How to Get a Better Seal From Your Refrigerator Door Gaskets
Keeping your refrigerator door seals in good shape is one of the easiest ways to improve your equipment’s performance—and extend its life. Whether you're dealing with air leaks, energy waste, or walk-in doors that just won’t shut right, these simple tips can help you get the best seal possible out of your gaskets.
1. Make Sure You’ve Got the Right Gasket
This sounds obvious, but we see it all the time: a gasket that almost fits. If the profile doesn’t match your fridge or it was cut to the wrong size, it’s never going to seal properly—no matter how well you clean or install it.
✅ Pro tip: If you’re not sure what gasket you need, text us a photo—we’ll figure it out for you.
2. Clean It Regularly With Warm, Soapy Water
A dirty gasket is a sticky gasket. Buildup on the surface causes the gasket to stick to itself, making it less flexible and less able to create an airtight seal.
Set a schedule to clean your gaskets weekly with hot, soapy water. It’ll help them stay flexible and prevent mold from taking hold.
3. Reshape It With Heat
If your gasket is clean but misshapen, you may be able to reshape it using a bit of heat.
Place the gasket in direct sunlight or on a warm, dark surface—especially easy to do in Arizona. The warmth will soften the rubber and help it mold back into place when reinstalled.
4. Don’t Overfill the Fridge
If your refrigerator or walk-in cooler is so packed that the door won’t close easily, the gasket can’t do its job. In busy kitchens, overfilling is common—but it’s one of the easiest ways to cause long-term seal failure.
Give the door room to close fully so the gasket can compress and seal the way it’s designed to.
4.5 Bonus Tip: Torn Gaskets Are Done
Take a look at the image above—this gasket is toast. Once it’s torn, it’s not coming back to life. At that point, no cleaning or reshaping will help. It’s time for a replacement.
Don’t stress about getting the right fit or doing the install yourself. At Gaskets Rock of Arizona, we’ll come out, identify the exact gasket you need, and install it for you—fast, clean, and at a competitive price.
