To understand what role a sealant plays in a refrigerator, you need to have an idea of its design features. The task of individual components of refrigeration equipment is to ensure proper heat removal from products placed inside it. If warm air from outside constantly enters the storage chambers, then all the work of the system elements will not bring the desired results, the cooling is leveled.
It is from these considerations that a sealant is installed on the door to prevent the entry of outside air. Moreover, the material itself may be different, most importantly, it must meet the quality requirements. Otherwise, the ice will constantly freeze inside the equipment, snow will accumulate, the compressor will begin to operate in an enhanced mode and sooner or later completely fail.
A loose fit of the insulating element creates gaps that are sometimes visible even with the naked eye. You can check their presence with a sheet of paper. Its free movement in the gap will be a clear evidence of a malfunction in the insulating assembly of the refrigerator. This problem can occur for two reasons: due to wear and damage to the rubber (in the case of older models) or due to the fact that the door is not adjusted. In the second case, no replacements are required, just adjust the door correctly. In the first case, you will have to pick up a new seal and replace the damaged one.
Which gum is better to choose to replace
The content of the article
- Which gum is better to choose to replace
- Step-by-step instructions for replacing the seal
Reference! There are several types of seals that are mounted in the refrigerator with screws, glue, screws or inserted into the groove intended for this purpose. They have different shapes and are made of various materials.
On the market you can find products with one or two cylinders. As a rule, a magnet is located in the second cylinder to ensure a snug fit of the door to the refrigerator body. On sale there are old options made of rubber. Modern gaskets are made of polyvinyl chloride. There are several ways to fix it: either placement in a special recess (groove), or fixing using glue, screws.
The first method makes installation and removal easy while washing the refrigerator, the second gives risks of damage and makes it difficult to replace it again (if glue is used).
Any model of the refrigerator has its own requirements for the execution of the insulation unit. If the new sealing element is not selected correctly, protection will not be provided at the proper level. In addition, the pressure from the closed door, falling at the wrong angle and having different strengths, leads to deformation and subsequent cracking of the product. It is worth remembering that no matter what the seal is, it loses its elasticity during operation.
Step-by-step instructions for replacing the seal
The first one. First, turn off the refrigerator. If the door is small, it can be left in place. If the sash is impressive, it is better to dismantle it and place it on a horizontal surface.
The second one. In several places, neatly cut the junction of the old seal and the door, after which, pulling the gum slightly away from the landing site and slipping the spatula, make its notch along the entire perimeter sash. Work must be carried out carefully, taking care not to leave scratches on the door material.
The third. It is easier to choose a gasket for replacement when it comes to Indesit and Ariston brands. The edge of the product is stiff enough and does not require refinement. In the case of Atlant and Stinol refrigerators, it’s more difficult to find a suitable gum option, so the most suitable option is being finalized - with a knife, the thickening is cut off.
Fourth. If glue particles remain in the groove, they must be removed. The space for the new seal must be clean, otherwise there is a high risk of insulation failure.
Fifth. A new sealing element is located around the perimeter of the door. When planting on glue it is better to use the "Moment". In accordance with the instructions, the adhesive is applied to the surface and allowed to stand for some time. Then gradually the gum sticks to the sash. If screws are used, then fixation is done first in the corners, then in increments of 10-15 cm along the entire contour.
Sixth. To improve the quality of the connection, the elastic is warmed up by a mounting hairdryer for several minutes. The temperature regime is set at 300 ° C.
Seventh. It is easy to check the quality of work performed - the door should open with some effort. Over time, it will become clear whether reliable insulation is provided. If the ice in the refrigerator stops forming rapidly, then everything was done correctly.
