How to Replace the Leaky Seal on Your Refrigerator Door

Keep the Cold Air in and the Warm Air Out of Your Refrigerator

Here's a fast one question quiz for you: what is the biggest user of energy in your house? The clothes washer? The clothes dryer? Your cook stove? Your refrigerator? That's right! Your refrigerator is the biggest user of energy. And, if it's leaking out cold air around the seal, then it's using more electric than ever!

As long as your refrigerator doesn't have magnetic door seals, you can test them this way: Do you feel cold air coming out from around the door? Test the rubber seal by opening your refrigerator door. Place a dollar bill in between the seal at the top part of the unit. Can you slide the bill out easily?

Try placing the dollar bill at the side of the door, again, between the seal and the unit. Can you remove the bill easily now?

And, finally, place the bill in between the bottom of your refrigerator door and the unit. Does it pull out easily now?

However, if your refrigerator does have a magnetic seal, you'll need to utilize another test. The first part of the test is to place a vibrant, battery operated halogen light on the top shelf inside your refrigerator. Then, close the door and check around the seal. Can you see any light?

Then, move the halogen light down to a lower shelf and check again. Repeat this process until you have moved the light to every shelf in your refrigerator.

If the door is a one-piece deal that closes the freezer too, then you'll need to check that compartment too. Use either the dollar bill test or the halogen light test to determine if that part of the seal is leaking or not.

Replacing a leaky seal is a fairly easy task. First, you'll have to remove the
existing rubber door seal little by little. There are screws inserted around the perimeter of the seal that hold it on. Be careful not to remove all of the screws at once, or your refrigerator door could come apart!

Unscrew a few screws at a time, and remove the rubber seal underneath. Before you install the new seal, you may have to straighten it out first so it lies flat. An easy way to make it more flexible is to toss it into your clothes dryer for three to four minutes.