Excessive frost or ice buildup on interior walls, baskets, and food packages

Safety first: Unplug the freezer if you need to heat or adjust the gasket. Avoid open flames.

Steps:

• Inspect gasket: Check the entire perimeter of the door gasket for tears, gaps, or hardened sections.
• Dollar-bill test: Close the door on a strip of paper and pull it out. If it slides out easily anywhere, the seal is weak in that area.
• Adjust door: Tighten hinge screws and adjust the door so it sits squarely on the cabinet.
• Soften gasket: Use a hair dryer on low heat to gently warm and reshape warped gasket sections, then close the door to let it cool in place.
• Replace gasket: If the gasket is cracked or badly deformed, remove the old one and install a new OEM Hotpoint door gasket, pressing it fully into the retaining channel.