Commercial Cooling: Should You DIY a Refrigerator or Freezer Door Seal Fix?

As any good business owner knows, efficient and effective refrigeration is integral to running a successful venue. A broken fridge door can be a costly problem for businesses, because the seal on the door is what keeps cool air in. If the seal is broken or damaged, your refrigerator or freezer has to work twice as hard to keep the air inside cool. This costs your business in energy bills, causes your cooling systems to wear out quicker, and worse yet, it may even result in food spoilage.

How to Prevent Seal Damage

It’s always better to prevent damage than to have to repair it later. Here are a few things you can do to keep your fridge door seal in good condition:

• Keep it clean. Regular cleaning of your door seals will keep them becoming sticky and causing damage like tears.
• Do regular scheduled maintenance. From the moment you purchase your commercial refrigerator or freezer, you should have a maintenance schedule in place. This will ensure optimal running performance and prevent costly breakdowns. You can also perform some basic maintenance yourself.  

How to Detect a Damaged Seal 

It’s not always easy to tell if you have a damaged fridge or freezer door, so look for these signs:

• Icing Up: If there is ice around your fridge or freezer door, it could be a sign the seal is broken.
• Warm or Defrosted Food: If your food is not cold, then it’s likely that cool air is leaking out through a cracked door seal.
• Rising Energy Bills: This is a sign of an overworked cooling system.
• Mould or Cracks: If you see mould or cracks on your seals, this is a clear sign you need to replace them.

What to Do About a Broken Seal 

When a fridge or freezer door seal breaks, you will want to fix it as quickly as possible to avoid incurring extra energy costs or food spoilage. Here are some of the things you should know:

• Don't try to fix it yourself. It can be tempting to want to fix a broken seal quickly yourself rather than hire a professional who might not be so immediate. It may cost you more, as well, but this is a complicated job to leave to an expert. 
• Don’t be fooled into thinking it will be a simple fix. An ill-fitted door seal on your fridge or freezer can be a costly mistake for a business to fix. A professional has the tools to fix it properly and permanently. 

Risks of Fixing a Seal Yourself

It might seem like a simple fix that will save you money, but replacing your own fridge or freezer door seal can cost you more money in the long run. Here are some of the risks of a DIY fix:

• An Ill-Fitting Seal: A badly fitted seal can cause just as much trouble as a damaged seal, costing you more time and money in the long run.
• An Incorrect Diagnosis: You might think it’s a problem with the door seal, but you might be missing a bigger problem.
• The Wrong Parts: It can be hard to find the proper parts for seals and there are many cheap, imitation products that won't last long. 

Leave It to the Pros

It might seem clear that a damaged door seal is the reason for your rising energy costs and inefficient system, but it could be a bigger problem, not easily identified by untrained eyes. A professional will be able to not only check the seal, but thoroughly inspect your refrigerator or freezer in order to properly diagnose the problem. 

While it might seem like a simple fix and a way to say a bit of money, in the end, it may end up costing you more. Don’t risk making a small problem worse by trying to fix a fridge door seal yourself, call in for professional help. 

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