Fridge on the Brink? It could just be the Seal

The seal on your refrigerator and freezer is what holds the doors closed properly. This ensures that the cold air remains inside and keeps everything inside fresh. When there is a problem with the seal it can cause several problems including spoiled food and higher energy bills. Any condensation due to a poorly working seal can also cause mold. If you know that the seal on your refrigerator and freezer needs to be replaced, you can simply do the job yourself by following the outlined steps.

Problems Caused by a Poor Seal

When the seal on your refrigerator and freezer isn’t working properly you may notice a few problems. If you notice that the normal foods you buy aren’t lasting as long as they usually do, you may have a seal problem. A problem might be identifiable by the appearance of leaking water from your appliance or visible frost inside of the unit. All of this is a sign that your appliance isn’t maintaining the proper temperature.

There will also be visible issues with the seal and doors. You may notice that both of the doors are popping open or not closing tightly; there will probably be a visible gap, too. You may also see tears or cracks in the seal or notice that it’s hard or brittle. Similarly, the seal might buckle at certain spots or appear moldy and discolored. All of these issues are proof that it’s time to replace the seal.

How to Replace the Seal

Once you’re ready to go about replacing the seal on your fridge you can either hire a professional to do the job or you can simply do it yourself. The following steps will help you complete the job as easy as possible. First, measure your refrigerator and freezer doors and write down the model number of your appliance. This will ensure that you order the right size seal for your make and model. Also, note how your current seal is attached; some are easily detachable while others may have to be unscrewed. At this point, you want to remove the current seal. If there are screws present, unscrew them and the seal should lift away easily.

If there are none, begin at the corner of the door and start pulling the seal away from the door with some force. Continue from the corner around the doors. Make sure the entire seal comes off. You’ll now have to put the new seal on the door.

Again, start from the corner of the door and push the new seal into place around the whole door. If the seal requires screws, lift the seal up from the bottom and tighten the necessary screws. The seal should now be secure.

To check the seal, close all of the doors and look for any gaps. If you can see gaps between either of the doors the seal isn’t properly secured and you’ll have to redo the seal. Hopefully, now your seal will be mended and your refrigerator fixed. If you have a Fridge from overseas such as an American fridge you can get some great repair information on makes such as Kenmore here.

If you are good with your hands then there is lots of information from helpful appliance repair companies. It is always a good idea to get an expert in when you are not sure and you are not feeling confident.