What is the function of a fridge door seal?

Your fridge is designed to remove energy from inside to create a cool space that's ideal for preserving food. The function of your fridge door seal (aka gasket) is simply to keep warm air from entering that space.

Once your gasket reaches the end of its life, warm air will start penetrating the fridge interior. The thermostat will trigger the cooling cycle more often, reducing the efficiency of your fridge, and costing your business extra money in energy bills.

As warm air cools, any moisture will also condense. You might notice patches of moisture and even the appearance of mould or mildew. This is not ideal, especially if you run a food or health care business.

Another common sign of a faulty fridge door seal is a buildup of ice. This will restrict air flow within the fridge, making it work harder then ever to stay cool.

So, how do fridge seals work to prevent this scenario happening?

How do fridge seals work?

Fridge seals are a simple yet powerful solution for separating the warm air in your kitchen from the cool air inside. They combine the material properties of the seal with a firm connection between the door and the fridge frame.

The gasket is made from either a type of thermoplastic, like PVC, rubber, synthetic rubber or an alloy combining different types of polymer. Their blend of chemical and mechanical properties give gaskets their flexibility, strength, chemical resistance and, crucially, their ability to insulate your fridge from warm air.

How do fridge seals work to prevent warm air from seeping in between the gasket and the frame of the fridge? Thats all to do with the presence of a magnetic strip within the plastic or rubber. The strength of the magnet holds the gasket firmly against the metal frame of the fridge, creating an impermeable barrier to the air outside.

Now we've answered the question, 'How do fridge seals work?' let's look at how you can obtain and replace a fridge seal should yours be at the end of its useful life.

Source and fit your replacement fridge door seal

The team at Gasket Guy have made it our mission to simplify the process of businesses like yours replacing their fridge door seals.

If you decide to order a gasket from Gasket Guy and fit it yourself, you will find plenty of support on our website. To summarise the process:

Take the new gasket out of its box and lay it out somewhere warm (or even soak it in warm water) so that it returns to its proper shape.
Remove the old gasket, taking care to memorise how it is attached. Most will simply push into a groove around the door. Some will have a lip at the back which hooks over the frame, while others will be held between two panels by retaining screws.
Thoroughly clean the fridge door.
If the new gasket is still kinked, use a hair dryer, on a low setting, to gently straighten it out.
Push, hook or screw the new gasket in place. It often helps to start with the two top or bottom corners.
Use the hair dryer to iron out any gaps.
Apply a thin coating of petroleum jelly on the hinge side of the gasket. This can prevent bulging.
Be aware that it can take a couple of days for the magnet to fully connect across the entire frame. Using duct tape to hold the fridge door shut can speed up the process.

Visit the other pages of our website to find and order your gaskets online, or book one of our engineers who can visit your site and replace your fridge gaskets on site.