Don't forget to change the batteries as needed!

• An additional benefit of venting is that the heat from the exhaust is piped directly outside. During summer months, venting helps remove the increased temperature differential in the room that can be caused by the added heat source.

Warehouse Appliance wants you to be aware of the reasons to consider venting a gas refrigerator. If you are ready for a practical, affordable, reliable and quiet refrigerator, call Warehouse Appliance today at 928-636-1955. To learn more, please visit us at http://warehouseappliance.com.

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Warehouse Appliance talks about the advantages of propane appliances

To understand the advantages of using liquid propane gas, it’s important to understand what propane is. Warehouse Appliance, experts in the absorption refrigeration field, would like to explain not only what liquid propane is, but also the benefits of using liquid propane as a fuel source for your household appliances.

Liquid propane is similar to natural gas, but is a different chemical compound. Liquid propane, or LP gas, is normally a gaseous material, but when stored under pressure it becomes a liquid. Because this liquid is easy to transport, propane use is very common in the camping world. Its ability to be transported easily and quickly also make liquid propane gas an excellent choice for your home needs. Here are some important features of liquid propane:

• Liquid propane has a higher heating value, which means it provides more heat for cooking or heating your home, using less fuel.
  
• Liquid propane is non-toxic, not harmful to soil or water, and will not harm the environment if released into the atmosphere.
  
• LP gas does not contain sulphur, making it a cleaner energy source than oil.
  
• LP gas burns more consistently, which makes it more dependable than other energy sources.
  
• Liquid propane is more environmentally friendly, releasing less carbon dioxide than other heating sources, like coal and oil.

There are numerous advantages to having propane appliances, whether you're looking into outfitting your home or hunting cabin. If you have questions about installing propane appliances in your home, call the experts at Warehouse Appliance today at 928-636-1955. To learn more about the difference propane appliances can make for you, visit us at http://warehouseappliance.com.

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EZ Freeze Propane Refrigerators
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Warehouse Appliance shares a review of the EZ Freeze gas refrigerator from a satisfied customer

A satisfied customer from Texas sent in this review of the EZ Freeze 19-cubic foot refrigerator. Warehouse Appliance is happy to share that the EZ Freeze refrigerator, and our dedicated staff, has met and exceeded this customer’s expectations.

The customer writes: “We’ve had the fridge for five years so I feel confident in giving a review. Our decision to purchase a propane refrigerator was based on the fragility of the grid and the requirement to have safe cold storage of food in case of a grid failure - either local or national, short-term or long-term.

Pros

• It doesn't look any different than a regular electric refrigerator.
• The inside of the fridge has an excellent LED light powered by D batteries. The case for the batteries is in the back outside of the fridge, and it's not difficult to change them. We've changed the batteries just once in five years and it was only because we did some maintenance on the fridge.
• Easy to clean. All it takes is a damp rag and a dry paper towel. Just like you'd do on your electric fridge.
• The biggest pro in buying the unit is getting one from Warehouse Appliance. They have been amazing all these years on all of my pre-purchase questions as well as maintenance questions. The DVD you get with the unit is invaluable. Watch the DVD and keep it with all the documentation that comes with the fridge.

Cons

• You've got to defrost it. The defrosting frequency depends on how much you use the fridge. I defrost as soon as the fins are 50% to 75% iced. I use a small fan and defrost the freezer first. Then I move the fan to the refrigerator section to blow on the fins.

Lessons learned

• Get the AcuRite thermometer.
• Keep maintenance equipment on hand at all times.  We use the flue brush once a year.
• When you defrost the fridge, clean the flue and blow out the blower with a can of air. The instructions are on the DVD.
• Pay attention to the maintenance schedule.

We moved as many appliances to propane as possible over the past several years because it's reliable in a grid-down situation.

The bottom line of any review is “would I buy this again?" The unequivocal answer is “yes” and I would still buy from Warehouse Appliance because their team is knowledgeable, pragmatic, professional, patient, and friendly.”

The EZ Freeze gas refrigerator is the top brand in the LP refrigerator industry. When you’re in the market for a gas refrigerator, call the experts at Warehouse Appliance. We offer technical advice and repairs on site or via telephone. Call us today at 928-636-1955. Learn more about us at http://www.WarehouseAppliance.com.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
LP Gas Appliances
Non-electric Refrigerators
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Propane Refrigerator Connection Options from Warehouse Appliance

A Propane Refrigerator uses Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from a stored container called a tank or a cylinder which is regulated with a pressure regulator mounted at the tank and then plumbed to the point of use. These three components (tank, regulator, & plumbing) are all that is needed to get a propane gas refrigerator up and running.  There are a few options on how to connect a propane refrigerator based on where the refrigerator is located. Below are some of the most common options and some tips and tricks.

