The situation when the standard location of the refrigerator door no longer suits the owners occurs quite often. This may be due to remodeling the kitchen, changing the interior design, or simply the desire to make the operation of household appliances more convenient. The brand Indesit provides the ability to change the opening side for most of its models, which is an excellent solution for flexible placement.
However, the rehanging process requires accuracy, the presence of a certain set of tools and an understanding of the design of the hinges. Unlike simple cabinets, not only mechanical fastenings are involved here, but also magnetic seals, as well as opening sensors. Incorrect actions can lead to leakage or damage to the case.
In this article we will analyze in detail how to rearrange the doors on an Indesit refrigerator, based on the technical features of various series. You will learn what nuances should be taken into account in order not to damage the plastic and maintain the warranty. We will also consider cases when intervention in the structure may be undesirable.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting any work, be sure to disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply. Working with live electrical appliances is life-threatening, and accidentally turning on the compressor during disassembly can lead to injury.
Necessary tools and workplace preparation
Quality preparation is the key to successful completion of the job. You don't need complex specialized equipment, but the set should be complete. The main tool will be screwdriver or a set of screwdrivers with different bits (phillips and flathead). Fasteners often have specific heads, so it is better to have a universal set on hand. Indesit often have specific caps, so it is better to have a universal set on hand.
You will also need a wrench, usually 8 mm or 10 mm in size, to work with hinge bolts. Some models may require sockets. Don't forget to prepare a soft backing, such as a thick blanket or cardboard, to place the removed door and not scratch its front surface or floor.
- 🛠️ Set of screwdrivers (phillips, flat, hex)
- 🔧 Wrench (open-end or socket 8-10 mm)
- 🧤 Work gloves to protect your hands from sharp edges
- 🧼 Clean rags for wiping the seals
Organize the space around the refrigerator so that you have easy access from all sides. Remove carpets and foreign objects. If you have a model with a system No Frost, make sure there is enough space in the work area to temporarily place removed ventilation system components if they get in the way.
Design features of Indesit doors
Refrigerators Indesit have their own design features that distinguish them from other brands. In most models, the upper and lower hinges are attached to the body and door leaf with bolts hidden under decorative plugs. These plugs are made of plastic and require careful handling when removing.
The important element is magnetic seal. When re-hanging the door, it must be carefully removed from the groove, heated with a hairdryer to make it elastic, and installed in a new groove on the opposite side. If the seal is deformed, the seal will be compromised, which will lead to increased energy consumption.
What to do if the plug is broken?
If the plastic hinge plug is cracked or lost, do not leave the hole open. Dust and moisture will get into it. You can carefully seal it with a piece of black insulating tape or order a new plug from the service center, indicating the exact model of the refrigerator.
Models with a display on the door deserve special attention. In such cases, a cable of wires passes through the upper loop. Reversing the door on models with a display requires disconnecting the cable, which can be technically difficult and risky without special skills. For such refrigerators, it is often only possible to rearrange the door itself, while the control panel remains in place, or a call to a technician is required.
| Type models | Presence of display | Difficulty in re-hanging | Need to remove the cable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic two-chamber | No | Low | No |
| With display on the door | Yes | High | Yes |
| One Door (single-chamber) | No | Average | No |
| With No Frost system | No | Average | No (usually) |
Step-by-step instructions: dismantling the upper door
We begin the process by dismantling the upper door, since it is usually removed first. Open the refrigerator door and locate the top hinge fasteners. They can be covered with a decorative strip or plastic caps. Carefully pry them off with a flathead screwdriver.
Using a wrench, remove the bolts securing the top hinge. Do not remove them completely at once, loosen and hold the door so that it does not fall. It is best to carry out this operation with an assistant who will hold the heavy door leaf.
☑️ Dismantling the upper door
After removing the bolts, carefully lift the door up, removing it from the lower hinge axis. Place the door on the prepared surface with the outside facing down. Now you need to dismantle the handle if it is non-removable, or simply move it to the other side, following the instructions for your specific model Indesit.
Next comes the most delicate stage - working with the seal. Starting at one corner, carefully pull the rubber seal out of the door channel. Try not to damage it. Warm it with a hairdryer at a low temperature so that the rubber becomes softer, and insert it into the groove on the other side of the door, starting from the corners.
