Refrigerator Door Gaskets

The door is open throughout the day, and while everyone looks inside, somehow no one notices the damage that is happening inside this important tool of the kitchen. From the refrigerator door gasket, to the back of the unit, care must be taken to keep it clean and fresh so the food inside stays in this condition, as well. A dirty or improperly cleaned and repaired unit can become dangerous. Too high a temperature inside, and there is risk of bacteria. So, keeping all the parts, like the refrigerator door gasket, cleaned and in working order is a crucial part of having a well-run kitchen.

The refrigerator kitchen door gasket is one part of the unit which performs a task that not only extends the use of the appliance, but also saves energy. Prior to the 1990s, this wasn’t considered as much as it is now, but in the last twenty years there has been more progress in how cabinet style refrigerator and freezers use energy. Of course the unit will lose cool air when the door is opened, but if the refrigerator door gasket is compromised, or not properly cared for, cool air will constantly be lost, and other parts of the unit, including the compressor, will need to work harder to cool the warm, moist air entering the unit.

A good start is a having a well-fitting, quality refrigerator door gasket. In helping a customer with high-energy costs, it is a good idea to start here, with the door. There are several tips that an owner of a restaurant or a busy household can use to prolong the efficiency of the gasket. Routine maintenance, such as cleaning the compressors every few months, is usually remembered, but often attention isn’t paid to how well the refrigerator door gasket is fitting, or if it needs to be cleaned.

If the gaskets are from sellers like Cooler Gaskets, then maintenance is easy, but still important. An example is a sticky substance falling or dripping on the gasket from a food source. When the door is open, the drag and pull of the friction between the door and opening of the unit’s door frame can eventually pull the gasket out of shape, just enough to allow air to escape. This is a preventable loss of the usefulness of the refrigerator door gasket. All that is needed is a little mild detergent and lukewarm water. Customers should be cautioned to never use bleach on the refrigerator door gasket, as this unnecessarily exposes food to chemicals.

Perhaps the most commonly misdiagnosed problem for the refrigerator door gasket is to mistake the chronic leaking of cool air from this part, rather than checking for other issues that might be causing the problem for the unit. If a refrigerator repeatedly needs new gaskets applied, then the problem might not be with either the unit or the gasket. If the area where the refrigerator is placed is not level, the door cannot close properly. The feet or casters can be adjusted to meet the demands of such a space, leveling the door and allowing better contact. This can help to aid the refrigerator door gasket to do its job, and in turn will save those using the unit money and effort to keep food fresh and ready to eat.