DOOR GASKETS

It is absolutely necessary that you keep a watchful eye on your refrigeration equipment. The last thing a restaurant manager needs is a reach-in cooler on their cooks line to go down. Even with set temperature check intervals throughout the day, you may be missing a big step if you aren’t doing a regular gasket check on your refrigeration equipment. This goes from your Walk In Cooler to your small one door cooler behind the register; a faulty gasket could cost you a lot more than just having to buy a new gasket.

The main purpose of a door gasket is to ensure a proper seal to keep heat, air, and moisture out of the conditioned space. This ensures your product stays at the correct temperature and that your cooling system turns off in a timely manner. Far too often a neglected ripped gasket will show its ugly face with its first symptom: High food temperature (above 41 degrees in CA).

With a ripped gasket, your proper seal is broken and the warm air and moisture are being pulled in causing an overload on the system. If left unchecked, ice will start to form on the evaporator coil blocking air flow causing the temperature in the box to rise along with food temperatures.

At this point it’s possible that a service company has been notified and are on their way. When they arrive they need to first address the visible ice on the coil. After defrosting and restarting the system, a visual check of the door, gasket, and hinges are done. If it’s noted that there is a significant tear or rip in the gasket that’s allowing too much air in, a full diagnosis could be put on standby until the gasket is replaced. Without a gasket sealing properly, the possibility of another iced up coil is very likely. Gasket replacement is the first step and more than likely the solution to the issue.

But how did it get this far? A simple torn gasket costing a restaurant an expensive service call and typically a return trip for gasket replacement and final diagnosis; a problem that could have been prevented.

While no gasket is going to last forever, there are somethings that can be done to ensure you catch a small issue before it turns into a costly one. First, we would recommend a regular gasket check done by either a supervisor on site or from your regular service provider. Second, once the gaskets have been identified as either being dirty or in need of replacement, take action to address it as soon as possible.

When cleaning, use a mild soap and water to remove any mold or build up. A mixture of baking soda and water can also be used. Sometimes, if left for too long, mold can become so embedded in the gasket that it will need to be replaced. This is very unattractive when visible to customers let alone a walk-through from the health department.

Lastly, after cleaning the gasket or having the gasket replaced, ensure that the door is sealing properly. Sometimes, a gasket needs to be taken off and adjusted a couple of times until a perfect seal is achieved. Be sure to buy OEM gaskets on your True MFG. equipment and other main name brands like Delfield and Beverage Air. Aftermarket gaskets lack the correct dimensions and could lead to moisture infiltration and cause high temps.

If you have any questions or concerns about how to clean/replace a gasket or need help in ordering an OEM gasket, give us a call or send us an email and we will be happy to assist you in any way possible or we can simply help you find the correct OEM gasket you need. The site will be getting updated with part numbers and model numbers to help assist with proper identification.