The refrigerator seal is a so-called large open rubber ring. The rubber band closes the gap that forms between the body and the door of the refrigerator. This makes the unit very airtight, retaining cold in the refrigeration chamber and ensuring maximum efficiency. Thanks to the sealing rubber, the temperature inside does not change, the food remains fresh for a long time. It is worth replacing the seal if there is a clear certainty that the breakdown is real. You can do the work yourself, but you need to know exactly how to change the rubber band on the refrigerator.
How to check the tightness of the refrigerator yourself
First Step to Troubleshooting Your Refrigerator: If your refrigerator light is on and you can hear it running but the appliance won't stop, make sure there is nothing blocking the passage between the freezer and refrigerator compartments. If, for example, a loaf of bread shoved in front of the aisle restricts the air flow, the refrigerator will not cool down. Therefore, it will continue to work in an attempt to reach the set temperature. If your refrigerator is running non-stop, its refrigerant may be low. A refrigerator with low refrigerant content cannot reach the low temperature setting of the cold control dial. You will need a refrigerator repair technician to check and/or increase the refrigerant levels.
Open the door. If you feel a draft, make sure there is a problem with the seal. In some cases, this is not the cause of such a malfunction, for example, a blocked anti-frost drain is to blame. The defrost drain is usually located on the back wall of the freezer, just above the slope from the floor to the back wall. A buildup of food particles or debris can clog the drain hose, causing ice to build up and water to leak from the freezer and refrigerator. To fix this, try drying the hole from the inside using warm water. Use a long, thin tool, such as a drain cleaner, to remove the clog.
If this doesn't finish the job, you may have to manually remove the buildup that is clogging the valve at the end of the drain hose. Locate the defrost drain hose at the back of the service panel by moving the refrigerator away from the wall. This hose should have a rubber valve that helps catch debris and prevent clogging. Wash the valve with hot water and soap, and then replace it.
What needs to be done to make the rubber seal last longer?
Some tips on how to extend the life of your unit's seal:
- open and close the door only with the handle, never slam it, so as not to cause mechanical damage;
- Clean the unit chamber regularly, do not expect heavy contamination;
- wash the seal with gentle detergents to avoid the accumulation of bacteria and germs;
- Once a month, treat the gum with a special silicone compound.
It is quite possible to extend the life of the seal thanks to the proper care described above, but there is no point in restoring it; it is better to replace it. Proper care can also be considered prevention, preventing serious damage.
Can it be repaired?
The elastic material is secured in the door groove securely enough to provide a tight seal. But this does not prevent us from dismantling this strip on our own. If possible, it is better to contact specialists. However, such work can be performed even without much experience.
You can change the rubber seal on the refrigerator yourself if you know the model of the unit. The cross-sectional configuration of this strip differs depending on the brand of the device. There is a groove for inserting it. The principle of location of the rubber strip is different. The shape, as well as the size of the groove, can also vary. For this reason, you should repair the refrigerator seal yourself if you can find an elastic material that matches the parameters of the old strip.
There are universal tapes. They can be used to replace the old rubber on the unit door. However, such products differ in their significant width. To install it on a refrigerator, you must first determine the dimensions of the seal. The key parameters are the following: width and length. Then, if necessary, the excess strip is cut off, after which it is fixed in the groove.
The sealing rubber can be replaced completely or partially. Preference should be given to the first method. This is due to the fact that in this case there are no leaks around the perimeter of the door. The elastic band runs in a continuous stripe. If you replace only partially, gaps may appear between sections of the seal.
It is not possible to change the rubber on the door yourself in the latest models of equipment.
In this case, the unit may be under warranty, which means that the defects are eliminated at the service center. You cannot dismantle the strip yourself. The difficulty of replacing the seal in new models of units is due to the fact that sometimes it is located under the door lining layer. Then it is impossible to remove the rubber yourself; knowledge and special tools are required. Otherwise, the lining of the unit will be damaged, which may reduce the attractiveness of the equipment.
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.
