The need to change the direction of opening the refrigerator door Samsung often occurs when moving to a new apartment or after remodeling the kitchen, when the standard configuration interferes with convenient access to products. Modern models of the South Korean giant are designed with this possibility in mind, but the process itself requires care and a certain set of tools. Errors during the preparation or dismantling stage can lead to damage to the aesthetic coating or loss of the seal of the circuit.
Before you begin active actions, it is critical to make sure that your specific model technically supports reverse flip. Not all units, especially those equipped with displays or built-in water supply systems, have a symmetrical hinge design or holes in the housing. Careful study of the technical documentation or inspection of the ends of the case will allow you to avoid situations where dismantling has already been done, but reassembly is impossible.
The whole process takes from 40 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on the complexity of the design and the experience of the craftsman. Most of the time is spent on carefully removing heavy elements and adjusting the finishing mechanisms. The main safety rule is: never leave the door hanging only on one bottom hinge without insurance, as this creates an excessive load on the metal and can deform the geometry of the door.
Necessary tools and workplace preparation
To do the job of hanging doors well, you will need a basic DIY kit, supplemented by several specific items. The main tool will be screwdriver with a set of bits, since most fasteners in technology Samsung have a Phillips slot or a specific head. Using a regular screwdriver is allowed, but will significantly increase the operating time and the risk of tearing off the screw heads during prolonged rotation.
In addition to the power tool, be sure to prepare a soft mat on the floor to lay the removed doors face up. Scratches on a glossy finish or mirror Digital Inverter are almost impossible to eliminate without professional polishing. Also, do not forget about the help of a second person, as even the upper doors of two-chamber models can be heavy and awkward to hold with one hand while unscrewing the hinges.
- 🛠️ A screwdriver or a set of Phillips and flathead screwdrivers (PH2, SL4).
- 🔧 An adjustable wrench or a set of open-end wrenches for hinge nuts.
- 📏 Construction level for checking vertical installation after installation.
- 🧤 Work gloves to protect hands from sharp metal edges.
- 📦 Container for folding small screws and plugs so as not to lose them.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting work, be sure to disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply! Removing the plug from the outlet will prevent accidental electric shock when working on the wiring of the display or No Frost system.
Pay special attention to organizing the space around the refrigerator. You will need a clear area with a radius of at least 1.5 meters to set aside the removed parts. If the kitchen is small, it is better to temporarily move the unit into the hallway or living room, where there is room to arrange all the elements in the order in which they were removed. This will simplify reassembly and avoid confusion with fasteners.
Dismantling the top door and removing the hinges
The process begins from the top of the refrigerator compartment, since it is this that creates the main load on the structure when opened. First you need to remove the decorative plug that hides the top hinge mounting bolts. Depending on the model Samsung, this may be a plastic cover with latches or a rubber plug that needs to be carefully pryed off with a thin flat object.
After gaining access to the fasteners, loosen the bolts, but do not unscrew them completely until an assistant holds the door. Top hinge often has a complex shape and can be connected with wiring if there is a display or opening indicators on the door. In such cases, special care is required when moving the door to the side so as not to strain or damage the wiring harness.
If your model is equipped with a system Easy Swap or similar mechanisms for quickly changing sides, the procedure may differ in the presence of special latches. In standard models, after unscrewing the bolts, the upper hinge is removed along with the axis, and the door is carefully set aside. The lower part of the door can still be fixed with intermediate fasteners or a magnetic lock, which must be taken into account.
☑️ Check before removing the top hinge
It is important to note that in some models Side-by-Side the upper hinge is part of a complex finishing mechanism. When removing it, it may be necessary to fix the spring mechanism in a compressed state so that it does not hit when straightened. Examine the design visually: if powerful springs are visible, proceed with extreme caution.
Reversing the bottom door of the freezer
The lower section, be it the freezer in a two-chamber refrigerator or the lower block Side-by-Side, often has its own mounting features. Unlike the top part, here the hinges can be hidden under a decorative base or panel covering the compressor compartment. To access them, you need to remove the front panel, which is usually held on by latches or several screws at the bottom.
Once the protection is removed, access to lower support hingebecomes available. It must be completely dismantled by unscrewing the mounting bolts from the housing. In this case, the freezer door must be securely fixed or removed in advance if the design allows it to be separated from the top without disturbing the geometry. In most cases, the door is removed along with the hinge, and then the fasteners are transferred to the opposite side.
Repositioning the handle is especially difficult if it is not symmetrical. On many models Samsung handles are integrated into the door profile or have hidden installation. If the handle is removable, it must be dismantled, the vacated holes sealed with special plugs (usually included) and installed on the new side. For mortise handles, the procedure may require removing the inner door trim.
| Type of handle fastening | Required actions | Tool | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inlay (screws inside) | Open the door, unscrew the screws, rearrange | Phillips screwdriver | Low |
| Mortset (hidden installation) | Remove the inner door panel, move the mechanism | Screwdriver, spatula | High |
| Integrated (profile) | No dismantling required, change the side of the hinge | Not required | Absent |
| On latches | Carefully pry and remove, install on the other side | Plastic spatula | Medium |
⚠️ Attention: Do not use excessive force when removing panels. Plastic becomes brittle at low temperatures and may crack. Allow the refrigerator to warm up to room temperature before starting work.
When moving the bottom hinge to the opposite side, make sure that you use the exact holes that are intended for reverse installation. The refrigerator body often has threaded holes sealed with plastic plugs on both sides. Unscrew the plugs on the working side and close the vacated holes on the reverse side with them.
Nuances of working with Side-by-Side models
Refrigerators of the type Side-by-Side are a design where the freezer and refrigerator compartments are located side by side, and each has its own independent door. Rehanging such models is the most labor-intensive process, often requiring complete removal of the doors. Unlike the classic “double-chamber”, here the hinges can be hidden inside the end profiles.
