Changing the side of door opening - This is a standard procedure necessary to optimize kitchen space. Owners are often faced with a situation where Indesit refrigerator is installed in a niche or corner, and the standard opening blocks the passage or interferes with getting food out. Fortunately, the design of most models of the Italian brand allows for the possibility of reversing the door leaf on the opposite side.
The process requires accuracy and a minimal set of tools, but it is not technically difficult. It is important to understand that before starting work you need de-energize the unit to avoid a short circuit in case of accidental damage to the wiring. In this article we will analyze in detail the algorithm of actions for different types of loops and control systems.
Do not ignore the need to prepare the workplace. Free space around the unit will ensure safety and prevent damage to the housing when dismantling heavy elements. If you doubt your abilities, you can always contact a service center, but doing it yourself will save your budget.
Necessary tools and preparation
Quality preparation is half the success. To complete the work you will need a basic DIY kit. The main tool will be hex wrench, since most fasteners using the Indesit technique are designed for it. You also cannot do without a flathead and Phillips screwdriver.
To protect the floor covering and prevent scratches on the body, it is recommended to use a soft cloth or cardboard. If your model has an electronic control panel on the door, you may need tweezers to carefully remove the connectors.
Be sure to clear the door shelves of food and removable items. This will reduce the weight of the structure and minimize the risk of glass shelves falling during manipulation. Make sure you have a helper if you plan to work with two-chamber models, as their doors are quite heavy.
- 🔧 Hex keys (usually 4 mm or 5 mm) and a set of screwdrivers.
- 🧤 Work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal edges.
- 📦 A container for storing screws so they don't get lost.
- 🧼 A clean rag for wiping the hinges from old grease.
Removing the top hinge and handle
The first step is always removing the top hinge. In models Indesit with an upper freezer, it is this that holds the main load. You will need to remove the decorative plug, if present, and unscrew the mounting bolts. Be careful: at this moment the door is held only by the bottom hinge or by nothing at all if you have already removed the bottom.
If on your model the handle is integrated into the body or has a complex fastening system, it also needs to be dismantled or moved to the other side. Often this requires removing the end caps and unscrewing the screws hidden under them. Fasteners may vary, so inspect the holes carefully.
⚠️ Attention: Do not leave the door hanging on one bottom hinge without insurance. A heavy door leaf can tear out the bottom fastening or deform the body.
After removing the top hinge, the door can be carefully lifted and removed from the bottom pin. It's better to do it together. Place the removed canvas on a prepared soft surface with the outer side down so as not to scratch the enamel.
☑️ Preparing to remove the door
Rehanging the main door of the refrigerator
Now we move on to the most important part - installing the hinges on the opposite side. At the end of the door, where the hinges were previously attached, you will see holes closed with plastic plugs. They must be removed and moved to the vacated places on the other side. This will preserve the aesthetic appearance of the unit.
Take the top hinge and install it on the new side using the standard holes. Do not tighten the bolts all the way right away. First, tighten them so that the loop has a little play for adjustment. This will allow you to later align the door perfectly level relative to the body.
If your refrigerator is equipped with a system No Frost, make sure that the air ducts are not pinched when rehanging. Some Indesit models require rearranging the plastic plugs at the ends of the body itself, where the hinge pins are inserted.
Nuances for models with a display
If there is a screen on the door, a cable runs inside the hinge. It must be carefully disconnected, passed through a new hole in the body and connected again, observing the polarity.
Put the door in place by putting it on the lower pin (which also needs to be rearranged if the design provides for this). Now you can finally fix the upper loop by twisting it tightly bolts. Check that the door opens freely and does not touch the body.
Working with the lower door and freezer
In two-chamber models, the procedure is repeated for the lower door, but there are some peculiarities. An intermediate loop is often used here to connect the upper and lower sections. It must be completely dismantled by moving the axle or pin to the other side.
The bottom door of refrigerators Indesit often has a more complex adjustment system due to the weight of the food in the freezer. After installation, make sure that the gap between the doors (if they are adjacent) is uniform over the entire height. If the bottom of the door protrudes more than the top, additional adjustment may be required.
