Violation of the tightness of the refrigeration chamber is one of the most common problems faced by owners of household appliances Pozis. If you notice that the door has begun to close less tightly, and condensation or frost has begun to accumulate in the corners of the chamber, then first of all you should pay attention to the condition sealing rubber. Over time, the elastic material loses its properties, becomes deformed or damaged, ceasing to function as a barrier to warm air.
Independent removal and replacement of this element is a procedure accessible even to a beginner if you act carefully and consistently. Proper dismantling of the old cuff is necessary not only for installing a new part, but also for carrying out high-quality cleaning hidden cavities where mold often accumulates. In this article we will look in detail at how to remove the seal from the refrigerator Poziswithout damaging the plastic door body and the fastening system itself.
To begin work, you will need to prepare a workplace and a minimum set of tools. You should not ignore the preparatory stage, as haste can lead to breakage of the fragile plastic latches or rupture magnetic insertthat runs along the entire perimeter of the elastic band. If you plan to simply wash the seal, complete dismantling may not be necessary, but for replacement or deep disinfection, removal is inevitable.
Diagnostics of the condition of the sealing cuff
Before taking active steps, you need to make sure that the problem lies precisely in rubber seal, and not due to misaligned door hinges or compressor malfunction. Visual inspection magnetic tape allows you to identify obvious defects: cracks, abrasions, areas with a changed structure of the material. Often the rubber band simply “sits” over time, becoming rigid and unable to fit tightly to the metal body.
There is a simple and effective way to check the tightness, which should be done before removing the part. Take a regular piece of paper or a small denomination bill and try to press it between the door and the body of the refrigerator at different points around the perimeter. If the paper is removed easily, without noticeable resistance, it means tightness the seal is broken in this place.
Particular attention should be paid to the corners of the door, since this is where ruptures or peeling most often occur. If you find that the seal has moved away from plastic profile or deep creases have appeared on it that do not straighten out after heating with a hairdryer, then replacement or thorough cleaning followed by reinstallation will be the only solution to the problem.
⚠️ Attention: If upon visual inspection you find that the door itself is skewed and does not fit parallel to the body, removing the seal may not solve the problem. In such cases, you first need to adjust the hinges.
Necessary tools and workplace preparation
To perform high-quality work on dismantling the seal from the refrigerator Pozis no complex professional equipment is required. However, using unsuitable objects, such as a knife or a screwdriver with a sharp tip, can damage the door or the rubber itself if you plan to repair it. The main tool should be flat and blunt. plastic tank the door or the rubber itself, if you plan to restore it. The main tool should be flat and blunt.
The optimal solution would be to use a plastic spatula, which is often included in the kit for working with laminate, or a regular bank card if the edge is fairly smooth. You may also need a hair dryer to preheat the material, especially if the refrigerator was in a cold room and the rubber became too hard. Warm air makes polyvinyl chloride more elastic and pliable.
Prepare a clean rag and detergent to immediately wipe the freed groove from dirt. Make sure you have good lighting in advance, since the fastening profile is often dark in color, and in the twilight it is easy to miss small latches or remnants of old glue. If you have a model with mechanical fastening, prepare a screwdriver or a Phillips screwdriver.
- 🛠️ A plastic spatula or an old plastic card for prying up the profile.
- 💡 A construction hairdryer or household for softening rubber.
- 🧼 Cleaning agent and rags for degreasing the groove.
- 🔦 Flashlight for illuminating hard-to-reach corners of the door.
Determining the type of seal fastening
Refrigerators Pozis of different years of production and model series can be equipped with seals with different fixation systems. Understanding which type is installed on your equipment is critical to choosing a dismantling method. Incorrect actions can lead to you damaging fixed profile or breaking the fastening strips.
The most common option is the “swallow” or “herringbone” fastening. In this case, the seal has a special profile that is tightly inserted into the groove at the end of the door. It is removed by gently pulling it out with your fingers or using a flat tool. On older models or in budget series, it may occur screw fasteningwhere the elastic is pressed to the door with a metal or plastic strip.
The third option is gluing. It occurs less frequently, mainly on very old models or after unskilled previous repairs. In this case, removal will require heat and careful cutting or peeling of the material. Modern refrigerators Pozis are characterized by the first type, which allows production quick replacement without the use of additional fasteners.
To determine the type, carefully examine the inner edge of the seal at the bottom of the door. If you see screw heads or a solid clamping bar, it is a screw type. If only the rubber profile is visible, going into the door gap, then these are insert type fastenings.
| Type of fastening | External signs | Tool for removal | Difficulty of dismantling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plug-in (“swallow”) | The elastic fits tightly in the groove, there are no screws | Flat screwdriver, spatula | Low |
| Screw | The heads of the screws or strip are visible | Phillips screwdriver, screwdriver | Medium |
| Glue | No obvious groove, traces of glue | Hair dryer, knife (with caution) | High |
Is it possible to restore an old rubber band?
In some cases, if the seal is simply deformed but not torn, it can be revived. To do this, remove it, soak it in hot water (about 70-80 degrees) for 10-15 minutes, and then put it back, straightening out all the folds. However, this method gives only a temporary effect.
Technology for removing the inserted seal
If you have determined that your seal is held in place by a profile inserted into the groove, the dismantling process will be the simplest, but requires carefulness. It is best to start work from the top corner of the door. Take a prepared plastic spatula or a flat-head screwdriver wrapped in several layers of electrical tape so as not to scratch the door plastic. Gently pry the edge of the seal and pull it towards you and slightly up. You should hear a characteristic click or feel the profile coming out of the groove. Don't pull too hard on one point to avoid tearing the rubber. Move gradually, releasing 10-15 centimeters plastic doors.
Carefully pry the edge of the seal and pull it towards you and slightly up. You should hear a characteristic click or feel the profile coming out of the groove. Don't pull too hard on one point to avoid tearing the rubber. Move gradually, releasing 10-15 centimeters at a time sealing tape along the perimeter.
When you reach the corner, act especially carefully. Corners are where the tension is greatest and where tears are most likely to occur. If the rubber is tight, you can slightly warm up this area with a hairdryer. Continue moving around the entire perimeter until you remove the seal completely. It is important not to lose magnetic insertif it falls out of the groove in the process.
☑️ Algorithm for removing the insert seal
Removing the seal with a screw fastening
In models where the sealing rubber is pressed to the door with a special strip using screws, the removal procedure looks different. The key here is to maintain the integrity of the fasteners and the strip itself. First you need to find all the screws, which are usually located along the inner perimeter of the door and are closed with decorative plugs or the rubber itself.
Use a Phillips screwdriver of a suitable size to unscrew the screws. Do not use excessive force to avoid stripping the threads in the plastic door body. Once all the screws are removed, carefully remove the clamping bar. Under it you will see the edge of the seal, which can now be freely removed from the installation channel.
When removing the strip, be careful: under it there may be wires going to the door open sensor or backlight bulb, if they are laid in the circuit. Do not pull the rubber sharply so as not to damage electrical communications. After removing the strip and rubber, inspect the channel for corrosion or contamination.
⚠️ Attention: When screwing the screws back, do not overtighten them. Excessive force can lead to cracking of the plastic strip or deformation of the door profile, which will eventually break the seal again.