An Open And Shut Case? How To Investigate The Condition Of Your Refrigerator's Gasket

If your home is like most, the refrigerator in your kitchen is the site of a lot of daily activity. In addition to being opened and closed frequently during meal preparations, the average fridge gets opened for the purposes of fetching snacks and drinks several times over the course of each day. Sometimes it even gets opened and closed out of boredom or just to see if there is anything inside that sounds tempting.

All of this opening and closing can impact the appliance's ability to keep your food at a safely chilled temperature, as well as create wear issues for the perimeter gasket of each door that can further impact appliance performance. If reading this has made feel the need to investigate the condition of the gasket on your refrigerator, this information can help you know how to proceed. 

Know the clues

The rubberized strip of material that keeps chilled air inside your refrigerator must maintain an airtight seal in order to perform its job correctly. With heavy usage and the passage of time, wear issues can develop that impact its ability to seal. Some of the clues to look for include: 

• any indications that the seal has come loose or shifted in position
• the formation of cracks or holes in the gasket material 
• a misshapen appearance, such as when portions of the gasket appear depressed or uneven
• being able to physically feel cold air leak out around the gasket when the refrigerator door is in the closed position

Gaskets that are no longer sealing correctly can also be tested by holding a piece of notepaper or a dollar bill along the edge of the gasket and then closing the refrigerator door. If the paper or dollar bill can be easily pulled out with the refrigerator door shut, the seal has become weak and should be replaced. 

Care and cleaning

If your refrigerator gasket appears to be in good condition, you can help to extend its lifespan by keeping it clean and supple. Cotton swabs or an old soft toothbrush work well to brush away surface dirt from the grooves of the rubber gasket. 

To remove stuck on food residue, spills, or mold, make a mild, antiseptic cleaning solution of one part hydrogen peroxide to one part water. Moisten a soft cloth with this food-safe cleaning option and gently wipe the surfaces of the gasket. 

If you find your refrigerator gasket to be worn, damaged, or unable to seal properly, contact a reputable appliance service like A1  PROFESSIONAL APPLIANCE SERVICE AND REPAIR to schedule a replacement as soon as possible.