First you need to remove the top decorative strip that connects both doors at the top. This is a key element that provides rigidity to the structure and hides the top hinges. After removing the strip, the fastening system becomes available. Often, such models use central hingewhich holds both doors, or two independent upper hinges that require an individual approach.
Features of Side-by-Side hinges
In some Samsung Side-by-Side models a system of intermediate hinges is used, which require precise adjustment of the gap between the doors. When rehanging, it is important not to confuse the left and right hinges, since they have different angles of inclination of the axis of rotation. hinges or replacing the thickness of washers-gaskets.
Particular attention should be paid to the gaps between the doors. After rehanging, the distance between the sashes should be uniform over the entire height. If one door protrudes forward or recesses, this will break the seal and lead to the formation of ice. Adjustment is made by tightening the set screws on the hinges or replacing the thickness of the spacers.
In models with a display on one of the doors (usually the left one as standard), when turned over, the display will be on the wrong side. Unfortunately, it is impossible to programmatically flip the image on the built-in screens, and it is often not possible to physically move the control panel due to the lack of holes and wiring. side. In such cases, reversing the door with the display is impossible without complex engineering modifications. Samsung it is impossible, and it is often not possible to physically move the control panel due to the lack of holes and wiring on the other side. In such cases, reversing the door with a display is impossible without complex engineering modifications.
Installation of doors and final adjustment
Assembly is carried out in the reverse order of dismantling, but taking into account the change in the side of the hinge. First, install the lower support hinge on the new side. Make sure that the hinge axis fits into the corresponding hole in the bottom of the door. Then the door itself is carefully installed, and its position is fixed by an assistant.
Next, the upper hinge is mounted. At this stage, it is important not to tighten the bolts tightly at once. First, tighten all the screws so that the structure has a slight play for final alignment. Check the vertical installation of the door using building level. jamming and spontaneous closing or opening (if there is no closer function).
- 🚪 Check the tightness of the seal around the entire perimeter.
- 📐 Make sure that the gap between the door and the body is the same at the top and bottom.
- 🔩 Tighten all fastening bolts completely after alignment.
- 🧊 Reinstall all decorative plugs and panels.
The final step is to check the operation of the magnetic lock and the tightness. Close the door and try to pull out the sheet of paper sandwiched between the seal and the body in different places. points. If the paper is pulled out too easily or, conversely, with great difficulty in only one place, additional adjustment of the height of the hinges is required. In some models, an adjusting washer or screw is provided for this.
⚠️ Attention: If you notice that the door is skewed, do not try to fix it by force. Loosen the fasteners and align the position of the hinges again. irreversible.
Frequent errors and troubleshooting
In the process of re-hanging yourself, even experienced craftsmen may encounter unexpected difficulties One. One of the most common mistakes is the loss of fasteners. Small screws tend to roll under the refrigerator or get lost in the carpet pile. To avoid this, use a magnetic tray or glue the removed parts with tape to the hinge itself (if the design allows). Another problem is damage to the seal. If handled carelessly, the rubber contour can stretch or tear in the corners. data-i="137">, since it ceases to provide the necessary tightness, which leads to excessive energy consumption and breakdown of the compressor. Remove the doors strictly vertically, without turning out the corners.
Another problem is damage to the seal. If handled carelessly, the rubber contour may stretch or tear in the corners. A deformed seal cannot be restored and requires complete replacement, since it ceases to provide the necessary tightness, which leads to excessive energy consumption and compressor breakdown. Remove doors strictly vertically, without turning corners.
If after assembly the door does not close completely or slams, check that it does not. have you mixed up the left and right hinges. Despite the external similarity, they may have different axle angles or pin lengths. Also make sure that the refrigerator is on a level floor: if the legs are not level, the door may open by itself under the influence of gravity.
☑️ Final check
In rare cases, flashing may be required control module, if the model is “smart” and monitors the position of the doors electronically. However, for most household models, mechanical rearrangement is sufficient. If you are faced with a situation where the screws do not fit into the threads, do not drill new holes - this is guaranteed to lead to loss of warranty and corrosion of the body. Samsung mechanical rearrangement is sufficient. If you encounter a situation where the screws do not fit into the threads, do not drill new holes - this is guaranteed to void the warranty and cause corrosion of the housing.
What to do if the plug is lost. holes?
If you have lost a plastic plug covering an unused hinge hole, do not leave it open. This will ruin the thermal insulation and aesthetics. You can temporarily use a piece of electrical tape in the color of the body or order a set of plugs from a Samsung service center. Also, universal furniture plugs of a suitable diameter are suitable.
Is it possible to rehang the door if is there a screen on it?
As a rule, moving a door with an integrated display to the other side is impossible without complex modifications. Wiring and holes in the case are provided only for one side. If the screen is removable (rare), this is theoretically possible, but it requires disassembling the door itself and transferring the cables, which is best left to professionals.
Is it necessary to defrost the refrigerator beforehand? overweight?
Complete defrosting is not necessary if you work quickly. However, if there is a lot of ice in the freezer, the door may become heavier, and the ice may crumble when tilted. It is recommended to turn off the refrigerator 30-40 minutes before starting work so that the seal becomes more elastic and the ice melts a little. data-i="154">Will the temperature settings be lost after rearrangement?
Will the temperature settings be lost after changing them?
No, mechanical rearrangement of the doors does not affect the electronic settings of the refrigerator. Temperature parameters, operating modes and Wi-Fi settings are saved in the device’s memory, since you do not turn off the power for a long time and do not affect the control board, unless you disconnect the display wires on the door.