Changing the kitchen layout or simply wanting to optimize space often leads to the need to change the direction in which the refrigerator door opens. This is a standard procedure provided for by the design of most modern models, and it does not require calling a technician. Doing the work yourself will save time and money, and will also give you confidence that the equipment is installed exactly as it is convenient for you.
Before you begin active actions, you need to prepare your workplace and tools. It is important to understand that although the process seems simple, it requires accuracy and attention, since refrigerator doors are heavy, and the fittings are often made of silumin or other alloys that are easily damaged if handled carelessly. In this article we will analyze in detail all the stages, from preparation to final adjustment.
The first step should always be preparation. Make sure you have enough space around the unit to maneuver. If the refrigerator is close to the wall, it will have to be moved away. It is also worth checking the package in advance for the presence of plugs for holes that will become visible after rearrangement. Proper preparation This is half the success, and neglecting this stage can lead to scratches on the floor or broken fasteners.
There is a common misconception that you can only overweight on expensive ones models. In fact, the ability to reverse the door is included in 90% of modern refrigerators, from budget Indesit to premium Liebherr. However, design solutions may differ: in some places you will need to rearrange the handle, and in others you just need to twist the hinges. Some models with a display on the door may require lengthening the wires or disconnecting the sensor if its length does not allow moving the door to the other side without tension.
Necessary tools and preparation of the work area
To complete the work, you will need a basic set of tools, which any home craftsman usually has. The main tool will be a screwdriver or a set of screwdrivers with different bits (phillips, flat, hex). Some models, especially those made in Asia, may use bolts with a non-standard head, so it is better to have a universal set on hand.
In addition to the main tool, do not forget about auxiliary materials. You will need gloves to protect your hands from sharp edges and grease, and a soft rag to cover the floor. The refrigerator door is a massive element, and if it falls, it can damage the flooring or even crack itself. Safety should be a priority.
- 🛠️ Screwdriver set and bits (including Torx, if available).
- 🧤 Work gloves with a rubberized surface.
- 📦 Plastic container for folding screws.
- 🧼 Soft fabric for protecting the floor and wiping parts.
Particular attention should be paid to organizing the storage of small parts. During the disassembly process, you will encounter many screws, washers, and plugs. Losing even one small screw can make assembly impossible or cause the door to warp. It is recommended to use a magnetic tray or labeled containers for each group of fasteners.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting any work, be sure to disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply! This is critically important, since in some models wires for lighting or door opening sensors may pass through hinges or doorways.
It is also worth emptying the shelves on the door in advance. Glass shelves and plastic containers add significant weight to the structure, increasing the risk of injury or damage during removal. Remove all products and removable elements to work with a “clean” frame.
Analysis of the design and type of hinges
Before picking up a screwdriver, carefully study the design of your refrigerator. The type of hinges and the way they are attached can vary significantly depending on the brand and year of manufacture of the model. In old Soviet refrigerators and some modern budget models, the hinges may be hidden or have a specific design that requires a special approach.
Most modern two-chamber refrigerators have upper and lower hinges, and sometimes an intermediate one if there are more than two chambers. The top hinge is usually attached to the housing cover, and the bottom hinge is usually attached to the base. In models with the system No Frost wires often pass through the top, which complicates the process. It is important to determine whether your model electrical connections in the door.
If your refrigerator has a display on the door, the task becomes more complicated. The wires leading to the display may be short and may not have room to move to the other side. In such cases, it may be necessary to extend the cables or resolder the contacts, which is a more complex procedure that requires skills in working with electronics.
| Design type | Features | Complexity |
|---|---|---|
| Classical | Hinges on the outside, no wires in the door | Low |
| Hidden hinges | Hinges inside the case, access required | Medium |
| With display | Presence of wires, risk of damage to the cable | High |
| American side by side | Complex hinge system, heavy weight | High |
Inspect carefully door ends. There you will see holes covered with plastic plugs. These are the future places for attaching the loops after rehanging. Study the instructions for your model, if you still have one, there is often a diagram of the location of holes for different configurations.
Step-by-step instructions: dismantling the door
The process of removing the door begins with dismantling the top hinge. It is she who holds the main load, so you need to act confidently, but without jerking. Have someone hold the door securely while you remove the bolts. If you are working alone, you can use wedges or stands, but this is less reliable.
After removing the top fastening, the door must be carefully lifted and removed from the bottom hinge. This is the most difficult stage, since the weight of the door can reach 15-20 kilograms. Sudden movements are unacceptable - you can damage the seal or deform the metal. Accuracy key word here.
☑️ Removing the door
If your model has an intermediate hinge (to separate the freezer and refrigerator cameras), the algorithm changes. First, the upper door is removed, then the intermediate partition or hinge is dismantled, and only then the lower door is removed. Do not try to remove both doors at the same time - this will lead to loss of balance of the unit.
Models with magnetic locks or complex fixation systems deserve special attention. In such cases, a special tool may be required to unlock the mechanism before removal. force cannot be used - the plastic will tear instantly.
⚠️ Attention: Never leave a refrigerator without doors in a vertical position without fixing the compressor if you are planning long-term transportation, but if you remove it for a short time for re-hanging, this is not critical. The main thing is not to drop the unit.
After removing the door, set it aside, placing it face down on a soft surface so as not to scratch the glass or plastic. Now you can begin preparing the case for installing hinges on the other side.
Rearranging fittings and handles
The next stage is transferring the fastening elements and fittings to the opposite side. First of all, this concerns loops. The top loop that you removed needs to be moved to the other side. For this purpose, the housing usually already has threaded holes closed with plugs.