- 🔩 Remove the intermediate hinge and move its axis to the other side.
- 🚪 Install the lower door by sliding it onto the lower support hinge.
- ⚖️ Check the horizontal installation of the door itself refrigerator.
It is important to monitor the integrity of the sealing rubber. During installation, do not allow it to be pinched by the metal parts of the hinge, otherwise the seal will be broken and the refrigerator will begin to freeze worse.
Adjusting the position of the doors and eliminating distortions
After assembly, it often turns out that the door does not fit perfectly. This is fine. For leveling, the design provides adjusting screws or the ability to change the height of the legs of the refrigerator. If the door is skewed to the left or right, slightly loosen the top hinge and move the leaf.
The gap between the door and the body should be the same at the top and bottom. If the bottom of the door is tight but the top is coming apart, try unscrewing the refrigerator's front adjustment feet a little. This will change the angle of inclination of the entire body back, and the door, under the influence of gravity, will be pressed more tightly against the seal.
| Problem | Possible cause | Remedy method |
|---|---|---|
| The door does not close completely | Case is skewed or food is in the way | Unscrew the front legs, check the shelves |
| Large gap at the top | The top hinge is loose | Tighten the hinge mounting bolts |
| The door creaks | Lack of lubrication on the hinges | Lubricate the hinges with technical Vaseline |
| Ice builds up at the door | Loose fit seal | Adjust the height of the legs or replace the rubber |
Use a building level to check the position of the unit. The ideal position is when the body is slightly tilted back, which ensures automatic slamming of the door when opened by less than 45 degrees.
Features of models with an electronic control panel
Owners of modern models Indesit with a display on the door (Push&Go series or similar) need to be careful. Reweighing here is complicated by the presence of electrical wires running from the case to the control panel.
When dismantling the top hinge, you must carefully disconnect the connectors. Do not pull the wires harshly - they may be short. After reversing the hinge to the other side, the cable is passed through a special hole in the new door wall. In some cases, it is necessary to remove the plastic casing from the inside of the door to gain access to the wire channel.
⚠️ Attention: Carry out all electrical manipulations only with the refrigerator completely disconnected from the network. Moisture ingress or a short circuit can damage the main control unit.
If the wire is not long enough to move to the other side, it is possible that in your model, reversing the door with the display is not structurally provided, or the wiring harness needs to be replaced with a longer one. In such cases, it is better to consult the instructions for the specific model.
Frequent errors and precautions
One of the common errors is the loss of fasteners. The bolts for the left and right sides may differ in length or type of thread. Sort immediately when dismantling them, so as not to fasten the hinge with the wrong screw, which can lead to stripping the threads in the body.
They also often forget to rearrange the plastic plugs on ends. This is a small thing, but it affects the appearance and protection of the metal from corrosion. If the plugs are lost, you can order them separately or seal the holes with furniture stickers in the color of the cabinet.
Do not ignore the condition of the seal. If, when rehanging, you notice that the rubber is deformed or has cracks, it is better to replace it immediately. The new rubber will ensure proper fit and save energy.
Is it possible to twist the door if the refrigerator is built into the kitchen unit?
This is possible, but extremely difficult. You will need to completely dismantle the refrigerator from the niche, remove the decorative facades of the kitchen and have plenty of free space for maneuvers. It is easier and safer to pull out the unit completely.
What to do if, after rehanging, the door opens by itself?
Most likely, the angle of inclination of the housing is broken. Unscrew the front adjustable feet of the refrigerator so that the front part is raised 1-2 cm higher than the back part. Gravity will start to close.
Do I need to wait after turning on the refrigerator if I tilted it?
Yes, if you tilted the unit too much (more than 40 degrees), compressor oil could get into the circuit. Leave the refrigerator turned off for 2-4 hours before the first start, so that the oil flows back into the crankcase.
Where can I get new plugs if the old ones are broken?
The plugs can be found in spare parts stores for household appliances, ordering them based on the Indesit refrigerator model. You can temporarily use pieces of isoplene or special furniture stickers.