A Bright Idea
If you look at the doors of any standard refrigerator, you’ll notice they’re lined with a flexible rubber or plastic seal known as a gasket. This is meant to create an airtight barrier when the doors are closed, preventing cool air from escaping or warm air from entering. A tight seal is essential for maintaining an ideal refrigerator temperature — between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit — but over time, wear, tear, and gunk can lead to a leaky gasket. This leaves you with a less efficient, and therefore more expensive, appliance.
Spotting a leak with your eyes alone can be difficult, which is why a flashlight comes in handy. Turn it on, place it inside the refrigerator, and then close the door. Finally, turn off the lights in the room.
With the flashlight inside, the fridge doors closed, and the kitchen lights off, examine the seal carefully. If you see light peeking out, your gasket is leaking. If you don’t see any light at first, point the flashlight in a different direction and check again. At this point, if no light shines through, your gasket is doing its job. But if there’s so much as a faint glow coming from the seams, it’s time to take action.
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An Airtight Solution
The good news is that fixing a leaky gasket is quite simple. In many cases, all you need to do is clean the seal, and it will start working again. Wipe down the rubber or plastic, making sure to remove any gunky buildup from its creases. Once it’s clean, try the flashlight test again; if no light escapes, the problem is resolved. If it still leaks, buying and installing a replacement gasket is cheap and easy. Either way, restoring a tight seal will quickly pay for itself through lower utility bills.
