Author Topic: Fridge Door Seal Sticks, Even Though Clean. Mystery.  (Read 1075 times)

slackmax

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Fridge Door Seal Sticks, Even Though Clean. Mystery.
« on: November 03, 2021, 09:21:57 AM »
A month ago, my fridge door started to stick slightly when opening. I cleaned it off with paper towel and plain water. It no longer stuck. Until the next day, when it was stuck slightly. It is worst first thing in the morning.

I went away for 4 days and when I got back the door was severely stuck. The top would open slightly, but the bottom seemed to be glued on! I finally got it to open by prying it gently, then quite forcibly. No apparent  damage done by using force, thankfully. 

No sign of anything leaking onto the seal. It's always clean, but it likes to stick at the bottom, and it gets worse the longer the door is unopened. 

My internet research so far says to use silicone lube on the door seal. Some people say petroleum jelly is also OK, but other people say petroleum jelly will degrade the seal quickly. No one says silicone will hurt it. 

Suggestions?

Thanks

former player

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Re: Fridge Door Seal Sticks, Even Though Clean. Mystery.
« Reply #1 on: November 03, 2021, 10:14:43 AM »
The rubber in the seal may be starting to deteriorate a bit.  I use a silicon spray on my uPVC windows, I guess that would work on your fridge seal.  Not necessarily food safe, though.


DeniseNJ

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Re: Fridge Door Seal Sticks, Even Though Clean. Mystery.
« Reply #3 on: November 04, 2021, 08:22:23 AM »
Sorry to hijack thread but what if the seal doesn't stick?  My fridge door pops open if you don't push it really hard.


Dave1442397

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Re: Fridge Door Seal Sticks, Even Though Clean. Mystery.
« Reply #5 on: November 04, 2021, 06:29:28 PM »
Sorry to hijack thread but what if the seal doesn't stick?  My fridge door pops open if you don't push it really hard.

Maybe the door is misaligned? It can be adjusted, so it may be worth taking a look.

slackmax

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Re: Fridge Door Seal Sticks, Even Though Clean. Mystery.
« Reply #6 on: November 04, 2021, 06:52:51 PM »
Sorry to hijack thread but what if the seal doesn't stick?  My fridge door pops open if you don't push it really hard.

Could it be scraping on the bottom as it closes?  Look for scratch marks down there.

slackmax

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Re: Fridge Door Seal Sticks, Even Though Clean. Mystery.
« Reply #7 on: December 14, 2021, 09:37:41 AM »
Update. It still sticks, after multiple wipings with clean water and paper towel. But I noticed that if I push the door in a bit just before I open it, it doesn't stick. Pushing it in slightly seems to unstick it somehow.

Si I'm just living with it. No harm being done, knock on wood.

SunnyDays

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Re: Fridge Door Seal Sticks, Even Though Clean. Mystery.
« Reply #8 on: December 14, 2021, 10:36:05 AM »
Sounds like some kind of a vacuum issue to me.  Pushing it in presses the air out and then it releases.  Not sure how a door seal could create a vacuum though.  At least you've found a no cost solution.

slackmax

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Re: Fridge Door Seal Sticks, Even Though Clean. Mystery.
« Reply #9 on: December 21, 2021, 07:49:30 AM »
Sounds like some kind of a vacuum issue to me.  Pushing it in presses the air out and then it releases.  Not sure how a door seal could create a vacuum though.  At least you've found a no cost solution.

Mystery solved!

It wasn't the seal at all. It was the bottom of the door scraping against the floor of the fridge when it closed and opened. I wiped it off well with water and paper towel down there. Not much of anything came off. But whatever I did fixed the problem!

No more sticking. Must have been some sticky residue down there. I knew it had scraped there in the past, when I had to replace a washer in the hinge, but I never suspected it was still scraping. Couldn't hear anything.  Heck, it could still be scraping, but it sure isn't sticking. Yay!

Thanks for the input, everyone !