'Fridge under pressure

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • mrcaptainbob
    King

    • Jan 2004
    • 1746

    #1

    'Fridge under pressure

    All I know is that it is a ten year old side-by-side Kenmore. It's my cousin's. I do know the doors are very difficult to open. They are especially difficult to open right after closing. The suction is incredible. Cousin is in her mid-70's and it's become more than a chore for her. I have seen it so difficult that the entire cabinet will move before the doors, either one, will open. A few years ago I put some wedges in front of the wheels. What can I do to alleviate this problem for her? Cut a hole in the bottom (or top?) of the door gaskets?
  • Dan O.
    Deity

    • Sep 2003
    • 2167

    #2
    .
    Often the suction that make refrigerator doors hard to open will take a while to form, after warm air has entered the fridge with the doors open. As that warm air cools it shrinks, creating lower pressure inside the cabinet.

    Creating a hole so that slight vacuum does not form may be possible however it will also allow air leakage into the cabinet which will affect cooling. I do not know where such a hole would be best to be as no factory ever suggested such modification that I'm aware of.

    Rather than making a permanent modification to the fridge, maybe put something between the door gasket and cabinet (eg. a shim) to prevent it from sealing tightly against the cabinet in one small area. If it affected operation it could easily be removed.

    JMO

    Dan O.
    Appliance411.com
    The Appliance Information Site

    =D~~~~~~

    .
    Last edited by Dan O.; 06-08-2016, 10:07 PM.

    Comment

    • mrcaptainbob
      King

      • Jan 2004
      • 1746

      #3
      Thanks, Dan O. I'll try that.

      Comment

      • Dan O.
        Deity

        • Sep 2003
        • 2167

        #4
        .
        The gasket is magnetic. A metal shimming device will stick to the surface of gasket without adhesive and can easily be removed afterward.

        JFYI

        Dan O.

        Comment

        Trending

        Collapse

        There are no results that meet this criteria.

        Working...