Over the course of many years of operation, the refrigerator seal gradually wears out and becomes unusable. As a result, the door of the unit no longer fits tightly to the body. The products in the chamber begin to quickly deteriorate, and the compressor works without interruption to maintain the optimal temperature inside the device. Energy resources are consumed, but the device does not fulfill its task - it does not cool the food properly. If you ignore the malfunction, it will lead to equipment breakdown and costly repairs.
The article will tell you how to check the tightness of the seal and replace the seal if it fails.
How to check the tightness of the refrigerator yourself
If the seal in the refrigerator does not fit tightly, the seal of the appliance is compromised. This is evidenced by frost appearing on jars of liquid and ice on the back wall of the device.
The ice that forms on the rubber itself indicates the location of the damage. If it is not there, but the problem is obvious, carry out an independent check: you need to understand where warm air enters the chamber.
To check, use plain paper. Cut a strip 40-50 mm wide. Place it across the rubber band and close the door. Tightly fixed paper indicates the tightness of the seal. If it falls out, then warm air enters the chamber at this point. To identify problem areas, the entire perimeter is tested.
The tightness of the elastic band is also checked using a flashlight. It is better to test in a dark room. The switched-on flashlight is placed in the unit, directing the streams of light towards the door, and closing it. In places where the rays penetrate, the refrigerator is not sealed.
Home Recipes
It is quite possible to clean the refrigerator until it turns white using improvised products that are already in the kitchen or in the home medicine cabinet. It is advisable to carry out all work wearing rubber gloves to protect the skin of your hands.
Soap solution
To clean the refrigerator outside and inside, you can use a solution of laundry soap.
Procedure:
- grate the soap - this will make it easier to dissolve in water;
- dilute soap shavings in hot water, proportion – 1-2 spoons per 0.5 liter. water;
- thoroughly rinse all surfaces with a napkin;
- rinse with clean water.
Soda is a good, safe product that can be used to clean various surfaces, including those that come into contact with food.
To clean, you need to dilute the powder with water to form a liquid paste. You can wipe off dirt with baking soda using a napkin, periodically dipping it into the solution.
If the area is very dirty, it is advisable to leave the napkin in the soda solution to lie on the dirty area.
Dishwashing gel
Cleaning products designed for washing dishes are suitable for removing dirt from internal and external surfaces. This eliminates fingerprints, deposited gas and grease .
Possible causes of refrigerator seal failure
Users usually notice the fact that the rubber has become unusable when obvious damage is visible, or if they themselves have damaged the seal .
Most often, the seal fails due to natural reasons. Over time, it hardens due to temperature changes. Its surface turns yellow and cracks appear on it. If the gasket is not taken care of, grease and other contaminants accumulate on it. This prevents it from adhering to the body of the refrigerator. In this case, cleaning helps the seal recover. Contact with fat and moisture also causes wear of the part.
Advice. Periodically (at least once a year) check the seal for serviceability.
Why the door of a household appliance does not close
There may be several reasons.
- Loops. Over time, the door fastenings may become loose. This results in the door not closing completely. In this case, the bolts should be tightened well.
- Damage to the refrigeration unit housing.
- Not a tight fitting seal.
Helpful information! If the door does not close properly due to damage to the refrigerator body, then you should not fix the problem yourself. You need to contact a specialist.
See also: DIY kitchen furniture, drawings and diagrams.
What causes a seal failure?
A flexible multilayer rubber band is placed around the perimeter of the refrigerator door and is responsible for its tight fit to the body . This ensures the tightness of the chamber and allows you to keep the temperature inside lower than outside, consuming the amount of electricity specified by the technical parameters. Temperature sensors monitor the correct operation of the refrigerator.
When the seal becomes unusable, the tightness of the unit is compromised. Warm air enters the chamber. When the temperature rises above normal, the sensor gives a signal to the compressor. It starts working to cool the air. Since the seal is broken, heat is constantly supplied, so the motor runs non-stop. The system is functioning at its maximum. This leads to wear of parts. The compressor overheats and may burn out.
