How to Stop a Refrigerator Door From Sweating

Do you have condensation forming on the inside or outside of your refrigerator door? This may not seem like a big deal, and initially it probably isn’t. However, as time passes and you ignore this issue, it is likely to manifest itself in more unpleasant ways.

When your refrigerator starts to sweat, it is producing water. That water will not only drip and puddle so that you will need to clean it up, but moisture invites mold and mildew to grow. Furthermore, the cause of this sweating is also resulting in your refrigerator to run longer, this means if your refrigerator is sweating, it is also running up your energy bills. So what is causing this refrigerator issue?

Faulty Gasket

The most common cause for a sweating refrigerator is a faulty gasket. This is the plastic seal that runs around your refrigerator door. When the door is closed, that seal is supposed to keep cold air in and warm air out. However, if the seal is not forming properly, the cold air escapes, and the warm air gets in. When warm and cold air meets, it forms condensation, causing your refrigerator to sweat. The gasket will likely need to be replaced, although in some instances there might be a large chunk of food you can scrape off it in order to fix the issue. Although, that is the best-case scenario.

Faulty Hinges

If your gasket seems fine, it very well could be that it is not forming a proper seal because the hinges on your appliance are damaged. If they have been bent, broken, or are rusted, they may need replaced.

Faulty Flapper

Similar to the door gasket, the flapper in your ice dispenser is supposed to remain closed to form a seal to your freezer. If the flapper is stuck open, it allows cold air out and warm air in. This will manifest in condensation, but typically more centrally located around the ice dispenser section.