What Is a Gasket and Why Does It Matter for Your Walk-In Cooler?

You probably don’t think much about the black rubber strip running around the edge of your walk-in cooler door—but you should. That strip is called a gasket, and it’s one of the most important parts of your refrigeration system.

So, what exactly is a gasket?

A refrigeration gasket is a flexible, often magnetic seal that lines the door of a cooler, freezer, or refrigerator. Its job is simple but essential:

Keep cold air in, and warm air out.

When the gasket forms a proper seal, your cooler doesn’t have to work overtime to maintain temperature. But when it’s torn, cracked, missing, or not sealing right, you’re losing cold air—and with it, money.

Why do gaskets matter so much?

Energy Efficiency

A bad gasket means your cooler’s compressor is running more often to compensate for lost cold air. That drives up your energy bill.

Food Safety

If the temperature rises even slightly, your food is at risk. Health inspectors do check gaskets—and torn or missing ones can result in violations.

Door Damage

Without the cushion of a working gasket, doors can slam harder or become misaligned over time. That leads to costly repairs down the line.

The good news?

Replacing a gasket is simple—and way cheaper than fixing the damage it can cause if ignored. At Gaskets Rock of Arizona, we custom cut and install gaskets that actually fit your equipment (no matter the brand). We’ll even help you take advantage of local rebates through SRP (Salt River Project, if you're a customer) that could cover some or all of the cost.

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