A thick layer of ice freezes on the back wall of the device, creating even greater temperature disturbances. This causes breakage of the capillary tubes.
Food in the refrigerator either gets frozen or does not have time to cool down. This leads to their accelerated deterioration. So, milk turns sour in 2-3 days, and ready-made dishes spoil within a day. Unstable temperature conditions promote the growth of fungus and mold.
Advice. If you notice the first signs of depressurization of the refrigerator, immediately fix the problem. They can lead to more serious damage and costly repairs.
Where to go if the sealing rubber breaks
If you do not want to waste time on repairs or replacing the gasket, contact. We will quickly and efficiently install the tape on a Samsung, LG or any other device and provide a warranty card for the work.
Our technicians arrive on time, have extensive experience, are polite and responsible for the results. Call us by phone 8(812)324-97-77 every day from 7:00 to 23:00.
The refrigerator door is in good condition and fits tightly to the body. If the refrigerator door does not close or does not fit tightly, you need to find out the reason and start troubleshooting, otherwise food will spoil and repairing the equipment will become more difficult over time.
Caring for rubber seals
The service life of the seal largely depends on compliance with the rules of operation and maintenance. Grease and other contaminants accumulate on the rubber surface, so it needs periodic cleaning. It is washed with soap and water, vinegar or soda, then wiped thoroughly.
It is not recommended to use aggressive chemicals for cleaning. After which it is recommended to lubricate the gum. For processing, use a special silicone grease for rubber seals (for example, Molykote 111, Efele SG-393).
When opening the door, do not cling to the rubber seal so that it does not move or become deformed. In order not to break the tightness of the gasket, do not slam the door too hard.
Advice from experienced housewives on how to clean the refrigerator from yellowness outside and inside
Keeping your refrigerator clean is a necessary condition for its attractive appearance and hygiene.
White surfaces inside and outside the device tend to turn yellow over time. Simple homemade recipes and special household chemicals will help you restore your snow-white appearance.
For more information on how to clean a refrigerator from yellowness inside and outside, read the article.
How to repair an old seal
Let's look at how to restore the rubber band on the refrigerator if it moves slightly away from the door:
- If the gasket is slightly wrinkled and there are no cracks on it, then use a hair dryer for repairs. In this case, the seal is not removed from the door. The gap area is heated to approximately 70°C and slightly stretched. Then close the refrigerator until it cools completely.
- To restore the elastic properties of old rubber, it needs to be softened. To do this, carefully remove the gasket from the door. Pour boiling water over it and leave it in the water until it cools down. Then thoroughly dry and install in place. This method is considered more effective.
- If the gasket moves no more than 2 mm, then close the gap with paper. Cut a strip of the required width and fill the voids or glue it with double-sided tape. This will help get rid of the problem for a couple of weeks.
To restore the tightness, move the refrigerator door to the other side. This option is suitable for models that provide this feature. But it is not always effective - the probability of recovery is approximately 50% and depends on the period of use of the unit.
How to revive the rubber band on the refrigerator door in case of more serious damage? For noticeable cracks on the gasket, glue is used. It must be elastic and reliable. They use “Moment”, “88” glue, and silicone adhesives (for example, Tytan Professional, RTV 118Q, etc.).
Advice. Before sealing the damage, the surface is washed, dried, and then degreased with alcohol.
The longitudinal tear in the seal is sealed with tape. This type of damage is not particularly dangerous, but requires measures to be taken to avoid further consequences.
Is it possible to restore an elastic band at home?
What to do if the monitor does not turn on
You can try to restore the deformed seal yourself. Modern inventive users have developed a whole collection of methods, among which the most common is the option of hanging the door. Technically this is feasible, but there is no guarantee of complete success.
In addition, when rehanging the door, you need to think about whether opening the door in the other direction will cause inconvenience. After all, a refrigerator is a fairly large unit. A place is carved out for it, taking into account every centimeter. Perhaps, when re-hanging the door, you will have to do a total rearrangement of the kitchen modules. Is it worth it?
