Refrigerator

Refrigerator Door Not Sealing Properly

When the door gasket stops gripping, your fridge has to work harder to stay cold — and it usually shows up as frost buildup, a higher power bill, and food that spoils sooner than it should.

A Quick Test You Can Do Right Now

Close the door on a dollar bill or a piece of paper so it's half in, half out, then pull it out slowly. A door that's sealing properly holds the paper with some resistance. If it slides out with almost no effort, the gasket isn't gripping the way it should anymore.

Start With a Cleaning — It's Free

Before assuming you need a new part, wipe the gasket down with warm soapy water, working into the folds where crumbs and grime collect. Buildup on the rubber is enough on its own to stop the door from sealing flush against the fridge. This takes a few minutes and solves the problem more often than people expect.

When the Gasket Actually Needs Replacing

If the gasket is clean but still fails the paper test, run your hand along it and look for cracking, brittleness, or small tears — rubber seals harden and split as they age. It's also worth checking that the door itself hasn't become slightly misaligned or warped, since no amount of cleaning fixes that. A worn gasket is a relatively inexpensive, straightforward part to swap in once it's confirmed as the cause.

See refrigerator repair details →