Why does the door of the home refrigerator not close?
There are several explanations for this. By visual inspection of the door, the cause can be determined. Physical damage, deformation of the door (dents, distortions of the metal, not the fasteners), due to which the door does not close. This kind of breakdown can only be repaired in a workshop or replaced with another. Deformed metal, which is used for external cladding of equipment, is very difficult to level at home. To do this, you must completely disassemble the door as a part and walk over it with a special power tool, and then assemble it back. It is not recommended to do it “on the knee” at home.
- Loose or deformed fasteners. If the door curtains have signs of damage or the bolts (sometimes rivets) do not hold tightly, this is a clear sign of the door skewing. Its elimination is possible at home by one person.
- A rotten, loose or cracked seal is also the cause of this problem. After inspecting the rubber pad around the perimeter, you can find the problem area. If, after a little pressure or tugging on the rubber, the seal crumbles or begins to sag, it's time to start replacing it.
Replacing the seal in the refrigerator door
What breakdowns does it prevent
Over time, dents and gaps form on the rubber, it loses its elasticity. A thinned seal can cause a major overhaul of the refrigerator. After all, the manufacturer calculates the power of the device for certain operating conditions. Forced to work in extreme conditions, the device may simply not be able to withstand the load. Therefore, it is impossible to neglect such a seemingly insignificant detail in any case. It turns out that the refrigerator works around the clock at full capacity. This shortens its service life.
Why doesn't the door close
The refrigerator door may not close due to various malfunctions. To fix the problem, it is necessary to conduct an inspection and establish the specific cause.
Looseness and deformation of fasteners
If the fasteners are deformed from mechanical stress or loosened as a result of prolonged use, the door ceases to fit snugly. If the fasteners are loose, adjustment is allowed. To restore deformed elements, professional repair or replacement of parts is required.
Rotten, loose and cracked seal
Due to delamination of the seal or violation of the integrity and structure, it cannot fulfill its purpose and does not fix the door. A broken seal is easiest to replace with a new one, which saves labor and time.
Dismantling the old
Dismantling (i.e. replacement with a new one, repair or re-hanging on the other side) is necessary when the gasket has ceased to fit snugly against the body. This can happen when the hinges are loosened, cracks appear in the body, or the door leaf is damaged. It is performed in several operations:
- Defrosting (if an old refrigerator needs to be repaired) or disconnecting the device from the power supply (if the technique is of the latest generation). You must first remove the content from the cameras.
- The refrigerator is placed on its side, hinges up, otherwise the canvas will be inconvenient to remove.
- The hinges are unscrewed (starting from the bottom), after which the structure is carefully pulled out of the grooves.
- The sealing gum and the blade are checked for damage.If cracks, rot, old blockages in the cracks or strong deformation of the case are found, the part must be replaced with a new one, otherwise this may lead to damage to the device or damage to products.
- If the parts are not damaged, then the canvas is cleaned from dirt, and the gasket is glued back in the right places. If its material begins to grow moldy or has lost its elasticity and volume, then it is necessary to replace the gum.
- After that, the door is installed back.
Recommendations
When attaching the tape to the "Moment", it is necessary to press it as tightly and tightly as possible to the place of gluing and keep it in this way for about 20 minutes. If it is not possible to do this manually, you can use either transparent tape (reliably presses the gum with several layers for a short time), or a weighting agent no more than 5-7 kg (if the door has been dismantled). You can also use a vise if you have one at hand.
It is recommended to use a respirator during work. If the seal is attached with resin, it is necessary to wear rubber gloves. if the substance gets on open skin, into a wound, or flows into a hard-to-reach place (for example, under a nail), it can provoke an injury to the hands, and getting rid of a frozen clot will not be easy.
Also, the rubber band can be attached to the refrigerator using nails or self-tapping screws. It happens that sometimes it is not possible to glue the tape or the adhesive coating is not able to keep it on the surface of the door, then this method is used. But this option is only suitable for older models and those in which the tape is attached to the factory bolts.
Replacing the factory
To replace the factory sealing gum, you must follow the step-by-step instructions.
How to remove
To remove the seal, you will need to unscrew the fasteners of the door and place it on a horizontal surface. Then the damaged seal is carefully torn off. You can pry one of the edges of the elastic with a sharp object and pull on the seal so that it begins to flake off.
We remove the remnants of glue
You can remove the remnants of the adhesive solution on which the seal was held with acetone. The agent is applied to the pieces of dried glue, wait 5-10 minutes, after which they are processed with a spatula. The final cleaning is carried out with an alcoholic solvent intended for acrylic paints.
