Why Your Freezer Door Keeps Popping Open, With Fixes

Are you taking a look at your freezer wondering why the door keeps popping open? It can be a common problem with freezer doors. Not only can this make it difficult for your freezer to keep the internal compartment cold, but your food may also spoil, and your utility bills are going to go up. 

If your freezer door keeps popping open, you should make sure it is not too full of food. You may also want to take a look at the door seal. Finally, you should also take a look at the ground and the legs of your freezer to make sure they are level. 

Even though it can be difficult to deal with a freezer that keeps popping open, there are options available. We have done a lot of research to figure out why freezer doors keep popping open. That’s way, you can take a look at the list below, figuring out why your freezer is having so many problems remaining closed. 

So, are you ready to learn more about what you have to do to keep the door to your freezer shut? Take a look at the reasons below, and figure out what you have to do to protect the inside of your freezer! 

Your Freezer Is Too Full

The first reason why the door to your freezer keeps popping open is that the freezer is too full. Think about what happens when you close the trunk of your car. There is a latch that forces the trunk to stay closed even if the trunk is a bit too full. That is not the case when it comes to your freezer.

When you close the door to your freezer, there is a rubber seal that is supposed to cause the door to stick to the internal compartment. If the freezer is too full, there will always be something inside the freezer pushing the door open. As a result, even if you close the door as hard as you can, the freezer door is going to pop open. 

Therefore, to fix this problem, you will have to remove some of the items from the freezer. Otherwise, you will not get the door to close, and your food will start to warm up. Do not try to force the door to stay closed if the freezer is too full. It is not going to stick, and your food is probably going to spoil quickly.

You Are Closing the Door Too Hard

Another possible reason why the door is not staying closed is that you are closing it too hard. The harder you close the door, the bigger the rush of air is going to be when you seal the door to the internal compartment. If there is a significant rush of air moving out of the freezer when you close the door, this will cause the freezer to pop open again.

Another reason why the door might not be closing if you slam it shut is that it does not give the rubber seal enough time to stick to the internal compartment. If the rubber seal does not stick to the freezer, the door will not stay closed, causing it to pop open.

Fortunately, this is a problem that is relatively easy to fix. All you have to do is close the door a bit slower. That way, you will give the rubber seal plenty of time to stick to the internal compartment. You also will not have to worry about a significant rush of air causing the door to open again. Take your time when you close the door to the freezer. That way, the door will not pop open.

The Door Seal Is Not Working Properly

If you are still having a difficult time getting the door to close, you may need to take a closer look at the door seal. As mentioned above, there is a piece of rubber that is responsible for sealing the door to the freezer itself. If the rubber is not working properly, then the door is not going to stay closed.

There are a few possible problems you have to consider if you are concerned something is wrong with the door seal. For example, the seal might be dirty. If the seal is dirty, there is a lot of dust and debris that gets in the way of the seal sticking to the freezer door. You will need to use a warm washcloth to remove the dirt and debris if you want the door seal to work appropriately. 

It is also possible that the door seal might be damaged and has to be replaced. Take a look at the door seal. If it feels really dry, or if you see a bunch of cracks, it is time to replace the door seal. You can look at the manual to figure out what type of seal you need to order. That way, you can get a new one that will protect your food and your freezer. 

The Freezer Is Not on Level Ground

It is also possible that the door keeps popping open because it is not on level ground. Gravity could be responsible for opening the door if the freezer is tilted slightly. When you have the freezer put in your home, there is a good chance the installer made sure the ground is level. Unfortunately, this does not necessarily mean the ground is still level.

For example, the heavyweight of the freezer could have put a few dents in the floor. Therefore, one part of the freezer might not be level anymore. Or, the floor might have been warped over time. This is entirely possible if you had a leak beneath the freezer at some point.

It is also possible that the ground is not level because the freezer has moved. If that is the case, you need to adjust the freezer to put it back on level ground. If you make sure the freezer is level, then the door should remain closed. Keep in mind that the freezer might be heavy, so you need to ask someone else to help you. You might even want to ask a professional to look at the freezer for you. 

The Freezer Legs Are Broken

Another possible reason why the freezer door might not be staying closed and that the legs are broken. Typically, there are two legs underneath the appliance (at the front) that are responsible for keeping it level. If one of the legs has been broken, then the freezer is no longer level. Usually, each corner of the appliance has a wheel that you can use to move the unit wherever you need it.

Pro-tip: If possible, keep your appliance standing only on the wheels and keep the front legs raised. This way, if there’s ever a water leak behind the unit, you can quickly move it to gain access to the back and see what’s going on.

If one of the legs is damaged, you may need to put something underneath the leg to stabilize it temporarily. This is not a permanent solution, and you need to figure out how you can get a new leg for the freezer. Take a look at the manual and see if there is any information you can use to help you.

When the new leg arrives, you might be able to install it on your own. At the same time, you may need to tilt the freezer over to put the new leg on. Therefore, you will need to remove all the items from the freezer before you do this. That way, you can protect your item from harm, and you do not have to worry about breaking the freezer.

If you are uncomfortable doing this on your own, you should call a professional who can help you. That way, you can protect yourself, your freezer, and the food you have inside your appliance. After the new leg has been installed, it should be level again. 

The Door Is Not Properly Aligned

Finally, another possible reason why the door is not staying closed is that it is not properly aligned. When you close the door, it has to match up evenly to the frame. If the freezer door is not matching the frame perfectly, the door is not going to stay closed. Close the door slowly and take a look at what happened. Does it form a firm seal with the entire exterior of the freezer? If not, something is probably wrong with the frame.

For example, you may need to take a look at the hinges to make sure they are not dented or work. If you need to replace the hinges, you may be able to purchase them from a local home improvement store. Or, you may need to take a look at the screws and see if they are loose. Sometimes, a few extra turns are all that it takes to get the door to seal properly. 

You should take a look at the door itself. If the door had been damaged, it might no longer be straight. Therefore, you might need to replace the entire door if you want it to seal properly. Reach out to a professional if you have questions or concerns.

Finally, the issue might be coming from broken or worn-out closing cams, which are small plastic shims between the door and the hinge that encourage the door to close when not in use.

Fix the Door To Your Freezer

Ultimately, there are lots of reasons why the door to your freezer might not stay closed. Perhaps you are simply closing the door too hard, or maybe there is something that actually has to be replaced. Regardless, it is important for you to deal with this problem as quickly as possible to prevent the freezer from warming up. That way, you can protect the food inside the freezer. 

You can fix a lot of these issues on your own, but if you are having a difficult time getting your freezer door to stay closed, you may also want to reach out to a professional who can help you. That way, you can make sure the problem is completely fixed the first time. If you want your freezer and your food to last as long as possible, make sure the door remains closed.