Do-it-yourself step-by-step instructions for the correct refrigerator door repair
It is impossible to imagine the equipment of a modern kitchen without a refrigerator. When an expensive unit begins to malfunction for one reason or another, it causes anxiety and a desire to eliminate the cause faster and on our own. Breakage of the refrigerator door and its repair are among the urgent problems. The possibility of restoring any of the main structural parts of the unit depends on the cause of the breakdown.
Common problems
The main flaws of the refrigerator door are a loose fit to the body or, conversely, difficulties in opening.In the first case, poor contact of the sealing element can cause compressor failure due to overload. In the second option, the main thing is the inconvenience of using the device for its intended purpose.
Tight door opening
The seal sticking defect is observed in the latest models of refrigerators for the first time after purchase. A vacuum is created inside the refrigerator, which sucks the flap towards the body of the refrigerator. This happens if the time interval between the first and second door opening does not exceed 3 minutes. Physical explanation of the problem: air at room temperature when first opened enters the refrigerator compartment, where it cools and contracts instantly.
The air pressure inside the refrigerator drops sharply, which increases the pressure on the door.
If you try to open it after a few seconds, the door will be difficult to open. In a few minutes, the pressure in the refrigerator is equalized thanks to the suction of air through the door seal. After several months of refrigerator operation, the magnetic rubber seal will lose its original adhesion.
Game setting
A common reason for a slanted refrigerator door is an excessive load of food inside. Under their weight, the upper loops come out of the grooves. Loud and frequent bangs when closing the refrigerator can break the fastening of the door leaf. It is important to level the unit. An uneven floor will cause the door to deform over time under the influence of gravity, especially if the gasket is worn out and does not adhere poorly to the refrigerator body.
The reasons for the separation of the door are determined using a quarter sheet of notebook, which is put on the seal and the refrigerator is closed:
- The paper falls loosely in the opening, which means the loops are loose.
- In some areas of the seam the paper is held, in the rest it falls off. The door does not close due to the deformation of the rubber.
- When the door is closed, it receives an opposite impulse and goes away: failure of the spacer (plastic part at the bottom of the door on older models of refrigerators).
A poorly closed door will let hot air through. As a result, the compressor will run continuously to maintain the temperature at the proper level. In this mode, it will quickly fail.
creaking
The door of a new refrigerator may squeak when opening, until the hinges are developed. A squeak that appears may mean that grease has dried on the hinges and the metal parts are rubbing against each other.
How to adjust and correct defects with your own hands
To fix a door that has started to warp, you need to take it apart. The refrigerator is installed on its side to access the fixings. It is forbidden to overturn the appliance in order not to damage the cooling circuit.
The inspection starts from the bottom. The bolt is unscrewed. The sash is removed from the upper groove. The hinges are checked manually by rotating them along the axis. If a knock is heard at the same time, the canopy scrolls, then it is either changed, or the bolt is tightened.
The procedure for installing the bindings when replacing:
- a counter washer is installed in place of the canopy;
- the bolt is screwed in at a right angle;
- fixing with a self-tapping screw is similar.
The presence of a crack in the bodywork where the awnings are fixed forces the door to be hung up on the other side. The door(s) are removed. On the other side, the caps are removed, freeing up space for fixing the brackets. The old sash / sash attachment points are closed with plastic covers. Fill wide cracks with epoxy.
If the rubber seal fails, replacement can be done without removing the door from the hinges. The refrigerator is disconnected from the network, freed from food. With a sharp knife or screwdriver, lift the gum and pull it up. After removing the gum, clean the door surround of the glue with a soap or alcohol solution.The new gasket should be the same size as the old one and match the requirements of the refrigerator model. It is bought in building supermarkets or ordered in online stores.
Glue the tape to rubber and metal glue, with medium strength. At the first stage, the corners of the door contour are plastered over which the rubber band is tied. After laying in the corners, the glue is applied around the entire perimeter in small areas, ensuring that the sealant is in close contact with the metal. To do this, the joint is stretched a little, ironed and pressed with your hands.
There are models of refrigerators in which the gasket is located in the groove of the frame and is attached to self-tapping screws. When replacing such seals, no glue is applied. The rubber seal does not need to be replaced if it is dry around the entire perimeter or in the corners, but it retains its shape and its magnetic properties.
To restore it, it is enough once a year, during defrosting, to steam the rubber with boiling water from a kettle or hot air from a hair dryer.
The mastic is knocked down several times with boiling water so that the rubber warms up well. Use your finger to widen the seal, restoring it to its original size. The procedure must be completed quickly so that the gum does not cool down. For 1-2 minutes, the door is closed, without any effort, so that the gasket around the entire perimeter is the same thickness as the body of the refrigerator.
If there are internal cracks in the rubber, they are filled with silicone sealant. External defects where the seal touches the refrigerator cannot be repaired with silicone.In cases where the cushion has come loose or withered in the corners, use a hair dryer. The hot air softens the rubber and stretches it with your finger.
Operation and maintenance rules
Violation of the integrity of the rubber seal will certainly affect the operation of the refrigerator. A slight crack in the gasket will cause an accelerated formation of a layer of snow in the freezer and frost inside the refrigerator chambers.
During defrosting, wipe the rubber gasket with a damp cloth to remove grease. Excessive contact with vegetables or butter will disrupt the structure of the rubber and render it unusable. In order to avoid problems with the gasket, it is necessary to avoid sudden temperature fluctuations in the refrigerator compartment. The door body is cleaned inside and out with water and vinegar or a mild detergent.
When installing the refrigerator, use a level to avoid tipping forward, sideways. The machine should be level or tilted slightly backwards. When the box is "tilted" forward, the door opens spontaneously. A side tilt to the left will cause a tilt. In addition to the sagging and poor fit of the refrigerator door, the compressor will work with increased noise.
The products for which they are intended must be stored on the shelves of the door: eggs, plastic bottles containing liquids, packaged sauces, fruit juices.A loose door in the refrigerator means a careless attitude to the unit. It breaks down fastest with a strong knock when closing. The joint deforms, the hinges loosen.Gripping the sash when opening by the edge, and not by the handle, will lead to wear of the seal at the point of contact with the fingers and the appearance of a hole.