13 replies to this topic

[wildcattle]

My door gasket was bad so I ordered a new one at Repair Clinic, checked out the tips on FAQs and installed. All the screws are tightened down and the lip is uniformly in the groove all the way around. But it doesn't seal--hardly at all. Any thoughts?

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[RegUS_PatOff]

... But it doesn't seal--hardly at all

gaps all the way around ?
OR only on one side ?
OR only where the Gasket creases / folds were ?
Did you try soaking the Gasket in warm water before installing ?

[wildcattle]

Gaps all the way around--it seals here and there but 2/3rds of the gasket doesn't touch the door. I did not soak it in warm water, installed it right out of the box.

[RegUS_PatOff]

Depending on how badly creased the Gasket may have been, and how that Gasket installs,
you may just carefully try a hair dryer on it now ...

[wildcattle]

OK--so heating it first is mandatory to a good seal?

[RegUS_PatOff]

OK--so heating it first is mandatory to a good seal?

... it's been sitting for how long all scrunched in the box ?

[RussTech]

just work it over with a heat gun.

[DurhamAppliance]

another great use for the handy dandy steamer

[RussTech]

it has a memory to it. The heat will make it release the memory, and then you can reform it to the door of your refrigerator

[wildcattle]

It was in the box for two days after I received it--I laid it out a night. I tried the hair dryer then the heat gun with no improvement--I tried low heat to full heat--any more would have melted it. I'm going to remove it, put it in the dryer as samurai suggests and try again.
One thing I do notice---the top of the door is slightly, but uniformly, lower than the body of the unit. If you lift the door straight up, it moves 2-3 inches but this looks like the way to remove the door entirely.

The unit, door and inards, is completely empty and turned off. Does it need to be on to form the seal?

[certified tech group 51]

I always remove the door to replace gaskets.......The door and liner are assembled flat and hung from the hinges, when the fasteners are loosened, the door gets out of square.....( racked )............Depending on the brand, ( W/P to a Sub-O ) the door is laid on the carpeted floor or on a set of padded saw horses.......1) remove the door , lay flat..............2)Warm the gasket in the dryer..............3) Install the gaskets , but do not tighten all the fasteners till all the fasteners are in and gasket is fully installed................ 4) use a hair dryer to soften the magnet strip in the gasket ( takes time ) ......I push on the door till the gasket makes contact and keeping the area warm, then release., ( multiple times ).........Slowly the magnet will straighten / flatten to the refer....................................... Gasket P/N 2188435A????

[wildcattle]

Whirlpool Mfc part #2188435A--that's it. Old one was brown--this ine's white--otherwise look the same--I'll try it with the door off--thanks.

[wildcattle]

I put it in the dryer for 20 mins and used the heat gun liberally--it worked. Thanks for input---the initiated know this but my only tip for newbies like me is don't be afraid to lay the heat on--just when I thought it would melt the seam just popped into place.

[RegUS_PatOff]

... the initiated know this but my only tip for newbies like me ...

we're all here to learn ..