Changing the gum of the refrigerator
But if cracks appear on the gum, it breaks or even begins to rot, then throw it away without even thinking. In this method, we will figure out how to change the gum in the refrigerator on our own.
The first thing you should pay attention to is the brand of the refrigerator and its manufacturer. After all, each company makes its own individual fastening and each of them has a different elastic band, which is fastened in different ways.
The rubber band can be glued along the contour of the door and fastened with screws and can be inserted into a special groove. In such cases, you can change it yourself.
You just need to remove the old one and attach the new one - using the same method that it was fixed before. But you need to be extremely careful so as not to spoil or deform the new gum.
There is an option that the elastic will be glued to the refrigerator door. In this case, it will not be able to cope purely on its own, it is worth contacting the service.
Tips & Tricks
In the event that the damage is minor, the seal can be repaired. Places of slight deformation are blown out with a construction hairdryer or to dry the hair (the hottest mode), change the shape of the elastic band with your fingers and press the door strongly, fix it in this position for 10-15 minutes. Another option is how to restore the seal - it is removed and lowered into hot water, left for 15 minutes, when the part takes the desired shape, it can be put back.It is permissible to simply glue the places where the tape has slightly moved away from the door, and seal small cracks with sealant.
On a note!
If the tape is damaged only on the outside, you can remove it, turn it over and attach it back. Such a replacement of rubber on the refrigerator will not work if it has been glued.
In order for the seal to last as long as possible, the door needs to be opened only by the handles or special recesses, without touching the rubber bands. When washing the refrigerator, all grooves in the tape should be cleaned with a toothbrush using soda gruel. After replacing and drying the gum, it must be treated with silicone grease, oils cannot be used, they make the material inelastic.
It is permissible to attach the seals of the new model to double-sided tape (on the latest models of refrigerators), but no one will say exactly how long the part will last. Experts do not advise using polyurethane foam for gluing parts. The tape must not be stretched for any mounting method. You need to measure the elastic from the upper corners (in length and width).
The installation of the sealing tape is not a complex type of repair, but it requires attention and accuracy. You need to choose the right part, carefully remove the remnants of the old gum and prepare the surface before work. Following our advice, you can independently change or repair the rubber seal in the refrigerator without using the services of service centers, the procedure will not take much time.
Repair with improvised means
This method does not require replacement of the worn out part. This is its plus. It is also worth noting that since you will solve the problem yourself and with the help of improvised materials, the percentage of successful repairs is much lower than if you turn to professionals
But the material costs are also much lower, which is important.
There are several methods that became popular back in the Soviet Union, when, due to the lack of some things and materials, it was still not accepted to throw them away. Well, let's figure out the do-it-yourself refrigerator seal repair methods.
Using boiling water
First, remove the rubber band from the refrigerator door. This process can be quite difficult. More precisely, there can be 2 ways here:
Modern refrigerator manufacturers attach this part to the foam, in which case it will be easy to remove it.
In Soviet units, the gum is screwed on with nails, it is rather difficult to remove it
Therefore, it is worth very carefully to remove it, so as not to deform it. Otherwise, you will have to buy a new one.
So, let's move on to the processing of the material itself. Everything is extremely simple. You just need to scald it with boiling water and leave it in hot water until it cools completely. This will restore the rubber band on the refrigerator.
We dry it well and hang it back. After such processing, the part will begin to adhere tightly to the door and its tightness will not be broken.
Using paper or other handy tools
This method will only work if the distance from the door does not exceed 2 mm.
Therefore, for a start, it is worth measuring these departures (this is important)
After that, you can take a piece of paper, cardboard, or other similar materials and place it under the place where the elastic comes off.
Change the position of the door
You can try to hang the door to the other side. This will help you hide the damaged gum, and use it.
Just be sure to prematurely pay attention to the location of the furniture in the kitchen. Will it be convenient for you to open the door if you change its direction? After all, it may happen that you outweighed the door, and now you realized that it is inconvenient to open it and you need to change the location of all kitchen furniture
How to glue the gum in the refrigerator
To start replacing the sealing gum on the refrigerator door, it is necessary to treat the door plane with a not strong solvent.The best solvent for this is an alcohol-based acrylic thinner.
Also, to replace the sealing gum, it is imperative to use the same fastening method that was used to fasten the old material.
The rubber seal can be fixed with glue or screw
Fastening a rubber seal for a refrigerator can be as follows:
- Fastening with a screw. For this method, you need to try on the sealing gum on the refrigerator door and if it fits snugly and does not cause you any doubt that it will perfectly preserve the tightness of your refrigerator, just tighten the fasteners.