Re-hanging the bottom door and freezer
The bottom door (freezer) is removed in a similar way, but has its own nuances. Often there is a pin attached to the bottom hinge that the top door fits onto. This pin must be unscrewed from the bottom hinge and screwed into a symmetrical hole on the other side.
Remove the bottom door by unscrewing the bottom hinge bolts. Pay attention to the door opening stoppers - these are plastic or metal pins that prevent the door from opening more than 90-110 degrees. They also need to be moved to the opposite side of the case.
- 🔩 Unscrew the pin from the center of the lower hinge
- 🔩 Screw the pin into a symmetrical hole on the other side
- 🔩 Rearrange the door travel stops on the refrigerator body
- 🔩 Install the bottom hinge in a new place
If your refrigerator is equipped with a system No Frost, check if there are any air ducts going through the door. In most models Indesit the air ducts are stationary and located in the housing, but some older versions may have flexible joints. Make sure that nothing is pinched when turning over.
⚠️ Attention: When installing the bottom door, make sure that the hinge axis fits exactly into the hole. An attempt to tighten the bolts when the axes do not match will lead to broken threads in the plastic door body, which is almost impossible to fix at home.
Assembling and adjusting the tightness
After all the elements rearranged, replace the lower door. Place it on the axis of the lower hinge and screw the hinge itself to the refrigerator body. Then install the top door by sliding it onto the bottom door pin (or the middle hinge if there is one) and bolting the top hinge.
The key point is adjusting the tightness. The door should close tightly, without gaps, but not too tightly. If the door closes poorly, the height of the refrigerator legs may need to be adjusted. Tilt of the body back promotes self-closing of the door.
Check the operation of the magnetic valve (if there is one) and the door opening sensor. The light inside should light up when opening and go out when closing. If the light is on when the door is closed, it means that the sensor is not pressed - check the adjustment or position of the door.
Common mistakes and ways to eliminate them
One of the most common mistakes is overtightening the hinge bolts. Excessive force may warp the metal or crack the plastic bushings. Tighten the bolts tightly, but without fanaticism, using moderate force.
Another mistake is ignoring the condition of the seal. If the old seal is cracked or has lost its elasticity, simply replacing it will not help. In this case, you need to purchase a new seal specifically for your model Indesit, since universal options may not fit the profile.
- ❌ Retightening the fastening bolts
- ❌ Damage to the seal during installation
- ❌ Incorrect installation of travel stops
- ❌ Forgetfulness in connecting the cable (for models with a display)
If after installation the door is skewed and one of the corners does not fit, try loosening the hinges, adjusting the position of the door and tightening the bolts again. Sometimes it is necessary to adjust the front support legs of the refrigerator to level the horizontal.
Is it possible to rearrange the door if there is a display on it?
Technically this is possible, but it is highly not recommended to do it yourself. Strings of wires are often not long enough to move to the other side, and extending them requires soldering and in-depth knowledge of electronics. In most cases, for models with a display on the door, the manufacturer does not provide for re-hanging.
What should you do if, after re-hanging, the refrigerator begins to freeze worse?
This may be due to a leak in the seal. Check that the seal is installed correctly around the entire perimeter. Also make sure that the refrigerant lines were not pinched during the relocation (although this is rare when simply changing the side of the door). Give the refrigerator a few hours to restore temperature.
Do you need to defrost the refrigerator before rehanging?
Full defrosting is not necessary if you work quickly. However, if the refrigerator is old and there is ice in the drainage system, it is better to defrost it in advance to prevent water from leaking when tilting or removing the doors. Also, an empty refrigerator is easier to maneuver.
Will the warranty remain valid after re-hanging it yourself?
According to the law, the consumer has the right to self-repair if it did not cause the breakdown. However, if during the rehanging process you break the thread, break the plastic or damage the cable, the service center may refuse warranty service. Be extremely careful.
⚠️ Attention: The design of the hinges and the location of the mounting holes may vary depending on the year of manufacture and the specific series of the refrigerator Indesit. Always check the official instructions (manual) supplied with your device, since general recommendations may not take into account the nuances of your modification.