
Master-Bilt® Refrigeration News & Product Information
Refrigeration U: What Is A Sweep Gasket & How Is It Adjusted?
Maintaining a proper door seal is vital in a walk in cooler or freezer. Any opening will allow cold air from inside the walk in to seep out and cause the interior temperature to rise. Higher temps inside lead to higher energy costs and, worse yet, food spoilage. Fortunately, several door components help hold in the cold air. The sweep gasket is one of these components.
What Is A Sweep Gasket?
Attached to the bottom of the door with screws, sweep gaskets seal the gap between the bottom of the walk in door and the door threshold or building floor. As the door opens, a flexible vinyl lip on the gasket sweeps across the threshold or floor. When the door is closed, the lip lightly touches the threshold or floor along its entire length.
How Is It Adjusted?

Sweep gaskets may be easily adjusted by loosening the attachment screws and lowering the gasket to the proper distance.
Although sweep gaskets are factory installed, sometimes it is necessary to adjust them when installing the walk in. With the door completely closed, the proper distance between the bottom of the attachment area of the sweep gasket and the threshold or building floor must be ½ in. Any less and the gasket will cause friction on door opening and wear out faster. Any more and the lower lip will not contact the threshold or floor allowing outside air in.
If it’s necessary to adjust the gasket during installation or later, the process is simple. Loosen the attachment screws and the lower the gasket enough so the lip brushes the threshold or floor when the door is closed. Be careful not to lower the gasket more than necessary. Then tighten the attachment screws and make sure the door closes properly.