How to Replace a Plastic Refrigerator Door Seal?

The Plastic Refrigerator Door Seal (aka a gasket) is an important component of your fridge. Without it, cold air could escape or warm air could leak in.

Check your refrigerator for signs that the seal isn’t sealing properly.
If you notice that the cold air is leaking, or the refrigerator’s temperature is too warm, it may be time to replace your fridge’s seal. A bad seal can also cause your appliance to lose efficiency, waste energy, and shorten its lifespan.

First, you need to inspect the door for signs of a damaged or worn seal. Look for a rip or tear, or an area where the seal has folded in on itself when you close the refrigerator door.
You can also check your refrigerator’s manual to see if there is a recommended replacement gasket for your model. If there is, you can buy a new one and install it yourself in under 30 minutes.

Remove the old refrigerator door seal:
If your refrigerator has a push-in style gasket, simply insert the back edge of the new gasket into the groove or channel around the perimeter of the door. For a snap-in style seal, slip the inner edge of the gasket behind the retaining lip on the inside of the door.

Clean the old gasket and the refrigerator’s door panel before installing a new one:
If your refrigerator has a screw-in seal, you can either loosen the retainer screws around the door liner to pull the old seal off or use a hex-head screwdriver to unscrew them and loosen them enough for the old gasket to slide free. Be gentle when removing the old gasket, and try not to damage the door liner.