Sodium Chromate Toxicity.

[troxel]

Thanks to the info on this forum and elsewhere I was able to quickly diagnose my non-working Dometic refrigerator. I got the yellow powder down around the burner and have already ordered a new Amish cooling unit. Seems like the only choice for new unit.

Here is the question. The yellow power is all over the burner area. The refrigerator won't fit through the 24-inch door so I will have to change out the cooling unit inside the RV trailer. Since this yellow powder is hexavalent chromate what is the best way to clean it up and not contaminate the inside living area? I thought about wiping as much as I can with wet rags and spraying the remainder with poly-urethane to keep it together. I am being too OCD here or is containing this powder a concern?

 

[John From Detroit]

The power is fairly sticky but you might try a wash before you remove it..

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

Looks like some pretty nasty stuff:

https://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/21130.htm

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[donn]

Most folks take the refer and lay it on the table. Carefully remove the old cooling unit put it in a large trash bag and take it outside. Never heard of anyone worrying too much about the small ammount of powder residue.

 

[Rene T]

Most folks take the refer and lay it on the table. Carefully remove the old cooling unit put it in a large trash bag and take it outside. Never heard of anyone worrying too much about the small ammount of powder residue.

I don’t think I would set a fridge on my table. Just way too heavy. In my case I would remove the table and chairs then rotate the couch out of the way. Then I’d lay down a 1/4” piece of plywood then put the fridge on it .

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

How much of the yellow stuff will remain after removing the old cooling unit? If not much, mopping it up with damp rags seems reasonable. And maybe the box will go thru the door once the cooling unit is off, so you could clean (maybe even hose?) it off outside. Then bring back to install new cooling unit inside the RV.