As a business owner, you understand the importance of having a refrigeration maintenance checklist for your appliances. But do you know how to prolong their door gaskets?

Commercial refrigeration gaskets are flexible, elastic strips that attach to the outer edge of the appliance door. It acts as an air-tight seal to keep your refrigerator or freezer cold inside. When maintaining your commercial refrigeration, door gaskets are a crucial component in prolonging your appliance’s lifespan and protecting your products from contamination. 

Here’s how to preserve the longevity of your door gaskets and why it’s essential for your bottom line. 

SHOP STOCK DOOR GASKETS CUSTOM ORDER DOOR GASKETS
 

A Door Gasket Maintenance Guide: How to Protect Your Commercial Refrigeration Doors for Longevity & Why It’s Necessary

If you aren’t adding door gaskets to your refrigeration maintenance checklist, there are various risks your business may face, including spoiled perishable products and increased energy costs from the appliance trying to stay cool with hot hair leaking inside. After replacing or installing your door gaskets, you must maintain them to prevent these risks. 

Below is a guide to protecting refrigeration door gaskets to maximize your appliance’s energy savings, food safety, and your business’s integrity.

 

Routine Door Gasket Maintenance

Scheduling regular maintenance can not only help improve your refrigeration gasket’s lifespan, but it also protects the products they’re cooling. Even if room temperature air seeps into the appliance, it can cause bacteria growth, resulting in additional energy costs and product loss—which is especially crucial in commercial food service refrigeration. 

According to the EPA, gasket heat leakages can account for up to 21% of a refrigerator or freezer’s total thermal load. This can cause your appliance to overexert itself to keep cooler interior temperatures. That’s why maintaining your gaskets is crucial for your business, too. 

Here’s how to clean door gaskets and maintain them effectively:

  • Inspect the Door Gasket: Check your gaskets for damages, like cracks and broken pieces.

  • Wipe Down the Gasket: Use a soft bristle brush along the top and sides to remove debris. Wipe it down with a liquid dish detergent mixture, and then clean the surfaces with a dampened cloth.  

In addition to cleaning your appliances, taking care of your door gaskets ensures they’re properly functioning to support your commercial refrigeration needs. 

 

Regular Commercial Refrigeration Maintenance 

On top of inspecting and cleaning door gaskets for refrigerators, keep an eye on the interior and exterior of your appliance as well. When cleaning your refrigerator or freezer, keep it plugged in to prevent putting stress on the compressor when powering on again. If you have a backup appliance, transfer all perishables to that one while cleaning your main equipment. 

Here’s how to maintain your commercial refrigeration: 


Interior Appliance Maintenance

Remove all shelves and compartments and wipe them clean with a dish detergent mixture. Then, wipe them dry with a soft cloth. 

 

Exterior Appliance Maintenance

Use a soft bristle brush to remove food crumbs, dust, and debris in all crevices. Dust behind the appliance and vacuum hose its bottom condenser coils to clear out potential blockages from clogging it. Finally, clean the drainage pan at the bottom to prevent excessive moisture buildup. 

 

Keep Your Appliances in Top Shape: Shop OEM-Equivalent Replacement & Custom Door Gaskets

Now that you know how to prolong the longevity of your gaskets and commercial appliances, ensure you purchase them from a reputable supplier. At Breakaway Enterprises, we’re a distributor and custom manufacturer of commercial refrigeration gaskets for all types of units, brands, and industries. 

Whether you need a food service refrigerator gasket or a walk-in freezer door gasket, we can ship in-stock items within 24 hours— and custom orders within two business days! 

Shop door gaskets for your commercial refrigeration or custom order to support your business’s unique needs today.

SHOP STOCK DOOR GASKETS CUSTOM ORDER DOOR GASKETS

an image displaying the funny motto 'shut the fridge up' used by Breakaway Enterprises