I've had my pressure canner for years, many years never using it. Since moving to Iowa I now use it yearly and have never had an issue with my gasket but will check on it now since reading your plight. I keep mine in its original box and for the past couple years its been in the garage for lack of room inside but that will change by the end of this year as I'm removing my back deck and having it built back up as a sunroom connected to my kitchen. Last eyesore will be done on this old house. Thanks for the notice on the gasket.