[cfirebaugh]

The door of freezer unit does not vacuum seal and ices up the bottom of the freezer when defrosting. We have to defrost the freezer every few months and use a hair dryer. Now we are having ice crystals form where the seal to the door fits. We need to know what is needed to fix it.

[Joe / APP Team]

Originally Posted by cfirebaugh

The door of freezer unit does not vacuum seal and ices up the bottom of the freezer when defrosting. We have to defrost the freezer every few months and use a hair dryer. Now we are having ice crystals form where the seal to the door fits. We need to know what is needed to fix it.

Cfire,

Do some basic checks first,

Is the freezer level in both directions, and all 4 feet are on the floor, solid.
Is there anything on the shelves that may be holding the door open.
Are the door hinges, and handle a tight fit to the door and cabinet.
Are the door liner and gasket properly secured to the door panel,especially across the bottom of the door, and that all surfaces of the front flange and gasket are clean.

Check the door panel for straight, could the door be slightly bent at the hinge side, or the hinges or cabinet distorted.

If all checks OK, replace the door seal/gasket, and lubricate the hinge side of the gasket with Vaseline.

Good Luck,

[cfirebaugh]

We checked all your recommendations. The freezer is level, the door appears to be straight, but is 1/8 inch low at top corner on the opening side. The gasket is not sealing and appears to need replacing as it pulled away from the door at the corners. Is there a mechanism that pulls a vacuum or is this a simple action of the door seal. The screws holding the
gasket are okay. Are there parts besides gasket needed for its replacement? When we defrost the door drains water at the bottom, is this a frosting inside the door?

[Joe / APP Team]

Originally Posted by cfirebaugh

We checked all your recommendations. The freezer is level, the door appears to be straight, but is 1/8 inch low at top corner on the opening side. The gasket is not sealing and appears to need replacing as it pulled away from the door at the corners. Is there a mechanism that pulls a vacuum or is this a simple action of the door seal. The screws holding the
gasket are okay. Are there parts besides gasket needed for its replacement? When we defrost the door drains water at the bottom, is this a frosting inside the door?

Cfirebaugh,

There is no device or mechanism to create a vacuum on the door seal. There is a magnet inside the seal(the flat part) that is attracted by the metal front flange of the metal cabinet, and creates the seal, so you're going to need to replace the door gasket,

Part number: AP2988675

It's easier if you can get the new seal as warm as possible, before you install it. unfortunately you'll need to remove all the screws and metal retainer strips, so you can remove the liner and check and dry out the door panel and liner interior, the water drip is most likely frost on the backside of the plastic liner, but everything needs to be dried out, to keep from re freezing.
You should be able to adjust the top hinge plate assembly to achieve a closer fit on the door panel to cabinet, but that should not be a major concern at this point.
** once you've got the seal and door back on and aligned, you may want to put a thin coat of vaseline on the hinge side of the new gasket to help it conform to the cabinet, and deter damage to the new gasket.

Good Luck,

[Joe / APP Team]

Originally Posted by verin

thanks for sharing...

You're welcome.

[cfirebaugh]

Joe, we have replaced the gasket and we may have gotten the screws too tight. The seal looks a little wavy from the sides. The magnet is not closing to the side of the door. The fit of the door is very good and lines up. Any advice?

[Joe / APP Team]

Originally Posted by cfirebaugh

Joe, we have replaced the gasket and we may have gotten the screws too tight. The seal looks a little wavy from the sides. The magnet is not closing to the side of the door. The fit of the door is very good and lines up. Any advice?

Cfire,

You overtorqued the door seal screws, loosen them up and you'll be alright in a while as far as the rippled door seal. Did you do the vaseline on the flat/magnetic part of the seal, hinge side on the new door seal.

Before you tighten the seal screws, while they're loose, push and pull ( tweaking ) the top and bottom of the door panel(handle side), until you achieve a proper seal all the way around the door, then tighten the door panel/seal screws. (not too tight this time)

[cfirebaugh]

We did loosen the screws and it looks better and he put vaseline on the hinge side of the seal/door.
Thank you for your help on this project. Hopefully we have our problem solved.

[Joe / APP Team]

Originally Posted by cfirebaugh

We did loosen the screws and it looks better and he put vaseline on the hinge side of the seal/door.
Thank you for your help on this project. Hopefully we have our problem solved.

Cfirebaugh,

We're gald to hear that.

Sounds like everything will be fine in a few days, drop us a line whenever you need some help.

Good Luck,