Before replacing your refrigerator door gasket, check whether it is damaged or simply failing to make proper contact with the cabinet. Dirt, door misalignment, and improper leveling can also interfere with closing and sealing. GE’s recommended paper test helps pinpoint where the seal is failing.
How to test your refrigerator door gasket
A warm interior, moisture or condensation inside the refrigerator, and constant running instead of cycling off are signs GE associates with a bad seal. They are reasons to inspect the gasket, but they do not, on their own, mean it needs replacement.
- Inspect the entire perimeter. Look for areas where the gasket does not sit flush against the door or cabinet. Check for cuts, tears, mold, crumbs, and food debris that could prevent contact.
- Close the door on a small piece of paper. Position it between the gasket and the cabinet frame. A dollar bill also works for the test described by GE.
- Pull the paper out slowly. If you feel resistance, the seal is working at that spot. If the paper slides out freely, the seal is failing there.
- Repeat around the entire perimeter. One spot that grips the paper does not confirm that the rest of the door is sealing properly.
Should you clean, adjust, or replace the seal?
If the gasket is dirty, clean it and the cabinet’s contact surface with warm water, then repeat the test. Food residue and mildew can interfere with the magnetic seal’s grip. Cleaning may restore contact without a replacement part.
If the gasket has cuts or tears, replace it. That is GE’s guidance for this type of damage. If it fails the paper test without visible damage, also check whether the door is misaligned and whether the refrigerator is properly leveled.
GE notes that doors that do not close properly, uneven alignment, and improper leveling can cause condensation in the fresh food compartment. Do not treat all moisture as a gasket defect or expect a new seal to correct an alignment problem.
What replacing a refrigerator door seal involves
The replacement part and attachment method depend on your model. Before buying a gasket or taking anything apart, confirm compatibility and check the instructions for your refrigerator. The procedure below describes the groove-mounted gasket in the Whirlpool WRS315SDHW replacement guide; other Whirlpool models may have disassembly differences.
- Prepare the refrigerator. Unplug it and turn off the main water supply before beginning, as directed by this procedure’s safety precautions.
- Open the door and release the old gasket. Use a plastic opening tool to pry the gasket out of its retaining groove. Work around the entire perimeter until the old seal is separated from the door frame. Releasing this fit may require significant force.
- Install the new gasket. Start at the corners and press the gasket into the channel, working around the full perimeter.
- Check the fit. The gasket should be seated with no visible gaps. Repeat the paper test: there should be resistance at every point checked.
On GE models with retaining screws or clips, removal involves those fasteners rather than simply pulling the gasket from a groove. If you encounter a different attachment system, follow your model’s procedure before continuing.
When to call a service technician
- When you cannot identify the compatible gasket or the attachment procedure for your door.
- When the problem involves alignment or leveling that you cannot correct using the appliance’s instructions.
- When moisture continues after you have checked the gasket, door alignment, and leveling. GE recommends scheduling service in this situation.
Once the problem is resolved, periodically check that the doors still close and seal properly and that the refrigerator remains level.