Replacing the refrigerator seal yourself
If the rubber band is severely damaged, it is replaced with a new one. To do this, call a qualified specialist. Carrying out DIY repairs requires skills and tools. The quality of operation of the refrigerator depends on the correct selection and installation of the seal.
Instructions for replacing seals yourself
To make the repair you will need:
- new seal;
- flat screwdriver;
- glue or screws;
- putty knife;
- hairdryer
The gasket is attached to the refrigerator in three ways:
- self-tapping screws;
- glue;
- Herringbone fastening - a special groove into which part of the tape is inserted.
The easiest way to remove an elastic band is inserted into the groove. To do this, place a screwdriver between the body and the rubber and pull it back. The actions are carried out carefully so as not to tear the material. The seal is removed by unscrewing the screws.
It is more difficult to dismantle the glued gasket. The rubber is slightly pulled back and the adhesive layer is cleaned off with a spatula. In this case, in order not to damage the equipment, it is recommended to contact professionals.
The seal is replaced as follows:
- The unit is disconnected from the network and allowed to stand for 30 minutes.
- First, remove the old gasket.
- Then clean the channel for the seal. It is washed with water and detergent and dried. Then degrease with alcohol.
- A new gasket is stretched around the perimeter of the door and inserted into the channel. If the old seal was in the grooves, then the new one is inserted in the same way. If it was attached with screws, then the elastic band is also screwed on. In this case, they use new screws and try to get into the original grooves. If the tape was attached with glue, then a new one is glued.
- The surface is heated with a hairdryer, the door is closed and allowed to cool.
- They check the work. If the door does not fit tightly to the body, look for installation defects. When it opens with some effort, the installation is correct.
How to choose a replacement rubber seal
For replacement, select a part that matches the refrigerator model.
Sealing rubber bands come in single- and double-balloon types, with a magnet and self-adhesive. Therefore, first find out what type of seal is used in your equipment, or take an old seal with you to the store so that the seller can help you choose a similar part.
It is recommended to make the replacement within the same brand. So, you should not install a Bosch rubber band on an Indesit refrigerator.
Advice. If the unit is old and there are no parts for it on sale, use a regular door seal. It is sold in construction stores.
How to glue a rubber band to a refrigerator door
To glue the elastic, use glue that retains elasticity when dried, otherwise the elastic will peel off and move away from the base. For repairs, glue “Moment”, “88”, “Rubber” and its analogues are used.
The connection is carried out in 2 stages:
- A thin layer of glue is applied to the corners of the rubber square, leveled and stretched.
- Glue the entire perimeter with small portions of the compound, firmly pressing the rubber to the metal.
For gluing strength, clamps are used.
Top 5 special products
In addition to using improvised means and folk recipes, you can use household chemicals that are specifically designed for cleaning refrigerators .
Those that are aimed only at eliminating unpleasant odors and antibacterial treatment, without a cleaning effect, are not suitable for eliminating yellowness.
Luxus Professional
This product can be used to clean all types of surfaces inside and outside the refrigerator, including freezers. The drug effectively removes stains of various origins, including food stains. Available in 0.5 liter bottles, which last for a long time.
Advantages:
- efficiency;
- quick results;
- economical consumption;
- convenient release form - spray;
- elimination of unpleasant odor;
- antibacterial treatment;
- Suitable for cleaning rubber seals;
- biodegradable composition;
- affordable price;
- Available in various flavors (mint, lemon, grapefruit);
- does not harm health;
- degreasing.
Prohibitions when cleaning
Despite the desire to return the refrigerator to whiteness quickly, you should adhere to certain rules:
- When cleaning, do not use objects with abrasive surfaces - hard brushes, scrapers, knives, etc.
- Glossy surfaces should not be cleaned with powder detergents, only liquid ones.
- Any cleaning agent used must be thoroughly rinsed off at the end of cleaning, unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer.
- Do not use chemicals that are not intended for cleaning the refrigerator, especially inside the appliance. Not only can they damage the surface, but they can also pose health risks.
- After finishing cleaning, the refrigerator must be given time to ventilate. To do this, you need to leave it open for a short time.
You will find useful tips and tricks for cleaning your refrigerator in this section.
