How to glue the gum of the refrigerator without replacing it. Sealing gum on the refrigerator.
Maximum tightness of the refrigerator is very important for its operation. This tightness is achieved by installing an elastic rubber strip around the perimeter of the door. But nothing lasts forever, sooner or later it fails, and it becomes necessary to replace the seal in the refrigerator.
Symptoms of seal malfunction
You can understand that you need to replace the sealing rubber in the refrigerator with the naked eye. Over time, it begins to dry out, becomes less elastic, and crack. This is due to the temperature difference between the refrigerator chamber and the kitchen, as well as purely mechanical damage due to regular use.
But even if such signs of failure of the rubber seal, at first glance, are not yet visible, but the door is clearly blowing with cold air, and ice is very freezing on the inner walls, repair work is also necessary. Otherwise, more and more warm air will get inside, which the device will need to cool, which will eventually lead to overloads and breakdowns of the motor, as well as excessive energy consumption.
Replacing the sealing gum on the refrigerator begins with the removal of the old rubber. To do this, the refrigerator is turned off, the products are removed, and the door itself can be removed for convenience, if the design allows it, and laid horizontally. The further dismantling procedure will vary slightly depending on how the sealing rubber is attached.
- In the case of fixing the seal on the door in the groove, it is necessary to pull off its edge, insert a flat screwdriver into the slot and, prying the material with it, pull it out of the groove, being careful not to tear.
- If the old seal is glued, it is also gently poked around the entire perimeter with a screwdriver or trowel.
- With screws it’s even easier - you only need to unscrew them.
Next, the surface must be cleaned of dust and debris with a damp cloth, and also wipe off all glue residues, small adhering particles of rubber itself, etc. The glue can be perfectly removed with acetone, and it is better to wipe the door clean with a solvent for acrylic paints or white spirit.
How to choose a new seal
Replacing the sealing rubber in the refrigerator will not work if the new material is unsuitable or of poor quality. New rubber should not have visible damage, heterogeneity of structure or color, sprains or lumps.
Of course, it is good if you can find a seal specifically for this model of refrigerator. But this is not always possible, and any suitable material can be purchased. The only thing is that it should be slightly longer in length and width than the old caked rubber. If the desired size was not in the store, then this is not a problem. The sealant in place can be adjusted by cutting off the excess parts and carefully gluing the joints with a strong adhesive like “Moment”.
As is the case with so many building materials, sealing rubber should be left in the room for about a day to give it time to get used to its microclimate.
It is not enough to choose a good material to replace the worn out one, you need to know how to replace the sealant. It is better to mount a new rubber band in the same way that the old one was attached.
- When mounting on glue, the bonded surfaces must be degreased beforehand. You should choose only a quality product and follow the instructions for its use, because different adhesives can have their own characteristics when working, for example, different solidification times, etc.
- If the seal is screwed on, it may be necessary to use screws of a larger diameter if the holes for them loosen over time.
An important point: during the production process, the seal is mounted by machines with great effort, and when replacing the sealing rubber on the refrigerator door manually, it is very difficult to apply the same effort. Therefore, if the old seal was inserted into the groove, then inserting a new one there, it is worthwhile to additionally fix it with glue or screw it on. Screw holes for this are drilled in increments of 10-15 cm.
Once the glue has dried, or the gum is completely fixed in other ways, the refrigerator can be plugged in and continued to be used as intended.
The first time after a new gasket has been installed on the door, it is worthwhile to carefully monitor the refrigerator in order to find, perhaps, not noticed when installing the cracks or places of loose rubber. To make sure that everything was done correctly, it is possible if the door after opening the seal began to open with visible force.
To replace the sealing rubber on the refrigerator door as little as possible required, the refrigerator should be opened only by the handles, and not grip the rubber for this, regularly mechanically injuring it.
How to repair an old seal
Some minor damage can be repaired even without removing the seal from the door. If he needs a stronger repair, it is better to dismantle it. In the case when the rubber simply lost its shape over time, it is enough to warm it with a hairdryer at a moderate temperature or soak it for some time in hot water.
If individual fragments are peeled off from each other, they are fastened with glue “Moment”. Cracks in rubber are best repaired with an elastic and texture-like material. Suitable, for example, adhesive sealant or something similar to it.
But it should be understood that the repair, although it will extend the life of the seal, but not for long. Therefore, if it is really worn out, covered with mold, it is better to update it, especially since replacing the refrigerator seal is a simple process, and new rubber is cheap.
Video instruction
The video instruction tells about the process of replacing failed sealing rubber on the Stinol refrigerator. The master demonstrates the removal of the door, the dismantling of the old seal and the installation of a new, branded, designed specifically for refrigerators of this brand.
If there is any doubt that you will be able to do the work yourself, even though there is a video instruction, you can always call the refrigeration master. His services will also cost inexpensively.
In contact with
One of the most common problems in everyday life is replacing the refrigerator seal. Nothing lasts forever, and the unremarkable rubber around the perimeter of the door can also let you down at any time. This is especially true of the old apparatus of the Soviet and perestroika times, which are still used today. Before proceeding with the replacement of the sealing rubber, you need to conduct a full inspection of the refrigerator. It is possible that the problem is completely different.
It is quite easy to determine the malfunction of the sealing rubber. The consequences of a worn seal are:
- Increased energy consumption (the refrigerator constantly buzzes, and poorly maintains a stable temperature - this causes excessive energy consumption);
- Permanent ice on the inner walls of the refrigerator;
- The appearance of moisture inside and outside the refrigerator due to depressurization and thawing of ice.