- Fixing the seal with glue. After trying on a new seal on the refrigerator door, it is necessary to apply a thin layer of glue around the perimeter of the door and attach the prepared rubber band.
The glue must be chosen on a silicone basis and of very high quality, if you buy a low-quality glue or a cheap fake, you will soon need to replace the seal again. Switching on and using the refrigerator is allowed only after the glue has completely dried.
Why does the seal in the refrigerator wear out?
Seal requiring replacement
The fact that it is time to replace the old tape with a new one can be understood by the ice forming on the freezer door. Due to the fact that warm air gets inside, the temperature in the refrigerator will not be low enough. Over time, in older models that have been in use for a long time, the gum dries up, cracks and becomes less elastic. The tape can become unusable if the technique is handled carelessly. The reason that the elastic will have to be changed may be the sagging of the door from the gravity of its own weight, as well as a malfunction of the sensor that is responsible for opening it. In case of partial or complete wear, you need to replace the rubber bands on the refrigerator door.
The rubber seal is a simple and rather weak part. It performs an important task, ensures tightness. When the belt is deformed and destroyed, this immediately affects the operation of the unit. Cold air flows away, while warm air enters on the contrary. All systems are overloaded.
If the seal is slightly damaged, it can be repaired. The test will help you decide on the solution. The included flashlight is placed inside the refrigerator. If the tightness is poor, then light will be visible between the seal and the body. This means there are gaps.
Check in another way. To do this, take a sheet of paper. They bring it to the body and close the door tightly. They pull on the edge that looks out. If the paper is easily pulled out, then it is imperative to replace the seal. Also check the places at the bottom and top of the door. The elastic should fit snugly along its entire length. The fact that the tightness is broken can be judged by the ones available on it:
- dents;
- chips;
- cracks;
- bends.
Care rules
With proper operation of the refrigerator and proper care of the sealing gum, it will not take a long time to replace the latter. The rules to be followed include:
- Timely cleaning of the gum from debris falling into its grooves. To do this, you can use a toothbrush.
- When washing the refrigerator, be sure to clean the seal with a baking soda solution.
- Regularly treat the gum with silicone grease. It is forbidden to use any vegetable oils for these purposes.
- The refrigerator and freezer can only be opened with a handle. Do not touch the seal again, much less pull on it.
Timely replacement of the rubber band will help protect the engine from overheating and from unnecessary power consumption. Replacing the seal yourself is a fairly simple manipulation.You just need to buy the right material and follow all the installation recommendations.
After work
Replacing an old seal in the refrigerator is a simple task for an experienced craftsman
However, it is important to know how to take care of your household appliance in order to avoid repeated breakdown.
- Compliance with the defrosting schedule (for outdated models);
- Periodic check of units and parts for rotting, unpleasant odor, crumbling;
- Avoiding overheating or hypothermia (especially important for equipment that is not currently being used, but stored in a warehouse or garage.
By observing these simple rules, you can avoid the need for repairs and extend the service life of the equipment.
It is important to note that a huge amount of cold escapes through the slots in the seal, which adversely affects the quality of the products and makes the refrigerator work in an enhanced mode. This has a detrimental effect on his resource.
Even a small gap, into which the corner of A4 sheet will freely pass, is a potential problem and has a bad effect on work.
Sometimes it happens that a refrigerator that has been working for many years fails. The causes of the defect can be different. One of them is damage to the rubber seal. If this is your case, then natural questions arise:
- What to do - restore an old rubber band or buy a new one?
- Solve the problem yourself or call the wizard?
- How difficult is it to replace the seal in the refrigerator with your own hands?
- What to glue the sealing gum on in the refrigerator?
Let's take a step-by-step look at each of these issues.
All household appliances require quality care, as well as repair and protection. The problem of wear on the gum is most common in older freezers. Although, if there is a factory defect or improper operation, it can touch new refrigerators.
Eventually, when the structure of the sealing gum changes over time, deformations and cracks appear, condensation accumulates on the walls and door of the refrigerator, and ice forms (exceptions include refrigerators with the NoFrost system).
Also, damage to the sealing gum leads to temperature changes in the refrigerator under the influence of warm air entering it. As a result, in order to maintain the set temperature, the compressor of the freezer starts to operate without stopping, which can cause it to fail more quickly.
