Frigidaire Front Load Washing Machine Door Boot Seal Replacement

Introduction

Use this guide to replace a torn, leaking, or moldy door boot seal in a Frigidaire front-load washer. The door boot seal, also called the door seal, gasket, boot, bellow, or door bellow, seals the gap between the door opening and the tub. This guide was written around a Frigidaire Gallery front-load washer, but Frigidaire Affinity and Electrolux-built Kenmore front-load models use a similar procedure.

What you need

Step 1 Prepare the washer

Unplug the washer before removing any panels.
Turn off the water supply valves and make sure the drum is empty.
Wear safety glasses when removing the retaining springs, because they can snap loose.
Lay the screws out in removal order so reassembly stays organized.
Removing the front panel takes longer, but it makes this job much easier for first-timers.

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Step 2 Remove the top panel

Remove the screws from the back of the top panel.
Lift the top panel off the washer and set it aside.

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Step 3 Remove the control panel screws

Pull the dispenser drawer out far enough to reach the three screws behind it.
Remove the three screws behind the dispenser opening.
Remove the two screws near the top corners of the control panel.
Keep these screws grouped in removal order.

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Step 4 Disconnect the control panel

Lift the top of the control panel to unsnap it from the metal frame.
Pull the control panel away from the frame.
Disconnect the wire connectors from the control panel.
Pull on the connectors, not the wires, so you do not damage the harness.
Pull the control-panel wires back through the frame so they stay out of the way.

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Step 5 Remove the lower panel

Tip the washer back against the wall to reach the screws underneath the lower panel.
Have someone steady the washer if it feels unstable.
Remove the screw on each side under the lower panel.
Remove the lower panel and set it aside.

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Step 6 Keep the door lock installed

Leave the door-lock assembly screws installed on this model.
You do not need to remove the door lock to replace the boot seal.
Electrolux-built Kenmore models may use different trim, but the door lock is handled the same way for this repair.

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Step 7 Remove the outer boot wire

Open the washer door.
Use a flathead screwdriver to get under the outer wire clamp at the front edge of the boot seal.
Pry the wire clamp away from the boot and remove it.
Work carefully so the screwdriver does not slip and scratch the front panel.

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Step 8 Disconnect the boot hose

Cut the zip tie from the small hose connected to the boot seal.
Pull the hose straight out of the rubber boot.
Secure this hose with a new zip tie during reassembly so it cannot leak.

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Step 9 Release the boot from the front panel

Peel the boot seal off the lip of the front panel.
Push the loose edge of the boot back into the washer so it clears the front panel.
It is possible to change the boot without removing the front panel, but it is much harder.

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Step 10 Remove the front panel

Remove the two screws along the bottom of the front panel.
Remove the three screws across the top of the front panel.
Lift the front panel off the washer and set it aside.
Support the panel so the door-lock wiring is not strained.

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Step 11 Remove the inner retaining spring

Locate the inner retaining spring that holds the boot seal to the outer tub.
Hold the spring firmly and pull it out of the groove around the tub.
Keep your face and fingers out of the spring’s path as it releases.
Pull the old boot seal off the outer tub and remove it from the washer.

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Step 12 Align the new boot seal

Find the small alignment bump at the top of the new boot seal.
Align that bump with the plastic tab at the top of the tub.
Check the alignment before pressing the boot onto the tub, because correcting it later means removing the seal again.

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Step 13 Seat the boot on the tub lip

Roll the inner edge of the boot back with your fingers.
Push the rolled edge over the plastic lip on the outer tub.
Work around the tub a little at a time until the boot is fully seated.
Keep the boot lying flat inside the washer with no wrinkles.
This step takes patience and may require several tries or a second set of hands.

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Step 14 Check the tub seal

Push the boot slightly into the tub opening so you can see the full mounting groove.
Run your fingers all the way around the boot to confirm that it is seated on the lip.
If any section is loose, twisted, or wrinkled, reseat the boot before installing the spring.

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Step 15 Install the inner retaining spring

Start the inner retaining spring at the top of the tub.
Use a clip at the top lip to keep the spring from sliding down.
Hold the spring in the groove with one hand and stretch it around the tub with the other.
Work the spring into the groove until it reaches the last section.
If needed, use a flathead screwdriver carefully for leverage on the final stretch.
Keep the screwdriver tip away from the rubber so you do not puncture the new boot seal.
If the spring pulls the boot off the tub, remove it and reseat the boot before trying again.

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Step 16 Reinstall the front panel

Set the front panel back onto the washer.
Reinstall the three screws across the top of the front panel.
Reinstall the two screws along the bottom of the front panel.

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Step 17 Reconnect the boot hose

Push the small water hose back into the opening in the boot seal.
Wrap a new zip tie around the hose connection.
Tighten the zip tie so the hose cannot vibrate loose or leak.
Trim the tail off the zip tie with cutters.

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Step 18 Attach the boot to the front panel

Roll the outer edge of the boot back with your fingers.
Pull the boot over the front-panel lip using the same rolling motion you used on the tub lip.
Work around the full door opening until the outer edge is fully seated.
Check that the boot lies flat with no wrinkles.
If wrinkles remain, the boot is probably misaligned and should be reseated before you install the wire clamp.

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Step 19 Install the outer wire clamp

Position the outer wire clamp with the spring section at the very bottom of the door opening.
Hook the wire clamp in place at the top of the boot seal.
Work the wire around the opening until you reach one side of the spring.
Hold the wire in place while you stretch the spring and seat the rest of the clamp.
Make sure the wire sits evenly in the groove around the entire opening.

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Step 20 Reinstall the remaining panels

Reinstall the lower panel with the screw on each side underneath the washer.
Feed the control-panel wires back through the frame and reconnect them.
Snap the control panel back onto the metal frame.
Reinstall the control-panel screws behind the dispenser opening and along the top edge.
Reinstall the top panel and secure it with the rear screws.

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Step 21 Test for leaks

Turn the water supply valves back on and plug the washer in.
Run a short cycle and watch the door boot and the small hose for leaks.
If water leaks at the hose, unplug the washer and recheck the hose seating and zip tie.
If water leaks around the door opening, unplug the washer and recheck the inner spring, outer wire clamp, and boot alignment.

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Conclusion

Run the washer through the first full load under supervision and stop it if you see leaks or wrinkles forming in the boot. Repair didn't go as planned? Ask our Answers community for help.

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