- 1). Place the replacement seal (gasket) in a metal pan and cover it with boiling water. The new gasket comes from the store folded. Soak the gasket until the folds straighten out. Dry off the seal completely when it has completely unfolded itself.
- 2). Open the refrigerator door, propping it open if necessary. Grab the rubber seal at the center top of the door and pull it upward to work it loose.
- 3). Loosen the screws that hold the seal in place on the top and halfway down the sides of the door. Don't remove the screws completely so that you can use them as a guide for positioning the new seal.
- 4). Find the retaining strip that the seal is held under. The strip is usually hidden by the part of the seal that isn't under the strip. Pull the seal out from under the retaining strip where there are loosened screws. Pull the gasket up and away from the door to get it out form under the retainer. Allow the old seal to hang loose.
- 5). Cover the new seal with a small amount of solid vegetable shortening. This lubricates the seal, making it easier to move it into place. Lay the replacement seal over the door, lining up the midpoint of the gasket and the door. Lining up the gasket's holes with the screws in the door, push the seal under the retaining strip. Continue across the top and down the sides of the door until you meet the old gasket.
- 6). Tighten the screws into the holes of the new seal, but not fully. Remove the bottom half of the old seal, following the same steps you used for removing the top half. Line up the holes and screws, and push the new seal under the retaining strip around the bottom half of the door. The ends of the new seal should meet tightly at the center bottom of the door. If they do not, adjust the new seal under the retaining strip until the ends meet. Tighten the screws part of the way into the seal.
- 7). Close the door on a dollar bill and then pull out the dollar. If the seal is tight, you will feel some resistance when pulling out the bill. Repeat this test all the way around the door. Look at the seal to see if there are any gaps or twists when the door is open and again when it is closed. Turn on a flashlight with a bright lightbulb and place it inside the refrigerator. Turn off the lights in the room and close the refrigerator door. If you can see any light around the edges of the door, the seal is not tight. If the gasket fails any of these tests, loosen the screws, pull the seal out from under the retainer and reinstall it. When the replacement seal passes the tests, tighten the screws all the way.
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