Freezer Icing/Frost Buildup

Why not just replace the worn out factory seal with a new one?

Gambit80 wrote:
The freezer in my TT has been icing up badly. In trying the dollar bill test to the top seal of the door, it pretty much slides out with no effort.

I am looking at purchasing some aftermarket seal to place in addition to the original seal. The door does not look adjustable.

Is there any advice on what type of seal ti purchase?

Thanks!

Interesting question that I never thought to ask:).
I just go to pretty much any hardware or big box store and purchase refrigerator gasket in the length I need. Sometimes it's sold in a kit other times in lengths. Get a few inches more than the exact measurement so you can get around the corners w/ ease.

HTH.

ETA: Yes, do replace the entire door's gasket. If nothing else it'll save you from doing the job again for a bit of time.

Home Depot has some gap sealing rubber window seal. It looked to me to be a useful product. Measure the OEM and see if you can find something that is similar.

Try putting some foil tape that furnace guys use for duct work. Not duct tape. Cut it the size of the weatherstrip.,about 1/2 "wide . put a few layers till dollar bill is harder to get out. Worth a try before you do the whole weather strip.

when looking at anywhere from $140 to $200 for a Dometic replacement kit I think I would try something like this before spending that much.
Gasket kit

Refrigerator door seals, be it in your home or RV are mashed so many times over the years from people pushing the door close the they lose their sealing property because they don't quite reach. Before I spend money as an retired appliance technician and still repairing appliance as a hobby I would try heating the door seal with a blow dryer or heat gun on medium to low setting. You have to be careful not to overheat it as the seal could tear very easily when pulled.

Open the refrigerator door, gently apply heat to seal and lightly pull seal to make it stick out further. Or remove screws that hold the refrigerator in and slide the fridge out enough so you can see the seal against the fridge. Open the door slightly to the point you can see the magnet being attracted to the cabinet metal, but leave a gap. Heat to seal enough until you see the magnet pulling itself against the cabinet. Hold the door in that position until the seal cools a bit.

I can't stress enough not to overheat the seal to the point of melting or burning a hole in it.

A coating of silicon lubricant or petroleum jelly rubbed on the gasket and magnet portion will help to maintain the pliability and sealing capability.

Ice build up is normal unless you have a frost free refrigerator. The frost and ice build up is caused primarily from the difference in the outside temperature at the back wall of the trailer against the refrigerator. I defrost mine about once a month with a hair dryer on the low heat setting. If I have the sun hitting that side of the RV I need to defrost more often.

What I did was go to Staples or Office Depot and buy a roll of 1" wide x 8' or so magnetic strip on a roll with the adhesive on one side (under $10 IIRC). Split it into 1/2" wide strips and attach one to the gasket and the other to the matching section on the door opening and that way when you close the door the magnetic strips adhere to each other and provide a seal. The older Norcolds I think used a magnetic gasket, but the new ones for some reason don't ... probably so folks would have to replace gaskets more often for more profit to the manufacturer.

Make sure you clean both the gasket and door area good with alcohol and dry good so the adhesive on the magnetic strip will adhere good.

Larry

I just did the hairdryer routine a couple of weeks ago on our home refrigerator/freezer. The freezer had ice buildup just around one corner. Heated the gasket and gently pulled on it while my partner held the door open. I had seen this on some TV home repair program a while back. It seemed to work for the next couple of days, and then we left for the last two weeks for elder care back home. I'm eager to check on it when I return on Sunday. Give it a shot, it won't cost you anything.

Thanks for input everyone! I apologize for taking a few days to get back. As far as the factory seal, it has been replaced once and it continues to have this issue.

When the door is open, it looks to me as though the actual freezer top has a it bit of a upward bow in it, which I believe is not allowing it get a nice seal on it.

I'll try to report back with any items that are a success (or not).