This will lead to costly repairs, therefore, in order to prevent this malfunction from occurring, you must understand that breaking the rubber seal on the refrigerator door is not a trifle, but a malfunction that can significantly affect the operation of the entire device and lead to serious problems. Also, do not write off the excessive use of electricity by a faulty refrigerator - a damaged gum can cost you a pretty penny.
Signs of damage to the refrigerator seal
There is a simple way to check the tightness of the refrigerator door. This requires a sheet of paper. Place it between the chamber and the door and close the refrigerator. If there is an area where the paper is not pressed against the chamber by the door, it slides freely and falls out, then there are problems with the seal.
However, in most cases the problems with the sealing gum are obvious and do not require this test.
Method 1. Hair dryer
Basically, all home remedies for sealing rubber restorations come down to using heat. To do this, you just need to provide a source of high temperature. It can be a hair dryer.
To restore rubber with a hair dryer, you must perform several steps in sequence:
- disconnect the device from the power supply;
- heat the rubber with a hair dryer to a temperature of at least 80 degrees;
- straighten sagging areas with your hands (in this case, you need to stock up on linen gloves to avoid injury).
It is necessary to wait for the heated area to cool down with the door closed. However, it must be understood that this method is relevant with a slight deformation of the rubber.
How to choose it?
In modern refrigerators, single-chamber and double-chamber polymer seals are used. When buying, you need to consider the following points:
- brand and serial number of the device;
- the length of the seal;
- fastening method;
- the presence of a magnetic insert.
Methods for fixing the sealing strips:
- using glue;
- using self-tapping screws;
- with fastening in the groove.
The last option is considered the most reliable. Such a seal is easy to install and maintain, durable and not prone to deformation.
If you can't find a tape for a certain brand, then you can use any other. In this case, the seal is adjusted to the required dimensions, and the joints are carefully glued. To do this, use any adhesives, including silicone sealants.
Attention! Do not install the seal immediately after purchase. First, it is kept at room temperature for about 24 hours and only then they begin installation
How to repair or replace the seal?
Before replacing an old seal, find out how you can restore it. To do this, use a building hair dryer or hot water. The repair takes place according to the following algorithm:
- heating the seal in the place of unevenness with a hair dryer or water;
- aligning the form with your hands.
Then the door is tightly closed and after the gum has cooled completely, check for cracks with paper. The sheet is laid at the junction, the door is closed and they try to pull it out. If the paper is easy to remove, then you need to repeat the heating procedure again.
Sometimes it happens that the elastic does not fit snugly due to an incorrectly installed appliance door. In this case, the replacement of the seal is not required, it will be sufficient to adjust the position of the door.
About repairing the sealing gum of the refrigerator in the video:
Dismantling the old
Before proceeding with the repair, you need to prepare the tools:
- For installation on adhesives, you will need glue, a spatula and a solvent.
- For self-tapping screws - a screwdriver or screwdriver.
- For grooves - a hair dryer and a screwdriver.
The algorithm of actions when removing the old rubber band will be as follows:
- Disconnect and defrost the household appliance.
- Remove the door and place it on the floor or table.
- Remove the seal. The gum inserted into the groove is pry off with a screwdriver and, carefully tightening, is removed. When fastened with self-tapping screws, it is simply unscrewed. If the seal "sits" on the glue, then it is cut off or torn off. Then the remains are cleaned with a spatula.
Reference! Experts recommend that you definitely remove the door, since with vertical installation, the quality of the installation is significantly reduced.
Installing a new
During installation, use the method that was originally provided in the model.
Into the groove
- The sealant is well warmed up with a construction hair dryer or kept in very hot water for several minutes.
- Then straighten it around the perimeter and insert the fasteners alternately into the grooves. To make the seal more reliable, you can additionally coat the gum location with glue or silicone sealant. Instead of adhesives, sometimes small self-tapping screws are used, which are screwed at a distance of about 15 cm.
For self-tapping screws
When using self-tapping screws, they must be screwed exactly into the places in which they were before dismantling. The fasteners should be positioned often enough, so the tightness will be more reliable.
For adhesives
The surface for the gum and it itself is degreased with a solvent or white spirit. Then glue is applied according to the brand's instructions and a sealant is applied, pressing it firmly around the entire perimeter.Experts recommend using adhesives from well-known manufacturers, since they produce a top quality product.
Installing the door in place is possible only after the adhesive has completely dried, but not less than a day later. If you do this earlier, then the elastic may not adhere completely and the tightness will be broken.
Reference! When installing the rubber band on the freezer door, use special adhesives that can withstand low temperatures.
