First: redefine obsolete!

In recent years, consumer and regulatory pressure has pushed sustainability to the forefront of business strategy. Many business owners are looking at ways to reduce waste and improve circularity – the reusing of materials and parts to reduce the need to extract or produce more of them.

But how far can this process go? Surely there comes a point when an appliance such as a fridge or freezer needs replacing. While this is true, many businesses are making that call a lot earlier than they need to, with OEMs often to blame for pushing the line: “That model's 'obsolete'. It would be more economical to replace it.”

Let's look more closely at this. From a business point of view, a fridge or freezer has a simple job: it efficiently keeps items within a specific temperature range. If your appliance starts to become inefficient (i.e., it uses more energy than it should to do its job), anything you can do to resolve this will cost you less than replacing the whole unit. In the short term, new capital expenditure will outweigh any marginal efficiency savings you might enjoy from a new model.

We know that some engineers and FM procurement teams are being told that their worn fridge or freezer door seals are 'obsolete' and that they need to ditch their appliances for shiny new ones. This may be convenient for the OEM giving that advice, but it unnecessarily hits businesses in the pocket.

Here's why you need to treat that word 'obsolete' as a red flag:

A gasket isn't obsolete if somebody can make a new one!

While fridge and freezer door seals are critical for efficiency, they are essentially a simple part. Unlike complex components, creating a bespoke seal is not going to break the budget.

Gasket Guy can manufacture new door seals right here in the UK. Not only does that save global shipping miles, it also ensures that seals are made to a high spec (often higher than the original!)

In the majority of cases, all we need to create a replacement for an 'obsolete' seal is its profile (the specific shape where the seal connects with the door and unit) and its size. Although we are happy to come out and take the measurements ourselves, our website has detailed information on how you can provide these details. Don't worry. Most competent members of staff would be able to carry out this process. You may even find that your door seal isn't obsolete at all.

Either way, replacing your gaskets will give you the opportunity to measure your units' energy performance before and after, and make an informed decision about whether splashing out on a new appliance makes business sense.

Keeping on top of your new door seals

Rather than waiting for a device's energy footprint to rise, proactive gasket management can keep it within acceptable operational limits for longer. We recommend a three step approach:

• Cleaning: Make sure that your gaskets are included in every site's cleaning contract. Daily wiping down and occasional deeper cleans will prevent the buildup of dirt and grease that can cause abrasion and chemical changes to the seal.
• Inspecting. Thoroughly inspect your gaskets for signs of tearing or warping at least twice a year. Replacing seals early will save money on wasted energy.
• Register. Add your gaskets to the Gasket Guy Asset Register. Whether you have ordered a replacement seal or had us make one up, we can provide you with a simple ID number (included on a highly visible sticker). We recommend you invite us to add all of your gaskets (new and existing) to our Register because this will speed up sourcing replacements.

To find out more about our Asset Register or to arrange a site visit, get in touch today. For more detail about our commitment to the environment, visit our dedicated environment and sustainability page.