The plugs must be carefully removed. They may fit tightly, so use a thin screwdriver or knife, but be careful not to damage the housing's finish. The removed plugs will be needed later to close the vacated holes on the side where there will no longer be loops.
Now it’s the turn of the pens. In most models, the handles are attached to screws on the inside of the door. You will have to remove trim or find hidden holes to remove the fasteners. After removing the handles, they are installed on the opposite side in symmetrical holes.
- 🔩 Move the upper hinge to the new side.
- 🔌 Move the lower hinge and pin (axis).
- 🚪 Remove and rehang the door handles.
- 🕳️ Install plugs in the old holes.
It is important not to mix up the screws. Often the top and bottom mounts have different lengths or thread pitches. Using the wrong fastener may result in the screw going through or, conversely, not reaching the thread, which will make the structure shaky. Original fasteners always preferable.
If your model is equipped with a door closer or door opener, it is also required rearrange. This is usually a small plastic or metal pin at the bottom of the door or frame. Without it, the door may not close completely or, on the contrary, slam too sharply.
Installing the door and adjusting the gaps
After all the hinges and handles have been rearranged, the moment comes to put the door in place. Install the bottom hinge, insert the pin into it, and carefully slide the door into place. Make sure that the holes in the top hinge line up with the matching holes on the body. This may require some skill and the help of a second person.
When the door is in place, screw the top hinge. Do not tighten the bolts all the way yet. Leave a small gap to be able to adjust the position of the door. Adjustment - this is an important stage on which the tightness and appearance of the refrigerator depends.
Check the tightness of the seal around the entire perimeter. The door should close easily but tightly. If you notice misalignment, loosen the fasteners and slightly move the door up, down, left or right. Some models use special screws in the bottom hinge to adjust the door height.
Pay attention to the gaps between the door and the body. They should be the same above and below, left and right. Uneven gaps not only spoil the appearance, but can also lead to the door touching the body when opening or, conversely, not closing tightly, which will cause freezing.
⚠️ Attention: If after installation you notice that the door does not close completely or the seal does not fit in one of the corners, do not ignore it. This will lead to constant operation of the compressor and the formation of ice.
After final adjustment, tighten all bolts until they stop. Check if the structure is wobbly. If everything is done correctly, the door should open and close smoothly, without creaking or jamming.
Features of models with a display and electronics
Owners of refrigerators with a display on the door (for example, some models Samsung, LG or Bosch) need to be especially attentive. In such units, a wiring harness passes through the top hinge, connecting the control panel to the main control unit located in the housing.
When rehanging such doors, you cannot simply disconnect the wires, rearrange the door and connect again. The length of the wires is often calculated exactly to the factory configuration. If you hang the door, the wires may simply not reach the connectors or, on the contrary, they will dangle and get caught in the hinge mechanism.
In some cases, the manufacturer provides the ability to reconnect the cable to the other side by disassembling the upper part of the refrigerator body. This requires removing the top cover, disconnecting the connectors, and routing the wires along a new path. This is a complex operation that requires skills.
What to do if the wires are short?
If the wires do not reach the new side, and you do not know how to extend them, the only safe option is to leave the door as is or contact a service center. Extension of wires yourself can disrupt the operation of electronics.
If you are not confident in your abilities, it is better not to take risks. Refrigerator electronics are sensitive to static electricity and improper wiring. An error can lead to failure of the control board, the replacement of which is expensive.
Always check the technical documentation for your specific model. In some modern refrigerators, the wires are laid inside the door and body itself in such a way that re-hanging them is impossible without completely disassembling the unit, which is not provided for in the user instructions.
Final check and troubleshooting
After completion of all work, it is necessary to carry out a final check. Plug in the refrigerator and listen. There should be no extraneous sounds, creaks or knocks. Check the operation of the backlight - it should light up when the door is opened and go out when closed.
Pay special attention to the seal. Do a test with a sheet of paper: clamp the sheet with a door around the perimeter. It must be pulled out with force. If the sheet flies out freely or, conversely, the door tears it, additional adjustment is required. Tightness is the key to a long life of the compressor.
- ✅ Check the tightness of the seal.
- ✅ Make sure the backlight is working and sensors.
- ✅ Check for distortions and gaps.
- ✅ Make sure that the door does not touch the body.
If you notice that the door has begun to close too tightly, you may have tightened the hinges too much or skewed the axle. Loosen the fasteners and try to reset the door. If the door, on the contrary, does not hold and opens on its own, check the position of the refrigerator - it should be strictly horizontal.
During the first day after re-hanging, observe the operation of the refrigerator. If condensation or ice begins to appear on the walls of the chambers, it means that the door does not fit tightly and further adjustment is required.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to rehang the door on a refrigerator without a display yourself?
Yes, if your model does not have a display and wires in the door, then anyone with basic screwdriver skills can re-hang it. The main thing is to follow the sequence of actions and not lose the fasteners.
What to do if, after rehanging, the door does not close tightly?
Most likely, the installation geometry is broken. Try loosening the hinge screws and re-aligning the door, checking the gaps. Also check if anything is interfering with the seal (for example, food on the shelves).
Is it necessary to defrost the refrigerator before re-hanging the door?
It is not necessary to specifically defrost the refrigerator, but it is necessary to remove all food and shelves from the door. This will significantly lighten the weight of the structure and reduce the risk of damage to the shelves if it falls.
Is it possible to rehang the door on an old Soviet refrigerator?
On most old models (for example, "Zil", "Biryusa" of the early years), rehanging the doors is not provided for by the design. The hinges there are often welded or have one-sided fastening without alternative holes.
How long does the rehanging procedure take?
For an experienced craftsman this takes 15-20 minutes. For a beginner doing this for the first time and carefully studying the instructions, the process can take from 40 minutes to an hour.