Is your gasket obsolete or untraceable?

When it comes to appliances, we all know that the lifespans of specific models are limited. During procurement, when an OEM tells us that a part is 'obsolete' we believe them and look into upgrading to a new appliance.

But when it comes to fridge and freezer gaskets - those critical strips of material that keep warm air out and cool air in - the situation is different. You almost certainly won't need to scrap a perfectly good appliance just because the gasket's gone, regardless of what others might say.

Another common source of frustration for busy procurement managers is receiving gaskets that don't fit even when they've gone to great lengths to locate a fridge or freezer's ID plate.

Again, the standard advice is to get a new fridge.

Two cost-saving options to save your appliance from the scrap heap

When an OEM or fridge spares wholesaler tells you that a gasket isn't made any more, that doesn't mean the seals aren't out there - just that they can't find them.

Before accepting their verdict, check with a gasket specialist, like Gasket Guy, to make sure. We have a large inventory of gaskets in stock and a powerful search facility for identifying and tracking down hard to source gaskets.

If we are unable to source the specific gaskets you need, we can manufacture them to order. Since we make our gaskets in the UK, you won't have to worry about logistical issues either. Avoiding complex global supply chains is also a more cost-effective and sustainable way to procure spare parts.

To ensure your new gasket fits, you or your customers will need to provide us with some profile measurements. We have plenty of guidance on our website to walk them through this process.

A note on 'universal gaskets'

On some online forums, people in your position have been advised to buy a universal gasket. We don't recommend this. Any component or appliance designed to be 'universal' is a compromise at best. The sheer number of gaskets in circulation are proof that the connection between each seal and its appliance is designed to be unique. That's why we need your measurements.

A universal seal may seem to fit, but there could still be a degree of air exchange between the inside and outside of your appliance.

There is a reason why universal seal reviews tend to be very poor, so we suggest steering clear.

Optimise your procurement with our Asset Register

We're confident that we can source or manufacture the door seals you need, but to guarantee 100% serviceability going forward, we strongly recommend considering our Asset Register service.

Imagine if all you needed to do to order a replacement gasket for a customer was to ask them for a simple code and then pick up the phone and speak to Gasket Guy. By going in to your customers premises and manually inspecting their gaskets, we can add them to our central database. We can even maximise the operating efficiency of their fridges and freezers by proactively reaching out when a gasket is reaching the end of its lifespan.

We have a track record of saving perfectly good fridges and freezers from the scrap heap. To find out more about the benefits of sourcing gaskets direct from a UK-based manufacturer, visit our group procurement page.