back to the master list of frequently asked questions

back to the list of door problems

Frequently Asked Questions About Domestic Refrigerator Repair:

Air leak problems and how do I repair them?

I've searched for quite a while but have yet to find an answer to my problem; perhaps you're willing to help?

We recently purchased a used upright freezer in pretty good condition At the time of purchase it was full of food and frost (i.e., it worked well, but took quite a while to thaw...)

We got it home, removed both the door to the freezer and the door to our basement and proceeded to get it down the stairs. While cleaning it, we noticed a few 1" - 2" cracks in the interior compartment which had been sealed with some type of silicone. The sealer came off while we were cleaning the unit.

We waited 24 hours before plugging the freezer in. It immediately began cooling. 24 hours later, there was a large quantity of frost built up around the upper shelf and the top of the inside compartment.

I have checked the gasket and, with the exception of some mildew discoloration, seems to be in excellent shape. It makes solid contact around the entire door except in a small area near the upper right corner. By way of measurement, I can slide a piece of paper between the gasket and door with some friction. Is there a suitable substance for sealing the crack in the inner compartment?

I would use silicon, then tape aluminum duct tape over top to be sure.

Is the slight gap between the gasket and compartment worth worrying about, and if so, what should I do?

Yes, the air leak is likely why your top shelf is frosting over so quickly. The air entering the inside of the cabinet carries moisture with it. You can build up the gasket so it makes contact at this spot by rolling up a paper towel and placing it under the appropriate place under the gasket (where the screws are). After the gasket forms to this position, about 2 weeks, you can remove the paper towel, but it doesn’t hurt to let it stay there.