Types of Refrigerator Gasket Damage and Their Causes

The best way to save money on your commercial refrigerators is to ensure each refrigerator door gasket is in good condition. However, daily use eventually takes its toll on a new gasket, and it begins to wear away. While rubber gasket repair is a regular occurrence, it’s crucial you know the cause for a replacement. This article will go over three different types of gasket damages and their causes.

Weak Seal

The most common form of damaged gaskets is a weak door seal. When a refrigerator door has a soft gasket seal, it’s more than likely due to age and use. Gaskets have magnets inside the rubber that seal the doors closed, and when the magnets lose power, or the rubber loses its grip, the old gasket cannot maintain a strong seal.

Torn Gasket

Another frequent sight is a torn gasket. Door gasket tears can be from small holes to large gashes in the rubber.

Regardless of the size, the gasket cannot create an airtight seal, and the refrigerator overcompensates to maintain a steady internal temperature.

A gasket can tear for a couple of reasons:

• Overuse–employees and customers frequently open a fridge door, and eventually, tears form from the constant separation between the door and frame.
• Abuse–customers and employees slam the doors or knick them with carts and equipment. Any sharp edge can easily tear a freezer door gasket.
• Poor location–sometimes a refrigerator door is in the wrong place with a lot of foot traffic and transition. A poor site makes it more susceptible to damage.

Frost

A weak seal and torn gasket are common issues, but neither causes genuine concern. However, frosted windows and doors are cause for concern.

If your doors frost over, there is reason to believe that either your air damper is malfunctioning or your gaskets are letting warm air into the unit.

When moisture enters the unit from frequent opening or failing door gaskets, the condenser freezes the moist air and creates ice buildup on the window.

Conclusion

Appliance repair is a natural part of the commercial refrigerator life cycle, but it doesn’t have to be costly. While a bad refrigerator gasket eventually needs replacement, sometimes its damage or malfunction signifies more significant problems.

To help you prevent costly repairs, PGS offers Smart Check services, which are routine visits where a knowledgeable technician repairs or replaces a faulty gasket on your refrigerator and informs you of any significant concerns. If you are interested in learning more about our services, call us today to schedule a free consultation.