Depending on how large your family is, and also the size of their appetite, your refrigerator door is most likely opened and closed at least a dozen times each day. That can be a lot of wear-and-tear, not only on the door hinges but also around the door seal. The refrigerator and freezer door seals, or gaskets as they are commonly referred to, do more than just cushion the doors when they're being closed; the seals directly affect your refrigerator's operation and efficiency.
How does a door seal work?
The seal, which is made of rubber, has a thin magnetic strip embedded within that helps the seal cling to the metal cabinet frame. Once the refrigerator or freezer door is fully closed, the seal may prevent warm, moist air from entering the cooling compartments. Without a good seal, the compressor will cycle on too often, reducing the efficiency of the appliance. An undesirable seal can also cause frost build-up in the freezer, reducing the air flow between your freezer and refrigerator compartments that is necessary to keep the temperature low enough to correctly preserve the food. Over time, the magnetism from the embedded strip can weaken or even the seal may become torn. When this happens, you should replace the door seal with a brand new one to help keep your refrigerator operating efficiently.
How to exchange a torn or worn refrigerator door seal
There are three common styles of door seals found on refrigerator models built by the major appliance manufacturers, including Whirlpool, Frigidaire, Samsung, Kenmore, and LG:
- A push-in seal which has a ridge that is secured inside a groove or channel around the perimeter of the door.
- A snap-in seal which fits behind the inner door liner and it is held by a retaining lip.
- A screw-in seal that is secured between the inner door liner and the outer door panel with screws.
For the very first two styles, you can simply pull the old seal out of the channel or away from the inner door liner starting with a corner. If your refrigerator includes a screw-in seal, you will need to loosen the screws round the door liner in order to pull the old seal free.
Since it's not always practical or economical to ship new door seals inside a box the size of a refrigerator door, the seals may be folded and placed in small boxes for shipping. This could cause the magnetic strip to twist and kink. Before you decide to install a new seal, you need to remove it from the packaging and lay it on the flat sturdy surface every day and night to help the seal regain its original form. You can use a hair dryer set on low to help make the seal more pliable or soak it in a bathtub filled with hot water.
- A push-in style seal could be installed by aligning the ridge around the backside of the seal using the channel in the door and pushing the seal into position. Starting at a corner can make the alignment easier. Also, if recommended through the owner's manual, you may need to apply some vinyl cement towards the channel first to fully secure the seal.
- A snap-in style seal could be installed by inserting the interior edge of the seal behind the retaining lip from the inner door panel. Again, starting on a corner will help ensure the seal is properly positioned.
- When installing a screw-in style seal, position the upper half of the seal first and secure by tightening the screws, then position and secure the bottom half. This will prevent the door liner from shifting an excessive amount of during installation.
Once the seal is fully installed, close the doorway and check that the seal is seated evenly round the entire door. Be aware that there might still be spots where the seal doesn't rest flush against the cabinet frame. This is a common occurrence with new door seals. The magnetic strip will eventually pull the seal towards the cabinet eliminating any waves or gaps, even though it may take two or three days for that magnetic strip to set.
Additional refrigerator door seal tips
- You can use a hair dryer focused on low to help remove waves or gaps with an installed door seal.
- Apply a skinny layer of petroleum jelly to the seal on the hinge side to assist prevent the seal from folding in once the door is closed.
- As a part of your regular refrigerator maintenance, be sure to clean off any debris in the door seal to ensure it rests flush against the cabinet frame when the door is closed.
Find the best door seal with Repair Clinic
To find the right door seal that fits your refrigerator, enter the full model number of the appliance within the Repair Clinic search bar, then choose “Gasket & Seal” in the navigation filters on the left side from the page to narrow your research. The website stocks Frigidaire door seals, Whirlpool door seals, Kenmore door seals, Samsung door seals, LG door seals, and much more, but you'll want to make sure you're acquiring the exact door seal that suits your model.