The compressor of the refrigerator, which creates a lower temperature in the chamber, automatically turns on only as needed. Even if the door is repeatedly opened and closed during the day, the mode will remain. But in case of damage to the seal, the temperature in the refrigerator will rapidly increase, hence all the above symptoms.
There are two ways to solve the problem - replacement and repair. All this can be done with your own hands, without the involvement of specialists.
Repair of the old sealing rubber is unprofitable and will only give a temporary effect, therefore replacement is the most common.
Seal replacement
For those who decide to independently carry out work on replacing the rubber bands of the sealant, we offer step-by-step instructions, it will help you easily cope with this task.
Buying a new seal
You must purchase a new seal that is suitable for your refrigerator. If you could not find the product of your model, you can buy a similar option. The main thing is that he was a little more than old rubber. You can buy rubber at a service center or a specialized store in your city.
Allow sealant to lie down
The same principle applies here as when laying linoleum. New sealing rubber must lie in your kitchen for at least 24 hours to straighten and find the appropriate temperature and humidity. Then you can hold it a little in heated water.
Dismantling the old seal
The most scrupulous part of the process, especially when you have to do it yourself. The seal must be removed carefully so that the new one lies down as smoothly as possible. Usually it is attached to the refrigerator door in the following ways:
- Screws
- Fixation in a special groove;
- Clamping;
- Glue.
In the case of grooves and adhesive fixing, carefully remove the seal with a spatula. The screws are even simpler - you just need to unscrew them and remove the rubber. If you followed the instructions correctly, the seal can be pulled out as a whole, in one motion.
Surface preparation
For the subsequent replacement of the sealing rubber, remove all glue residue and also clean the surface of debris and dust. You will need a rag and a medium solvent. Acetone is useful for removing glue, but for finishing cleaning it is too strong. The solvent for oil paints is too greasy and will not give the desired effect.
A great option would be a solvent for alcohol-based acrylics or white spirit. If you choose not a replacement but a repair, you will also need a good solvent.
Do-it-yourself installation of a new gasket
Before changing the gum, make sure that your purchase is in good condition, without damage, sprains or lumps. Then you can proceed with the installation. The fixing method is preferably used the same as the previous sealing rubber. In the case of screws, everything is extremely simple - after you have tried on the seal and made sure that it is tight, you only need to tighten the fasteners.
With adhesive fixation, there will also be no problems. After preparing the surface and fitting the sealant, it is necessary to cover the door perimeter with a thin layer of glue, and glue the rubber. Pay attention to the composition of the glue - look for a quality option, otherwise soon you will need to be replaced again.
When the screws are tightened and the glue is completely dry, you can plug in the refrigerator.
Seal repair
Repair can be carried out in various ways. Some people simply heat the refrigerator seals with a hairdryer in moderate mode, and manually fix the defects found. But such repairs are not effective enough.
To carry out the highest quality repair, you will have to remove the rubber and keep it for some time in hot water.
After it returns to its former shape, you can proceed with the installation according to the above scheme. As you can see, after the laborious process of removing the seal, it is more advisable to install a new one, and not rely on the failed old seal. Do what funds and supplies allow
It often happens that the refrigerator, which served its owners faithfully for several years, suddenly begins to junk. The cause of the malfunction is the seal for the refrigerator. What to do in this case - to reanimate the old one, change it or go to the store for a new unit?
How to understand that the seal is out of order?
No kitchen today is complete without a refrigerator. Like other household appliances, it requires proper care, and sometimes repair. A malfunction that can be fixed on its own is a worn seal on the refrigerator door. This can lead to temperature changes.
The sealant should be replaced if:
- ice appears on the wall (back) of the refrigerator;
- the door does not close tightly.
You need to know that the most insignificant defect of the sealant leads to the fact that the refrigerator starts to work weakly. At first, this may not affect the quality of food storage, but the warm air entering the chamber causes the compressor to turn on more often. Often this leads to a reduction in the life of the unit.
There is a very simple way to check how reliable a seal is for a refrigerator. To do this, you need a sheet of paper. Place it in the gap between the camera and the door and close it. In this case, the paper should be tightly clamped and not move from side to side.
Seal repair
You can try to repair a little deformed rubber on the refrigerator door. This will require a hairdryer. With it, you need to warm up the rubber gasket well and gently stretch it on the problem area.
There is one more way. It consists in soaking the sealant in water. To do this, it must be removed and placed in hot water. When it softens and becomes more elastic, it can be replaced. 
in fridge
If the restoration did not bring the desired result, then you need to buy a new seal for the refrigerator. There are several ways to replace it. This largely depends on how it was installed initially. Let's consider two ways.
Use a sharp knife to cut old rubber. The new seal must be cut off along the inner edge so that it does not go beyond the door. It can be glued with double-sided construction tape.
Pry the liner and pull the seal out. The new rubber is installed in the grooves with a screwdriver (hard edge directed inward). In order to keep the seal for the refrigerator better, you can use a few drops of superglue for reliability. 
If the former ball seal is fixed to the foam, then a sharp knife is used to dismantle it. And in order to install a new one in its place, it will take screws. The refrigerator door must be removed and laid on a stable and even surface. Gently cut and tear off the rubber to the door. Thoroughly clean the door from foam. Drill holes for screws on the perimeter of the door. Cut off the seal of the required size and fix it on the door with self-tapping screws. Rubber should be attached freely, without tension. Now the door can be returned to its place. Using canopies, adjust the uniformity and tightness of its fit.
