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Author Topic: fridge door gasket not sealing  (Read 3351 times)

Offline Iliff Ave

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fridge door gasket not sealing
« on: April 21, 2016, 03:20:04 pm »
My kegerator in the garage is not sealing at the bottom and there is a considerable gap. The issue appears to be the way the door sits in that it is further away from the bottom than the top. I am not sure that I can adjust it properly. The magnetic gasket has seen better days but it does not appear that replacing it will fix the issue. Assuming I cannot get the door to seat more appropriately, does anyone have any ideas on how to properly seal the bottom? I bought it used a couple of years ago and I think it has always been like this but I couldn't tell.

My idea is to get some weather striping to attach to the fridge where the gasket should touch, adhere some magnetic tape to the weather striping and cover it all in foil tape. I am hoping this may be a decent temporary solution at least.
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Offline Stevie

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Re: fridge door gasket not sealing
« Reply #1 on: April 21, 2016, 03:44:16 pm »
Put a latch at the bottom.

Is the door bent?

Offline Iliff Ave

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Re: fridge door gasket not sealing
« Reply #2 on: April 21, 2016, 03:45:47 pm »
Put a latch at the bottom.

Is the door bent?

Not from what I can tell. I will need to take a closer look.

The latch is a very good idea as long as I can still open and close the door relatively quickly. I will investigate. Thanks
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Offline kramerog

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Re: fridge door gasket not sealing
« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2016, 03:46:37 pm »
I have the same problem after taking the door off and moving the fridge.  Kicking the bottom of the door works for me.

If you can't correct the seating of fridge door you might be able to hang the door from the other side of the fridge and get it to seat properly if your fridge is designed that way.

Offline Iliff Ave

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Re: fridge door gasket not sealing
« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2016, 03:48:29 pm »
I have the same problem after taking the door off and moving the fridge.  Kicking the bottom of the door works for me.

If you can't correct the seating of fridge door you might be able to hang the door from the other side of the fridge and get it to seat properly if your fridge is designed that way.

I can hang it from the other side but the way the fridge is positioned makes it less than ideal to change it. I did forget that I did move the door when I got it so that could be the cause of the problem.
« Last Edit: April 21, 2016, 03:50:51 pm by goschman »
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Offline blair.streit

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Re: fridge door gasket not sealing
« Reply #5 on: April 21, 2016, 03:54:24 pm »
I can hang it from the other side but the way the fridge is positioned makes it less than ideal to change it.
Just turn the fridge upside down. Sorry, couldn't resist  ;)

Offline Iliff Ave

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Re: fridge door gasket not sealing
« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2016, 03:56:06 pm »
I can hang it from the other side but the way the fridge is positioned makes it less than ideal to change it.
Just turn the fridge upside down. Sorry, couldn't resist  ;)

Then it won't seal at the top!
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Offline Joe Sr.

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Re: fridge door gasket not sealing
« Reply #7 on: April 21, 2016, 03:58:36 pm »
Did you inspect the hinges?  There's usually two or there screws that hold the hinge to the main body of the fridge. It's probably bent, loose, or otherwise FUBAR.

Get a BFH and bend it back to where you need it to be.
It's all in the reflexes. - Jack Burton

Offline 69franx

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Re: fridge door gasket not sealing
« Reply #8 on: April 21, 2016, 05:16:52 pm »
BFH for a little persuasion, I like it Joe!
Frank L.
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Offline Joe Sr.

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Re: fridge door gasket not sealing
« Reply #9 on: April 21, 2016, 05:38:50 pm »
It could also just be a leveling problem.
It's all in the reflexes. - Jack Burton

Offline pete b

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Re: fridge door gasket not sealing
« Reply #10 on: April 21, 2016, 05:44:43 pm »
Check out the hinges. Usually the mechanism for shutting the door enough for the magnets to take over is in the hinges. Basically you may find that there is a plastic seating in there that is kind of wave or spiral shaped that is designed to keep the door opened at a certain point and to accelerate the door as it closes. That could be out of whack in a way that holds it in the higher position that it should be in when it is maybe a third of the way open (2/3 shut for you pessimists). Some trial and error futzing with it should work. Having an extra set of hands that belong to a non annoying person can help with said trial and error.
Don't let the bastards cheer you up.

Offline Iliff Ave

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Re: fridge door gasket not sealing
« Reply #11 on: April 22, 2016, 07:43:57 am »
Hinges were the problem. I did a shoddy job moving the door apparently and the bottom hinge was loose. I was able to snug it up considerably which made the fridge and freezer doors hit each other. With some other adjustments, it appears to be much better. Thanks for the help. I prematurely inquired without really taking a look at what I was dealing with.
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Offline Joe Sr.

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Re: fridge door gasket not sealing
« Reply #12 on: April 22, 2016, 12:06:05 pm »
The simple solution is usually the right one.  We over complicate many things.

But the BFH is always good to have handy.  When things are too complicated it can help simplify them.  Either fixed or irretrievably broken, but resolved either way.
It's all in the reflexes. - Jack Burton

Offline 69franx

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Re: fridge door gasket not sealing
« Reply #13 on: April 22, 2016, 12:48:18 pm »
The simple solution is usually the right one.  We over complicate many things.

But the BFH is always good to have handy.  When things are too complicated it can help simplify them.  Either fixed or irretrievably broken, but resolved either way.
+1!
Frank L.
Fermenting: Nothing (ugh!)
Conditioning: Nothing (UGH!)
In keg: Nothing (Double UGH!)
In the works:  House IPA, Dark Mild, Ballantine Ale clone(still trying to work this one into the schedule)

Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: fridge door gasket not sealing
« Reply #14 on: April 22, 2016, 01:23:14 pm »
Hinges were the problem. I did a shoddy job moving the door apparently and the bottom hinge was loose. I was able to snug it up considerably which made the fridge and freezer doors hit each other. With some other adjustments, it appears to be much better. Thanks for the help. I prematurely inquired without really taking a look at what I was dealing with.

I have to realign and tighten hinges on one fridge every now and then.
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