The refrigerator door does not close tightly: reasons and what to do

One of the most common reasons for buying a new refrigerator is breaking the door of the old one. And all because the unit becomes unusable if the refrigerator door does not close.

But why ahead of time say goodbye to the refrigerator, when you can fix this malfunction yourself? What to do if the refrigerator door breaks, read our article.

How to check if the door is closed tightly?

Such a situation may happen: the door, at first glance, closes tightly, but the products in the refrigerator began to deteriorate quickly, and the unit itself often overheats.

Such a case is an occasion to check the operation of the door. To do this, take a regular notebook sheet and press it with the refrigerator door. If it has closed, it means that the unit has remained airtight, if not, its density has been lost.

Main reasons

Before you start fixing the refrigerator, you should understand the reason why the door does not close. There may be several:

• the rubber seal is too dirty, greasy and therefore does not retain its tightness;
• the rubber seal has lost its tightness due to old age and expiration;
• the spacer element of the door has become loose, which is why its position has become uneven;
• the strut began to crack from old age;
• overload of the refrigerator door, because of which its position was deformed;
• tilt of the refrigerator due to uneven floors.

If the unit is equipped with a special sensor that monitors the door closure density, there is still one reason: it could break and give false evidence that the refrigerator door is not tight slammed shut.

So, we will analyze each reason individually.

Dirty rubber seal

A rubber seal is one of the most important parts of a refrigerator, so remember to wash it when cleaning it. However, if the rubber is dirty, this may cause the door to not fully close.

First of all, try to clean the seal. If the pollution is weak, then this will not cause much trouble, and after a couple of hours the refrigerator will work like new. But if the dirt managed to eat up, it will be easier to get a new rubber.

Attention! Do not clean the gasket with harsh chemicals that wash the tiles, bathtub or sink. Vinegar, dishwashing detergent or regular soda will help remove dirt. They not only remove pollution, but also keep clean in the refrigerator for a long time.

Old rubber seal

So the time came when the Soviet refrigerators fell into disrepair. The time has come - you can’t change anything.

The old rubber seal can be distinguished by the following features:

• hardening of the material, especially in the corners;
• the appearance of yellowness;
• the growth of cracks on the surface.

If rubber has at least two of the above signs, be sure it is time to change or restore it.

Loose or cracked strut

A distinctive feature of the cranked strut is the door shifted to the floor. This problem arises in old refrigerators, as over time the spacer element, which is located below, at the junction of the door and the base of the unit, breaks. It is easy to identify this breakdown: if the door pushes off when closing, then it is probably a spacer. Try to lift the door and slam it shut - it will close.

However, you should not leave this problem. Therefore, if the refrigerator door does not close, you need to replace the spacer element, otherwise it may just fall off.

Read also:

• How to outweigh the Indesit refrigerator door: instruction + video.
• How to outweigh Atlant refrigerator doors (two-chamber and single-chamber). Detailed description of the process.
• Why does the refrigerator flow inside or below: reasons and what to do?

Door overload

Another reason why the door does not close is its overload. Move some of the products on the shelves of the door, and it will work again. However, if the door still does not close properly, the spacer should be checked. Perhaps he managed to get damaged due to overload.

Door Offset

So, you checked all the above reasons, and the door is still not closing tightly? Perhaps the reason lies in the deformation of the door. This problem occurs with a careless attitude to technology (slamming the door, etc.). For the decision, you may need both the adjustment of the door, and its change. It is difficult to solve this problem independently, so it is recommended to call a specialist.

Breakdown prevention

If the refrigerator door is currently closing, you should treat it carefully and follow a few simple rules for operating your refrigerator:

• when defrosting and cleaning the refrigerator, wipe the rubber seal with soapy water or vinegar to avoid contamination;
• gently and carefully close the door - a sharp slam violates its tightness;
• Do not place heavy cans of pickles on the door shelves - they can create overload and damage the door.

Recovering the rubber seal: video

This video details how to restore a refrigerator’s rubber seal if it doesn’t close properly.

Observing the basic rules of operation of the refrigerator, and doing preventive cleaning of the seal, you extend the life of your refrigerator for a long time.