kfeusse Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 On our refridgerator/freezer, whenever someone closes the door to the fridge (unless it's very slowly and gently), the freezer door pops open and doesn't reshut on it's own (it used to do that...IF it opened it would shut again...but often it never even opened). (freezer on top) I have caught it opened (ever so slightly). Why is it doing this and how can I fix the problem?? thanks. Oh, I have checked to see if there is something sort off sticking out too far, cuasing this (that senerio has happened before here) and that isn't the issue. thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saraha Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Is your seal dirty? It sounds like air forced upward from the closing of the bottom door is opening the freezer door. Check the actual seal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 I would check the seal, and also check out what is in the door baskets, to see if the weight is causing it to not re-shut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfeusse Posted August 27, 2013 Author Share Posted August 27, 2013 Just checked...seal is clean and I removed anything with any weight to it from the door...nothing changed. It just pops it opens enough to be open...not even a 1/4 of inch....it's weird..don't get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmos Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Ours does that if there is stuff too close to the door. It's not necessarily obstructing it from closing, just within an inch or two of the door when closed. Rearranging things and pushing them back away from the door fixes the problem. Just yesterday I came downstairs and found our freezer had been open all night due to this issue. Pushing a carton of ice cream back two inches fixed the problem. Ugh. And note that the carton wasn't touching the door at all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrn Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Put a thin layer of Vaseline on the seals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfeusse Posted August 27, 2013 Author Share Posted August 27, 2013 ok...I guess I will have check that out....I didn't think there is anything too close, but maybe I am wrong. thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyThreeSons Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 You might also want to check the hinges -- they may need to be adjusted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildcat Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 My door has done this for several years. It's almost like the magnet is failing and isn't strong enough any more. I keep telling the other household members to give a gentle push on BOTH doors after closing the fridge to make sure the freezer hasn't popped open. Apparently, that is too difficult for half the household *cough men cough* to remember and I keep finding the freezer door ajar. :glare: jrn, what does the vaseline do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsheresomewhere Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Just replaced our hinges last year for the one side doing this. Very, very easy to fix and not pricey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrn Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Dh isn't home right now to ask him to explain the hows and whys the Vaseline works. (he's a former appliance tech) I just know that the doors do not pop open anymore after putting on a thin layer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyThreeSons Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 jrn, what does the vaseline do? I had never heard of this trick, but when I googled it just now, I got lots of hits. Evidently, it helps to soften the gasket so that it makes a better seal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfeusse Posted August 27, 2013 Author Share Posted August 27, 2013 so you just put vaseline along the seal?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrn Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 so you just put vaseline along the seal?? Yes. Just a thin layer is needed to improve the seal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfeusse Posted August 27, 2013 Author Share Posted August 27, 2013 did it...and it worked!!! THANKS so much.... on second thought...it didn't work...not 100%....if I let the fridge door close from a wider opening, it doesn't work....so now what??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenda in FL Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 I had a brand new refrigerator do this. When I googled the problem I found that it has to do with the air pressure shifting from the fridge compartment to the freezer compartment and the air was pushing the freezer door open. I'm going to try the vaseline trick. Another thing we did was to level it so it tipped slightly towards the back. I have a sign on the door to remind people to make sure both doors are closed. It's been several months now - and its not as bad as it was when brand new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammi K Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Is it self defrosting freezer? Sometimes the drain tubing becomes blocked and then it doesn't have proper negative pressure inside the freezer. ETA: Oops, DH just informed me that when the blocked drain tube happened the door wouldn't open...not that it wouldn't stay closed. Sorry for the mistake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfeusse Posted August 27, 2013 Author Share Posted August 27, 2013 how in the world do you check that out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth S Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Thanks for these suggestions. I overfill my freezer when I do my big grocery trip and I just assumed there isn't enough space for it to close. We use Duct Tape. