How To Tell If Your Fridge Seals Need Replacing: 6 signs

Sign 1: It's warm in there!

You reach into the fridge to retrieve a bottle of milk, and it feels warmer than you would expect. We can be surprisingly sensitive to minor changes in temperature, but in a busy kitchen or warehouse, it is often easier to dismiss the evidence.

Sign 2: Produce is spoiling sooner than expected

This is another sign that can be easily glossed over if you're not careful. If staff are complaining that perishable goods are going off before their use by date, the internal temperature of your fridge could be too high, presenting a food hygiene risk.

Sign 3: Your energy bills are soaring

Of course, everybody's energy prices have been going through the roof recently, but has your energy usage increased for no obvious reason? If your fridge is too warm because of a degraded seal, the themostat will more regularly instruct the compressor to start the cooling cycle. This will increase your electricity usage.

Sign 4: The seal is damp

When warm air gets in to your fridge, it will condense on the inside of the seal first. A damp seal, especially if there is mould growth, is a common sign of a breached seal.

Sign 5: Your frost-free fridge is icing up

Another sign of humid air entering your fridge via a leaky gasket is a build-up of ice on the evaporator coil. If you have a frost-free fridge, the defrost heater may melt some of the ice, but it won't be able to keep up.

Sign 6: You keep having to mop up puddles

Whether its through condensation or melted ice, puddles on the floor around your fridge signify a warm interior. This is often caused by a faulty seal.

How To Tell If Your Fridge Seals Need Replacing: 2 methods

While the above signs indicate a possible faulty fridge seal, there could be other faults to blame. The only way to tell for sure whether your gasket needs replacing is to manually check it.

The first test you can carry out is quite well-known. You simply place a bank note (or a piece of paper) between the seal and the fridge frame and close the door so that the note sticks out. If the seal is doing its job, it will remain in place. Repeat this test at several different spots. If the note slips down or out wherever you put it, the seal has been breached. If there is a problem in only one section, you may be able to use a blow dryer and some petroleum jelly to restore its integrity.

We also recommend you manually check the seal along its whole length. If you find any tears or cracks, it will need replacing. Warped seals can sometimes be temporarily put back in place, but if the seal has become rigid, you won't be able to fix it.

If the seal seems intact but dirty, try giving it a thorough clean with some soapy water.

Now you know how to tell if your fridge seals need replacing, but what's the best way of getting hold of a replacement seal?

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