Tank / Cylinder

A propane gas fridge will operate from any size tank or cylinder. The size or capacity only dictates the amount of time the gas fridge will operate before the tank needs to be re-filled.

Small portable tank & regulator

A tank may be as small as 5 gallons which is typical for a barbecue and is considered a portable tank.  Portable tanks range in size up to about 25 gallons and when full, it will weigh about 100 Lbs. These small tanks are great for remote locations where the propane must be “hauled in”. Weighing only about 20 Lbs. when completely filled, the 5 gallon size are easily placed in the back of a pick-up truck or even on the back of a mule for transport.  All of these portable tanks can be plumbed with a short flexible hose that is connected to the rigid pipe of the home. The regulator is typically mounted at the valve of the tank. There is an option to connect two tanks at one time via an automatic change over regulator. More on this in the “Regulator” section. These portable tanks should never be used indoors since the pressure upstream of the regulator is high pressure and a leak or venting of the tank can cause a high volume of gas to escape rapidly and be very dangerous around an open flame or any ignition source. Any tank larger than 100 Lbs. is not practical to transport on a regular basis. A larger permanent tank for an average home will generally range from 125 gallons up to 1000 gallons.

250 Gallon permanent tank

The larger non-portable permanent tanks are typically set outside of the home. Local code requirements will specify minimum distances from structures and property lines. Access to the tank is required for the delivery vehicle although a hose real on the propane delivery truck can accommodate from 50 to 200 feet of distance. These tanks are piped to the house with rigid pipe underground. The regulator is mounted on top of the tank under the protective cover. The tank will have a gauge showing percentage of capacity.  A rule of thumb for total capacity will be about 20% less than the listed capacity of the tank to allow for gas expansion in hot weather.

Regulators

The high pressure propane gas is regulated to low pressure of 11 inches of water column via the regulator. Most high quality regulators are adjustable and we recommend this type for propane refrigerators since it is critical for proper operation and life span of the unit. The pressure should be checked upon installation. Here is a link for checking and adjusting the pressure of a LPG regulator.

Tank mounted regulator

Regulators are available in different sizes and are rated by the BTU output. The BTU rating is normally listed on the regulator body. Most homes will require a regulator of 400,000 BTU or more. When the BTU rating of each appliance is added together, this will be the minimum BTU required for the system. A gas heater can use as much as 150,000 BTU whereas the EZ Freeze Gas Refrigerator will only use 1750 when on high flame. If the BTU demand is too high for the regulator, it will freeze up and the refrigerator will shut off. After the ice inside of the regulator defrosts, the fridge will have to be relit. This scenario is usually present when a small regulator is used to supply heaters, a water heater, and range all at one time. The small regulators are typically used to supply only one appliance or a multiple of low BTU appliances at one time.

The automatic change over regulator is designed to connect to 2 tanks at one time and automatically switch to the second tank when the first tank goes empty. At this point, a red flag indicates that the first tank is empty. The user can then remove this tank and get it filled without interrupting service to the appliances.

Plumbing

Flex line & valve

A typical house is plumbed with rigid pipe throughout. Each appliance should have a valve located at the stub out location and connected from the valve to the gas hook up with a flex line. Most gas refrigerators require a 3/8 inch gas flex line with a 3/8 female flare fitting at the end. We recommend a 4 foot long coated gas flex line. The flare fitting does not require sealant since the flare is self sealing.

The smaller portable tanks and regulators can use flexible rubber hoses for connections. This is recommended for outdoor use only on a temporary basis.

Beware of cheap non adjustable regulators. The supply pressure of a gas refrigerator is critical and the wrong pressure can cause poor performance or a shortened lifespan. Use only a high quality adjustable type regulator.

Non-adjustable regulator

Adjustable regulator

Always check your connections with a soapy water solution prior to operation. Check local building codes for restrictions. Consult a professional for installation.

We are the leader in propane to natural gas appliances.  Contact Warehouse Appliance for more information more off-grid living information.  Contact Warehouse Appliance at either 928-636-1955 or by visiting our website at http://www.warehouseappliance.com.

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Absorption Refrigeration
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