Replacing the refrigerator seal is one way to extend the performance of the unit. Specialists from service organizations say that loss of tightness due to failure of the seal is one of the most common causes of serious breakdowns of a refrigeration unit.
Before starting work, you need to carry out diagnostics. Both visual inspection and the use of a paper sheet are suitable for this. The latter will help identify gaps. The inspection reveals the formation of condensation and ice, which increase the load on the compressor.
Replacing the rubber band is not difficult. It is important to correctly diagnose, select a seal and follow the procedure for repairing or installing it. If the defects are minor, then a hair dryer or hot water will come to the rescue. Small cracks can be repaired using sealant.
Why won't the door of your home refrigerator close?
There are several explanations for this. A visual inspection of the door can determine the cause. Physical damage, deformation of the door (dents, distortions of metal, not fastenings), due to which the door does not close. This type of breakdown can only be repaired in a workshop or replaced with another one. Deformed metal, which is used for the external cladding of equipment, is very difficult to level at home. To do this, you need to completely disassemble the door as a part and go through it with a special power tool, and then put it back together. Doing this “on your knees” at home is not recommended.
- Loose or deformed fasteners. If the door curtains show signs of damage or the bolts (sometimes rivets) do not hold tightly, this is a clear sign of the door being skewed. Its elimination is possible at home by one person.
- Rotten, loose or cracked weatherstripping can also cause this problem. After inspecting the rubber gasket around the perimeter, you can find the problem area. If, after a little pressure or tugging on the rubber, the seal crumbles or begins to sag, it’s time to start replacing it.
Replacing the seal in the refrigerator door
What damage does it prevent?
Over time, dents and gaps form on the rubber, and it loses its elasticity. A thinned seal can cause major repairs to the refrigerator. After all, the manufacturer calculates the power of the device under certain operating conditions. Forced to work in extreme mode, the device may simply not withstand the load. Therefore, such a seemingly insignificant detail should under no circumstances be neglected. It turns out that the refrigerator operates around the clock at full capacity. This reduces its service life.
What is the danger of damage to the seal?
It is necessary to take appropriate measures in a timely manner if the seal is damaged. If air enters the interior of the refrigerator compartment, the temperature controller forces the compressor to work at full power. During non-stop operation of the refrigerator, the motor may burn out, which will lead to a complete lack of functionality of the device.
It is necessary to take appropriate measures in a timely manner if the seal is damaged.
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Why won't the door close
The refrigerator door may not close due to various malfunctions. To eliminate the problem, it is necessary to conduct an inspection and determine the specific cause.
Loosening and deformation of fastenings
If the fasteners are deformed from mechanical stress or become loose as a result of prolonged use, the door no longer fits tightly. If the fastenings become loose, adjustments can be made. To restore deformed elements, professional repair or replacement of parts is required.
Rotten, loose and cracked seal
Due to the detachment of the seal or a violation of the integrity and structure, it cannot fulfill its purpose and does not secure the door. A broken seal is easiest to replace with a new one, which will reduce labor and time costs.
How to prevent the problem
A number of rules must be followed:
- stop loudly slamming the refrigerator door: this breaks the seal of the rubber band;
- after closing, you should not immediately open the freezer, since there will be a pressure difference inside, due to which the seal will press harder against the body;
- When defrosting the equipment, clean the cuff;
- Do not place too many foods on the refrigerator door, otherwise it will warp;
- it is important to take care of the seal in a timely manner - clean it regularly, remove dirt, food debris and check its condition;
- do not open the equipment and freezer too often - this will not only extend the life of the seal, but also reduce the load on the compressor.
There are many reasons why the refrigerator door does not close tightly; the most common ones are discussed. As soon as a problem is identified, it is recommended to fix it immediately. By following the recommendations, you can solve the problem yourself at home and repair the equipment. If this does not work, you should call a specialist.
Video: replacing the gasket on the refrigerator
Dismantling the old
Dismantling (i.e. replacing with a new one, repairing or re-hanging on the other side) is necessary when the gasket no longer fits tightly to the body. This can happen when the hinges become loose, cracks appear in the body, or the door leaf is damaged. It is carried out in several operations:
- Defrosting (if you need to repair an old refrigerator) or disconnecting the device from the power supply (if the equipment is of the latest generation). You must first remove the contents from the chambers.
- The refrigerator is placed on its side, with the hinges facing up, otherwise the panel will be inconvenient to remove.
- The hinges are unscrewed (starting from the bottom), after which the structure is carefully pulled out of the grooves.
- The sealing gum and fabric are checked for damage. If cracks, rot, old blockages in the cracks or severe deformation of the case are detected, the part must be replaced with a new one, otherwise this may lead to damage to the device or damage to the products.
- If the parts are not damaged, then the canvas is cleaned of dirt, and the gasket is glued back in the right places. If its material begins to mold or loses its elasticity and volume, then the elastic band needs to be replaced.
- After this, the door is installed back.
Recommendations
When attaching the tape to the “Moment”, you need to press it as firmly and tightly as possible to the place of gluing and hold it this way for about 20 minutes. If it is not possible to do this manually, you can use either transparent tape (reliably presses the elastic with several layers for a short time), or a weighting agent of no more than 5-7 kg (if the door has been dismantled). You can also use a vice if you have one on hand.
It is recommended to use a respirator during operation. If the seal is attached using resin, it is necessary to work with rubber gloves, because if the substance gets on open skin, into a wound, or flows into a hard-to-reach place (for example, under a nail), it can cause hand injury, and getting rid of the frozen clot will not be easy.
You can also attach the elastic band to the refrigerator using nails or self-tapping screws. It happens that sometimes it is not possible to seal the tape or the adhesive coating is not able to hold it on the surface of the door, then this method is used. But this option is only suitable for older models and those in which the tape is attached to factory bolts.
Replacing the factory
To replace the factory rubber seal, you must follow the step-by-step instructions.
How to remove
To remove the seal, you will need to unscrew the fastening elements of the door and place it on a horizontal surface. Then the damaged seal is carefully torn off. You can pry one of the edges of the elastic with a sharp object and pull on the seal so that it begins to peel off.
Removing remaining glue
You can remove the remnants of the adhesive solution on which the seal was held using acetone. Apply the product to pieces of dried glue, wait 5-10 minutes, then treat with a spatula. The final cleaning is carried out with an alcohol solvent intended for acrylic paints.
Where to find a new rubber seal for a refrigerator
Rubber seals for refrigerators are sold in specialized stores that sell consumables and spare parts for household appliances. If possible, you can contact the service center of the company that produces a specific brand of refrigerator. , online stores are very popular .
You can try to repair a seal that is not yet torn, but slightly damaged. Although this will not last long, it will need to be replaced soon. Replacing the rubber band is not difficult, but this work is not quick, you will have to work hard. It is important to buy a suitable element, correctly remove the old seal and carefully install the new one.
