The need to change the direction of opening the refrigerator door Ariston often arises when remodeling a kitchen or purchasing a new model that does not fit into the usual space. Unlike many budget brands, Italian refrigerators Ariston (and their modern analogues, produced under other brands while maintaining the design) are often designed taking into account the possibility of symmetrical installation of fittings. This means that the manufacturer has provided holes and sets of fasteners for mounting hinges on both the left and right sides of the case.
However, the process itself requires care and adherence to the sequence of actions, since violation of the technology can lead to skew of the blade or damage to the seal. Re-hanging doors is an operation that is quite possible to perform independently if you have a basic set of tools and understanding of the mechanism. It is important to understand that the design may differ depending on the year of manufacture: older models may have mechanical light switches that require careful dismantling, while new ones are equipped with electronic displays to which delicate cables fit.
Before starting work, it is necessary to clear the space around the unit and prepare a flat surface for temporary placement of the removed elements. You should not ignore this stage, since dropping a heavy metal door to the floor can deform the case or break the shelves inside. It is critically important to disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply before starting workto avoid short circuits if the wiring of sensors or backlights is accidentally damaged.
Preparation of tools and workers places
The success of the operation directly depends on the quality of preparation. You don't need a complex professional tool, but having specific keys will make the task easier. A standard DIY kit often does not include socket heads of the required size, so it is better to check the package in advance. To work with refrigerators Ariston most often you need open-end wrenches or heads of 8, 10 and, less often, 13 millimeters.
It is also worth preparing a flathead and Phillips screwdriver. A flathead screwdriver will be needed to carefully pry up the plastic plugs and decorative covers that hide the mounting bolts. Phillips is necessary for smaller diameter screws that secure handles or internal elements. Don’t forget about the building level - it will help you check whether the installation geometry has not been broken after rearrangement.
- 🛠️ A set of open-end wrenches or a ratchet with interchangeable heads (8, 10, 13 mm)
- 🔧 Screwdrivers (flat and Phillips) for working with plastic and small fasteners
- 📏 Construction level for checking the horizontal and vertical installation
- 🧤 Work gloves to protect hands from sharp metal edges
- 🧹 A rag and a soft brush for cleaning the ends from dust and old grease
The workplace should be well lit. The shadow from the refrigerator body should not fall on the area where the hinges are attached, otherwise you risk not noticing small parts or dropping the fasteners. Cover the floor in front of the unit with soft material - cardboard or a blanket, so that the laid parts do not get scratched or damage the floor covering.
Dismantling the upper part and removing the door
The process begins with the upper hinge, since it is this that holds the bulk of the door leaf. First you need to remove the decorative cover covering the mechanism. It can be secured with latches or screws. Proceed with caution: the plastic becomes brittle over time, and sudden movement can lead to cracks.
Removing the cover will provide access to the top hinge mounting bolts. In some models Ariston the wiring of the door sensor or display may also be located there. If there are wires, they need to be carefully disconnected, remembering or photographing the location of the connectors. Disconnecting the cables requires care: you need to pull the connector body, and not the wires themselves.
⚠️ Attention: Before completely unscrewing the bolts of the top hinge, ask an assistant to hold the door. Without fixation, it can tilt and damage the lower mount or the floor.
When the upper hinge bolts are unscrewed and the door is securely fixed with an assistant or a stop, you can carefully lift it and remove it from the lower axis. Place the removed door on the prepared surface, outer side down, with something soft underneath. Now you can proceed to dismantling the topmost hinge from the refrigerator body, unscrewing the remaining screws.
Features of moving the lower support and handle
The lower part of the refrigerator structure Ariston often has its own nuances. Unlike the top hinge, the bottom support can be integrated into the body or be a separate bracket. If your model has a door handle that is part of the structure or has a hidden fastening at the bottom, it will also need to be dismantled and moved to the opposite side.
To move the handle, you usually need to remove the end caps at the end of the door. Underneath are the screws that hold the handle in place. After unscrewing them, the handle is removed with a slight rocking. On the opposite side of the door there should be symmetrical holes closed with plastic plugs. These plugs must be removed and replaced in place of the old holes to maintain the aesthetic appearance.
The bottom bushing or axis on which the door rests often requires replacement or rearrangement. The refrigerator Ariston usually comes with a set of such bushings. The old bushing must be removed from the hole in the floor or bottom panel (if it is removable) and a new one installed on the other side. If the bushing is pressed in, it can be carefully knocked out with a drift, but most often it is simply inserted into the hole with tension.
What to do if the holes do not match?
In rare cases, if there is a manufacturing defect or modification, the holes may not match perfectly. In this case, you can carefully drill out the plastic plug or use a tap to create threads in the metal, but only if you are confident in your abilities. It is better to contact service if the holes are completely missing.
It is important to check the condition of the rubber seals when removing the door. If there are creases or damage on them, it is better to combine the rehanging procedure with replacing the sealing tape. This will ensure the tightness and energy efficiency of the unit after installation.
Instructions for installing hinges on the new side
Installing the hinges on the new side is done in the reverse order of dismantling, but taking into account mirror symmetry. First, the top hinge is installed on the refrigerator body. The bolts are not screwed in completely so that the position can be adjusted. This is an important point: preliminary fixation will allow you to adjust the gaps later.
Then the door is hung. The bottom pin is inserted into the bushing and the top hinge hole is aligned with the mounting holes on the door. If the model is two-chamber and the doors are connected in the center, install the top door first, then the middle hinge, and only then the bottom door. The sequence of actions here is critical.
☑️ Procedure for assembling the mechanism
When tightening the bolts, use a torque wrench or act with a sense of proportion. Excessive force can strip the threads in the aluminum housing or deform the hinge, resulting in squeaking. Insufficient force will cause play. The optimal force is one at which the hinge is tightly pressed, but the metal does not begin to “float.”
If your model is equipped with a No Frost system and has air supply channels in the door, make sure that when rehanging you do not pinch the corrugated hose. It must have sufficient length to rotate the door 180 degrees. If necessary, the hose can be carefully straightened or the angle of its exit from the housing can be changed.
Adjusting gaps and magnetic lock
After installing doors in a new location, a situation often arises when they do not fit tightly or open by themselves. This is due to the fact that the magnetic lock (reed switch) and strike plate remained in place, but the door moved. In refrigerators Ariston the magnet is usually located at the bottom of the doorway or in the middle partition.
To adjust, you need to find the screws that secure the metal plate. By loosening them, you can move the strip to the side so that it lines up perfectly with the magnet on the new side of the door. The check is carried out by simply slamming: the door should be magnetized with a characteristic sound and held securely.
| Problem | Possible cause | Elimination method |
|---|---|---|
| The door does not close completely | Distortion of hinges or interfering seal | Loosen the top bolts, align the door, tighten |
| Large gap at the top | The adjusting screws are not tightened enough | Tighten the adjusting supports or hinge screws |
| The door opens itself | The magnet and the bar do not match | Move the magnetic lock striker |
| Creak when opening | Metal friction or dry bushing | Lubricate the hinges with silicone grease, check the bushings |
You should also pay attention to the legs of the refrigerator. If the unit is not level, gravity will pull the door to one side, preventing it from closing tightly. Use a builder's level and turn the adjusting screws on the front legs until the body tilts back slightly. This will ensure that the door closes spontaneously when opened less than 45 degrees.
Leakage testing and testing
The final stage is checking the quality of the work performed. Visually inspect the perimeter of the door. The seal must evenly touch the body along its entire length. There should be no visible gaps or areas where the rubber is strongly compressed or, conversely