Re-Magnetizing A Fridge Door: Get That Seal Strength Back

In this article we’re going to be looking at your fridge door:  how to re – magnetize the seal; making sure your seals (gaskets) are working properly; and how to install the different kinds of door seals yourself. 

There are other appliances in the home that we could do without if we had to – but a well-sealing fridge is an absolute must for fresh and healthy food.

How to Re-Magnetize A Fridge Door Seal

The first thing to try with a faulty door seal is always to re-magnetize it. This is a simple trick, but it may just save you the hassle of buying and fitting new door seals!

To re-magnetize your fridge door seal, run a magnet 50 times along each side of each gasket, always going in the same direction.  That will re – magnetize the strips and restore the seal of the door.  Doing this every few years will keep a tight seal on your fridge door.

How Do You Know If Your Door Seals IS Working Properly?

If your unsure if it’s the door seal that’s the issue, here are some signs of a door seal that’s lost magnetization:

• The door doesn’t close tightly, leaving a gap.  Remember, even the tiniest gap will ruin your food.
• The door opens on its own.
• The door is ‘sweating’ – it has beads of condensation on it.
• The seal on the door itself looks damaged, cracked or worn.
• You’re not getting the cooling you used to from your fridge.
• Your electricity bill is going up because the fridge is using more power – it has to work harder to maintain the same level of cooling.
• You can feel cold air escaping from the fridge door if you stand close to it.

A SIMPLE TEST TO TRY

If you want to test the seal on your fridge door, here’s a simple test you can use called ‘The Pull Paper Test’.

Put a piece of paper between the door and the fridge, close the fridge door firmly, and then pull on the piece of paper.  If the paper slips out easily, it means that the seal of the door isn’t sealing properly or tight enough, and may need repair or replacement. 

Replacing A Faulty Refrigerator Door Seal/Gasket

There are 3 types of magnetic door seals commonly used in refrigerators by major appliance manufacturers – push in; snap in; and screw in.

Now, if those magnetic seals aren’t working properly, how do you go about replacing them?  Here’s an easy–to–use D.I.Y guide to follow for each type of seal.

Notes: 

The seals you receive from the manufacture may come in small packages – it simply isn’t practical or economical to ship them in huge boxes.  This can cause the magnetic strip to twist or kink. 

Before installing new seals, always take them out of the box and lay them on a flat sturdy surface for 24 hours so that they can regain their shape.  If the seal isn’t as pliable or ‘bendable’ as you’d like, you can blow it with a hair dryer set on low heat OR soak it in a bathtub filled with hot water, this will ‘loosen it up’ and make it easy to work with.

How to Replace A Push-In Door Seal

A ‘push in’ seal has a ridge that is fixed in a groove or channel around the edge of the door. 

1. First of all, remove the old seal by pulling it out of the channel or away from the inner door liner, starting with pulling on one corner of the seal.
2. Then install the new ‘push in’ seal by aligning the ridge on the back side of the seal with the channel in the door, and pushing the seal into place. 
3. Starting at 1 corner and working your way along the strip will be easiest.  Also, check your owner’s manual – you may have to put a bit of vinyl cement on the channel first to fully secure the seal.

How to Replace A Snap-In Door Seal

A ‘snap in’ seal fits behind the inner door liner and is held in place by a retaining lip.

1. First of all, remove the old seal by pulling it out of the channel or away from the inner door liner, starting with pulling on one corner of the seal.
2. Then install the new ‘snap in’ seal by inserting the inside edge of the seal behind the retaining lip of the inner door panel. 
3. Again, starting with 1 corner and working your way along the seal will ensure that its placed properly.

How to Replace A Screw-In Door Seal

A ‘screw in’ seal is secured between the inner door liner and the outer door panel with screws. 

1. First of all, remove the old seal by loosening the screws around the door liner, and then pulling the old seal free and out.  
2. To install the new ‘screw in’ seal, position the upper half of the seal first, and secure it by tightening the screws, then position and tighten the bottom half.  This will stop the door liner from moving around too much while you’re working.

Finish Off Fitting The Seal

Whatever the type of seal you’ve just replaced, you need to close your fridge door and check that the seal is seated evenly around the whole door.  There may be a couple of spots where the seal isn’t resting flush against the cabinet frame – this is common with new seals and not a cause for concern.  The magnetic strip will over time pull the door seal to the cabinet and this will get rid of any waves or gaps.  Be aware that it may take 2 or 3 days for the new magnetic strip to set.

How Much Will Replacing Seals Cost?

If you’re doing the job yourself, you’re really only paying for the seal(s) themselves, and depending on availability and type, you can expect to pay $50 to $75 per seal.  This price will be higher if you’re having the part shipped to you, you can check with online retailers like ‘Parts Select’, here’s a link to their fridge parts and spares ordering:

https://www.partselect.com/LG-Fridge-Parts.htm

How To Keep Your Fridge Door Seals Working Properly

Here are some general guidelines for looking after your fridge door seals. 

If you look after them well, you’ll be rewarded with a tight seal on your fridge door and fresh, long lasting and healthy food to enjoy!

★ Cleaning – your fridge door seals could do with a good ‘clean out’ about once a year.  To clean them use a mixture of warm water and baking soda – 1 cup of baking soda to a half gallon of warm water and a small scrubbing brush to get into nooks and crannies. 

Remember to have some rags nearby to catch and clean up drips!  You can also use clean, dry rags to dry into the grooves of the seals after you’ve washed them out, they need to be dried off thoroughly.  

Pro – tip:  We’ll save you a Google, baking soda and bicarbonate of soda are EXACTLY THE SAME THING.

★ Protecting – try putting a thin layer of petroleum jelly (Vaseline) all over the seal’s surfaces, this will protect the rubber and make it last longer without wear.  The petroleum jelly will also help to form a tighter seal with the opposite surface of the fridge cabinet.

★ Maintenance – if you notice that your fridge door seals are in poor condition or have holes or cracks in them, this is an issue that needs to be addressed because that door seal is what’s keeping all your cold air in the fridge!  When in doubt, rather do a D.I.Y easy replacement or call in a technician to do it for you.

Also, keep your fridge manufacturer’s manual in a safe place and easily accessible, there’s valuable information in there about looking after your fridge and its component parts.

If you’re in desperate need of a manual for your fridge, here’s a link to a website where you can download the user’s manual appropriate for your model of fridge:

Conclusion

Thank you so much for joining us on another trip into the world of refrigeration! 

We hope that this information and the tips that we’ve provided give you a healthy and happy refrigerator for many years to come.

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