Have trouble with your refrigerator door closing? This article explains what to do if you have trouble with your KitchenAid refrigerator door not closing properly.
KitchenAid Refrigerator Door Not Closing Properly – Fixed
There are several things to check in your refrigerator if the door does not close properly. The first thing to check is the contents; one or more of them may stick out and keep the door from closing. If you recently loaded the refrigerator, check to ensure all the items are fully in the unit. Avoid overloading the refrigerator because the weight may push it open if nothing sticks out now. Moreover, the refrigerator may stop cooling as it should due to poor cold air circulation.
You must also check the shelves and racks to ensure everything is in place. Heavy items tend to push the shelves out of place, which helps if you check the unit and rearrange things to accommodate the load. Furthermore, check the door bins; overloading the door weighs it down and keeps it from closing. Reduce the load on the door if necessary to lighten the weight and help it close better. Otherwise, the door may misalign and have difficulty closing.
If the refrigerator has an ice maker and storage bin, check to see if the bin is out of place. This is especially true if you recently removed the bin. The bin may stick out, even the smallest bit, and cause the door to remain open. Open the refrigerator door and check the bin; remove it and reinsert it under the ice maker. Ensure it hits the back wall inside the unit before trying to close the door.
Inspect the door gasket for signs of dirt, looseness, or wear. If the gasket is dirty, you can clean it with warm soapy water to remove the grime. Door gaskets have difficulty sealing if they are dirty, and food crumbs and spills from sugary drinks can affect how well the gasket functions. But if the gasket is not dirty, or cleaning it does not fix the door problem, you may want to check if it is loose or kinked. Push it with a small flat-head screwdriver or straighten it with a hairdryer.
However, if the gasket is worn, it is time to replace it. Follow the instructions in this article to replace the gasket, or check the user manual for further assistance. Improper leveling may also affect the door gasket; the refrigerator should tilt slightly to the back, with the front raised a few inches. This helps the door to shut easily shut when you open it. Otherwise, there will be some difficulty keeping the door shut.
You will find leveling instructions in the user manual. Do not tilt the refrigerator too far back so that the door does not slam shut every time you open it or cause the refrigerator to have functional issues. Use the services of an appliance technician or contact the KitchenAid Service Center to level the refrigerator if you are unsure of the steps.
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Other Possibilities
If the refrigerator is a new installation, ensure all the packaging is off. Leftover packaging can get in the way and keep the door from closing. Thoroughly inspect the appliance for pieces of packaging. And if there is none, ensure the doors were properly installed; that is if the doors had to be removed to bring the refrigerator into the house.
A vertical rail with a hinge folds inward when you close the refrigerator door. It protects the mullion in the door, but if it folds out, the door remains open. If your refrigerator has the mullion with the rail, check to see if it sticks out and close it properly. If it does not, rearrange it and try closing it. There may be an item obstructing it, or the rail is broken. Have a technician check the mullion rail and fix possible issues. This article on a KitchenAid refrigerator door contains other instructions on checking and fixing the door issues in quick steps.
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