How Do I Reduce the Vacuum of a Refrigerator Door?

The cold air inside the refrigerator is protected by a specifically built door to prevent air leakage. When you open a refrigerator door, a certain amount of air pressure is released, creating a vacuum. The higher the vacuum, the more quickly and forcefully this happens. 

Unfortunately, there are occasions when the vacuum created by the refrigerator door makes it difficult to open. This article with Strip-Curtains will help you reduce the vacuum effect and make opening your refrigerator much easier.

What Causes the Vacuuming in Freezers

The suction you feel on your freezer's door results from thermodynamics. When you blend cold and warm air, a pressure differential is produced. This may be the reason for the vacuum on your freezer door.

When you open your refrigerator or freezer, warm air will enter the freezer. The warmer air will rise to the top of the freezer, while colder air will migrate downward to replace it. This results in a negative pressure region at the top of the freezer and a positive pressure region at the bottom. It then creates a vacuum as warm air rushes through any holes in your door seal or gasket surrounding your refrigerator or freezer door, cools off, and expands back into place.

How to Reduce the Vacuum of a Refrigerator Door

An excessive vacuum caused by a cooler or freezer strip might threaten the performance of a refrigerator and cause inconvenience. Fortunately, there are a couple of ways to reduce the vacuum of a refrigerator door.

Increase the Freezer's Temperature

One thing you can do is increase the freezer's temperature by two degrees. This is easiest because you don't have to change much about the refrigerator. This could not be easy if you have an older model with a separate freezer because it might not have an adjustable thermostat.

To increase the temperature of your refrigerator's freezer, turn off the appliance, wait 10 minutes or so for all of its components to cool down, then open up its control panel and adjust the dial to a higher number. The manual should tell you where this dial is located and how it works.

If you're unsure how to adjust the temperature in your refrigerator, it's best to follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. Make sure to take note of any warnings or precautions with your particular model before making any changes to ensure that your food doesn't spoil or freeze unexpectedly.

Be careful when adjusting the temperature because turning it up too high can result in frost buildup on your appliance and cause other problems. You should also ensure that you follow your particular refrigerator or freezer instructions. Some units only allow you to adjust one degree at a time, while others may go up in bigger jumps.

Pry the Rubber Gasket or Physical Seal of the Refrigerator Door

To reduce the vacuum of your refrigerator door, you can pry at the rubber gasket or physical seal to create a space. This space lets warmer air inside the freezer, raising its temperature. Pressure rises with increased temperature, opening the door.

Gently pull on the seal to create a gap to release pressure. However, be careful not to damage the rubber gasket since tears or holes can produce a persistent air leak, ruining the freezer's seal.

How to Prevent Excessive Refrigerator Door Vacuum

A refrigerator's door vacuum is integral to the appliance's operation. To preserve it, you can take the following measures:

1. Check the seal around the door of your refrigerator. If it is ripped or worn out, it should be replaced. This will prevent air from entering your refrigerator and damaging the food and other goods.
2. Make sure nothing obstructs the dispenser area of your refrigerator's door since this could generate excessive pressure when the door is closed. For instance, if you have many things on top of your freezer section or something is preventing access to the dispenser area, this could cause the door to close with more force. Try removing these items so that nothing obstructs access to the dispenser area, allowing air to enter your refrigerator.

Takeaway

If you have an older refrigerator, you may notice that the door seal is not as good as it used to be. This can lead to excessive air being drawn in through the door when you open it. In this case, you will want to consider replacing your old gasket with one made from rubber strip curtains. Visit our website or contact us for more information.