Checking the quality of the installation
After the installation of the seal has been completed, it is necessary to check how well and firmly it holds. When installed correctly:
- the elastic fits tightly to the door, there are no gaps or gaps;
- the household appliance opens with little effort;
- the door stands exactly without the slightest distortion.
After all the work is completed, the refrigerator can be turned on.
Replacing the sealing gum on the refrigerator
Let's start with the nuances of choosing a new sealing material. On outdated brands and models of cooling household appliances, thickened rubber bands were installed, it is almost impossible to find them, now the parts are made of polymers. There are two types of tapes: double-balloon (equipped with a magnet) and single-balloon, the former are more common. Details differ in the way they are installed:
- grooves (herringbone);
- self-tapping screws;
- glue.
On a note!
Consider the size and type of part you need when choosing a sealing tape.
It's good when there is a tape on sale for a certain model of the refrigerator, if there is none, you will have to select a similar one. In order not to be mistaken, be sure to consult with the seller. A good material has a uniform, smooth structure. Carefully inspect the new seal along its entire length and from all sides; there should be no cracks, lumps, stretches.
It is almost impossible to find a solid rubber band on an old refrigerator, you will have to take a larger tape, cut off excess pieces during installation, and glue the joints. After the purchase, the part is left for 24 hours in the room where the replacement will be carried out. At this time, it cannot be cut or attached to the door, the material needs to get used to the new conditions. Before work, the part is briefly placed in warm water.
Removing the tape and preparing for replacement
Before dismantling the old seal, you need to turn off the refrigerator, remove all products from the chambers, completely defrost the device, wipe it dry. It will be easier to work if you remove the door and place it on the table. When repairing "on the weight", small gaps or other defects often remain. The process of dismantling the old seal depends on the type of its attachment:
The edges of the grooves are gently pushed towards themselves and sequentially (along the entire length) push the elastic upward, trying not to break it
It is undesirable to rush, it is important not to damage other elements of the doors and case. If the seal constantly returns to its original place, fix it with a screwdriver, inserting it between the edge of the panel and the tape
The seal must be completely removed from the grooves, otherwise it will not be possible to insert a new rubber band. The tape fastened with self-tapping screws is unfastened with a screwdriver or screwdriver. The glued part is torn off the door, the surface is cleaned with a small spatula.
Attention!
After removing the old tape and attaching a new one, thoroughly clean it, then wipe the door surface with a degreaser. The glue can be easily removed with acetone.
To glue the tape, you need to choose a good tool, for example, Moment glue or BF, they perfectly hold the surfaces together, hold them securely for a long time. When handling adhesive, be careful not to stain the surface around the tape. Traces of glue in the wrong places are immediately removed. Many craftsmen use silicone sealants, which is also a good option, they are elastic and reliable. When choosing products, give preference to those on the packaging of which there is a note about resistance to low temperatures.
Replacing sealing rubber with your own hands
You should not experiment and try to come up with new types of fastening, mount the tape as it was installed earlier. It is permissible to change something only in the case of deformation or breakage of the door. In production, the tape is fastened into the groove with special equipment; it will not be possible to repeat the procedure manually. To play it safe, it is advisable to put the rubber band under the grooves on glue or fix it with self-tapping screws. Replacing the rubber band on the refrigerator door:
- The glue is applied in a thin layer to the side of the tape that will attach it to the plastic. Drying is carried out as written in the instructions for the product, the door must not be closed until the glue is completely dry.
- When screwing in with self-tapping screws, it is advisable to use screws of a slightly larger diameter (than they were before), since after a long operation the fasteners could weaken. Replacing the seal begins from the corners, screws are screwed in without tightly tightening, otherwise the gum will burst.
- The herringbone tape is inserted into the grooves, first in the corners, then around the perimeter. The edges of the plastic sheathing are moved away from the body and fixed with screwdrivers, the tail of the seal is inserted into the resulting cavity. If additional fixation is carried out not on glue, but on self-tapping screws, then they are screwed in at a distance of 10 or 15 cm.
After the glue dries, you need to carefully inspect the seal for possible damage. If all is well, the refrigerator can be connected to the network. With proper repair, the door on the refrigerator will not open as easily as before, and if you run your hand along the rubber band, you should not feel cold. If you wish, you can do the test with a flashlight or paper.
Can a rubber band be restored at home?
You can try to repair the deformed seal yourself. Modern inventive users have developed a whole collection of methods, among which the most common option has become the option with the door hanging. This is technically feasible, but there is no guarantee of complete success.
In addition, when outweighing 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 cut out for him, taking into account every centimeter. It may be necessary to completely rearrange the kitchen modules when re-hanging the door. Is it worth it?