How to remove a dent on a refrigerator
In what case can the problem be fixed? There can be many reasons for the appearance of dents on a refrigerator - impacts during a move, when rearranging the apartment, etc. If the defect is significant, or there is damage to the paintwork, then it will not be possible to fix the problem without the involvement of a specialist and appropriate equipment. If the damage is small, you can try to fix it yourself.
The content of the article
Precautions during operation
Below we will present various ways to eliminate defects on the surface of the refrigerator. Some of them are associated with certain risks to health and to the equipment being repaired. Therefore, it is important to take some precautions.
When using dry ice to create contrasting temperatures, you must use protective gloves and avoid contact with unprotected areas of the body. It is also important that the room in which the work will be carried out is well ventilated.
Using a rubber hammer and trowel to fix it, you should try to carry out the repair carefully so as not to aggravate the already existing problem.If you have no experience working with damaged metal surfaces, then it makes sense to practice a little on metal pieces that are as similar in shape to refrigerator elements as possible.
Attention! It is not recommended to disassemble the door in order to eliminate unevenness on its surface. Otherwise, there is a high risk of breaking the seal and losing its original shape.
Methods to correct the defect
How to level a surface using contrasting temperatures
First, you need to thoroughly clean the dented area. You can use a soft cloth or paper towels. Next, the metal is heated along the perimeter of the damage using a hair dryer. Processing time is approximately a minute. When heated, the metal will expand, but care must be taken not to overheat the area. Otherwise, the seal inside the wall may be damaged.
Next, dry ice is applied to the dent; it can be bought at a pharmacy. It is better to wrap the piece in suede cloth to protect the surface being treated from scratches. Use circular movements to treat the area for a minute, after which the rag with dry ice is removed.
If a characteristic pop is heard, it means that the metal, due to the temperature contrast, has managed to return to its normal (or close to it) position. If the defect was not corrected the first time, it is worth repeating the procedure again.
How to remove a dent on a refrigerator using a car suction cup
If you have a vacuum car suction cup in your arsenal, then straightening the pressed metal with its help will not be difficult. If not, you should purchase it at an auto parts store. True, the price of the device is quite high.
Similar to the method discussed above, the surface to be treated must be cleaned and degreased. Next, the adhesive composition that comes with the device is applied to the surface of the suction cup. After which it is placed in the center of the dent.
After the glue has dried, the device itself, somewhat reminiscent of a small rocker, is put on the suction cup. There are rubber gaskets along its edges, thanks to which adjacent areas of the metal are not damaged. Using a special adjusting knob screwed onto the threaded end of the suction cup, they begin to pull out the metal. After correcting the defect, the device is dismantled, the remaining glue is washed off with water or a special composition is used for this purpose.
Trowel and rubber hammer against dents on refrigerator
Important! It is strictly prohibited to carry out mechanical impact on the damaged surface of the refrigerator with an ordinary hammer. Damage to the paintwork will no longer allow you to properly correct the defect yourself.
Therefore, to carry out straightening you will need a trowel and a rubber hammer. Having no experience in performing such work, it is better to prefer other methods. The surface must first be cleaned. Next, the perimeter of the dent is heated with a hairdryer, after which the defect area is completely covered with a trowel. Light blows to the trowel will give a resonance effect, as a result of which the dent should straighten out.
Correcting a defect using compressed air
If you have a can of compressed air at home that is used to clean dust from your computer and components, you can use it to repair the damage. Turning the can upside down, spray a small amount of the substance.With this method, cold condensate is formed, which cools the metal surface to compression temperatures. If the surface does not return to its original state, it makes sense to repeat the procedure several more times.
Decorating a dent
Putty to the rescue
You can decorate a conspicuous defect using primer and putty. First, you need to clean the area with fine-grained sandpaper, then prime the unevenness. After the primer has dried, the dent is filled with putty. It is desirable that the color of the putty be extremely close to the color of the refrigerator itself. As a rule, it is extremely rare that the damaged area turns out to be invisible after the work has been completed, especially if we are talking about a glossy surface.
Other decorative products
If it was not possible to obtain an ideal result with putty or there is simply no desire to carry out repair work, you can try to cover the defect with decorative magnets. In addition to magnets, it is worth using special decorative films that will perfectly hide all damage. There are many original design solutions on the market; it will be easy to find a suitable option.