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffeemama Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 We had this issue with the freezer in our garage a few years back. If someone let the fridge door slam or "fall/bang" shut, then the freezer would pop open a bit. If no one noticed, there was a melting mess. After this happened twice, my DH screwed a metal lock to the side of the freezer to keep it shut. Worked like a charm...though I still find myself explaining to guests who notice the lock. I'll try to upload a picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildcat Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 Well, I'll try the vaseline tomorrow. Luckily, I have some here. I will look to see if the fridge/freezer can be tilted back any (it's in the garage, so it should be easy enough to do). A sign won't work--- it's the males in the house who need the reminder and they won't even notice the sign. Sigh. I thought about a freezer alarm, but it's in the garage and I would bet that I am the only one who would hear it. Coffeemama, is it a lock with the latch, and when you flip it closed, you turn a little thingy and you could add a padlock to if you wanted to? I wonder if that would help us. Hhmm.... I am *determined* to stop this. OP, thanks for posting--- it seems as if there are MANY of us in the same boat! I just never thought to ask for a remedy.... Since we are on the topic of fridge/freezers, can anyone explain why my side-by-side will sometimes close so tight that only a testosterone-fuled male can open a door? They both seal up so tight that it takes brute force to get one of them open! :huh: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth S Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 Since we are on the topic of fridge/freezers, can anyone explain why my side-by-side will sometimes close so tight that only a testosterone-fuled male can open a door? They both seal up so tight that it takes brute force to get one of them open! :huh: :lol: Our folks' refrig is like this. The only way I can open it (for example) is to PULL the refrig door handle with all my fingers, while PUSHING the freezer door handle with my thumb, using leverage. There seems to be suction--and I'm just now realizing the OPPOSITE problem of the OP. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildcat Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Our folks' refrig is like this. The only way I can open it (for example) is to PULL the refrig door handle with all my fingers, while PUSHING the freezer door handle with my thumb, using leverage. There seems to be suction--and I'm just now realizing the OPPOSITE problem of the OP. :) That's it exactly. It happened again tonight. Dd opened the freezer to check on some popsicles she was freezing, closed the door, then went to open the fridge. It had sucked shut tightly. She's a tinly little thing and was pulling/pushing with all her might and her feet slid toward the fridge. She finally got it (with much giggling), but it was funny to watch. I still haven't tried the vaseline trick or tipping the fridge/freezer that pops open. I will do that tomorrow (I got sidetracked by ds coming home from college for the weekend). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wingedradical Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 We had an old one that only did that in hot weather...I think the seal was not in good shape and the heat exacerbated it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venia Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Be sure to raise the front of the fridge slightly using the adjustable feet too. Its supposed to be at a slight angle anyway so the doors close on their own from the open position. Often people get a new fridge or move, or move it to clean it and forget to adjust it properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieJ Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 We bought a new upright freezer about 2 years ago. It has a feature that pulls/suctions the door closed when we close it. You can't open the door when it is doing it's thing. You can open about a minute or two later as it doens't stay suctioned closed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wings1 Posted May 16, 2021 Share Posted May 16, 2021 My side by side freezer door would not shut completely for a month, now after doing NOTHING, it's shutting tight! Literally nothing, changed and now overnight it is shutting tight! I have already ordered a new refrigerator, what is happening?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbutton Posted May 16, 2021 Share Posted May 16, 2021 Zombie thread. For the newbie--maybe it was out of level and something nudged it back to level? Being bumped, the weight of food in the doors changing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Posted May 17, 2021 Share Posted May 17, 2021 Hopefully this helps someone - I’ve had the same issue for a week or so - my freezer door kept popping open every time I shut the refrigerator door. This is a Whirlpool side-by-side. There is a screw at the base of the freezer door (bottom left hand side) that was loose. When the door opens and shuts, it raises and lowers, and when it is shut, it’s at its lowest point. This screw was so loose that it was raised up high enough that the freezer door rested on it and the screw prevented it from lowering completely - this was just enough pressure to make the door pop open with a change in pressure or a slight jar. Hopefully this helps someone else - it ended several days of frustration for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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