Indio, California: Steve and Kris returned to their home in Denver and Dave and I returned to our campsite in Indio to deal with our non-functioning refrigerator. A service technician could come on the 18th... which would mean over a week without a fridge... but I took the appointment anyway. $95 just to show up; labor and parts extra.
Meanwhile, I decided to read the refrigerator owners manual, only to learn there are additional coils behind the front screen I keep so clean. Dolt. Oops. (It is a residential JennAir side-by-side, not a RV fridge, and it is framed-in with wood, and I assume bolted-down so it doesn't go flying while we are driving the motorhome. The condenser coils lay flat under the fridge and fill an area about two-feet-square.) I grabbed the tool box and went to work. To access the coils, a wooden base-plate first needed to be removed, then the screen could be popped-off the fridge base.
Oh. My. Goodness. Imagine if you did not clean your dryer vent for seven years and that should give you an idea of the disgusting scene under our refrigerator. Blech! But how to reach so far back under the fridge to clean the coils? A few clicks on my laptop and amazon.com delivered a specialized brush (also handy for clearing dryer vents!) and a vacuum attachment skinny enough to fit between the coils. $19. I dusted with the brush. I vacuumed with the attachment. Our fridge coils looked like new! Crossing fingers, I flipped the circuit breaker and listened. The machine began to hum. Within just a few hours, the freezer was frozen and the refrigerator side read 37 degrees!
I cancelled the repair appointment.
Next!
Wednesday morning, our contractor sent over a crew to cut a trough in the tile floor on the north end of our outdoor pavilion - the base for the sliding glass door we had ordered several weeks ago.
One guy chipped-away with a power tool and the other guy followed behind with a vacuum. They covered the furniture, but it was still a dusty mess out there.
This morning, another contractor arrived with the frame for the door and three sliding panels. The lower frame was installed into the trough made the day before, then the top and sides went in and finally, the three glass door panels.
There are still a few things that need to be adjusted and the lock needs to be installed - but we have wind-block protection now. Maybe it will even keep out a little dust?Nah. Probably not.
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OpenThough the doors are so sturdy and heavy, they float across the tracks as smooth as butter - with very little effort. Yes! The drop-down screen remains on the outside of the wall and can still be used as well. Dave and I are very happy with our decision to add the glass wall (they were not yet permitted when we built our casita and pavilion three years ago).
Now for a little cleaning!
Until my next update, I remain, your vacuuming correspondent.
RV PARK: The Motorcoach Country Club