The Paper Test: A Quick Way to Check Your Oven Door Seal

How the test works

With the oven cool and empty, close a strip of paper — a dollar bill works fine too — in the door at several points around the perimeter: top, bottom, both sides, and the corners. Gently try to pull the paper out at each spot while the door stays closed.

What the results mean

If the paper offers resistance and doesn't slide out easily, the seal is holding pressure at that spot. If it slides out with little to no resistance, the gasket isn't compressing properly there, which means heat is likely escaping through that section during baking.

Why checking multiple spots matters

A seal can compress fine on one side and be worn out on another — a warped door or an unevenly worn gasket often fails in just one section rather than uniformly. Testing only one spot can miss a real problem elsewhere on the door.

What to do if the paper slides out

A gap in one or two spots may just mean the gasket needs to be reseated properly if it's come loose from its channel. Gaps across most of the door, or resistance that's uniformly weak everywhere, usually means the gasket itself is worn out and needs replacing rather than adjusting.

See our oven door seal repair page for what a replacement visit covers.