Changing the kitchen layout or rearranging furniture often poses a difficult task for owners of household appliances: how to turn the refrigerator door so that it opens in the right direction. The standard handle position may obstruct passage or block access to other cabinets, making the unit inconvenient to operate. Fortunately, most modern models, be it Indesit, Atlant or Bosch, are initially designed with the possibility of re-hanging.
This process does not require calling a master and special skills, but it demands attentiveness and accuracy. Reversing the door is a mechanical operation that takes from 30 to 60 minutes depending on the design of the loops and the number of chambers. The main thing is not to rush and strictly follow the sequence of actions so as not to damage the seal or break the thread.
Before taking up the tools, you need to make sure that your model really supports such a modification. Typically, technical holes for fastenings on the opposite side are already drilled at the factory and closed with decorative plugs. If they are not there, then independent alteration may lead to loss of warranty and violation of tightness.
Preparation of the workplace and necessary tools
High-quality preparation is the key to the success of the entire operation. You will need free space in front of the refrigerator so that you can easily walk around it from all sides. Gaps between the walls of the unit and the furniture should be sufficient for working with a screwdriver or screwdriver. Clear the shelves and drawers, since the weight of an empty refrigerator is significantly less than a full one, which will reduce the load on the hinges during dismantling.
The set of tools is usually minimal, but should be at hand in full. Depending on the model, you may need:
- 🔧 A set of screwdrivers (phillips and flat-head) or a screwdriver with appropriate bits.
- 🔩 Wrenches or sockets (often a size of 8, 10 or 13 mm is required).
- 🧤 Construction gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal edges.
- 🧊 Spatula or knife (for carefully removing decorative plugs).
⚠️ Attention: Before starting any work, be sure to disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply! Unplug the plug from the socket to avoid a short circuit in case of accidental damage to the wiring that may run inside the door panels.
It is also recommended to prepare a container for storing bolts and screws. Small parts tend to get lost at the most inopportune moment, and finding a suitable analogue in thread and length can be difficult. Arrange the fasteners in the order in which you removed them, or sign each bag with a marker.
☑️ Preparing for rehanging
Removing the top hinge and door
You should always start work from the top of the refrigerator, since it is the top hinge that holds the main weight of the door. First remove the decorative cover, if present. It can be secured with latches or screws. Be careful, the plastic becomes brittle over time and can crack if handled carelessly.
After accessing the fasteners, loosen the top hinge bolts, but do not unscrew them all the way right away. Fixation the door is critical at this point. It is better to ask an assistant to hold the door so that it does not fall and damage the floor or legs. If there is no assistant, use wedges or stands under the bottom of the door.
After completely unscrewing the bolts, remove the top hinge and carefully set the door aside. Pay attention to the condition seals: if there are creases or damage on it, you can try to straighten them with a hairdryer, but it is better to immediately assess the need for replacement. At this stage, the wires are also often disconnected if the doors have built-in sensors or a display.
What to do with the wires?
If your model has wires going through the top hinge, they cannot simply be cut off. Carefully disconnect the connectors (usually they have a latch) and pull the harness through the service hole in the housing. When reassembling, the wires are laid on the other side.
Removing the lower door and central fastenings
In two-chamber models, after removing the upper door, it is necessary to remove the lower one. The process is similar: the lower hinge is unscrewed and the door is removed. Pay special attention to the axis, which often runs through the entire structure or is fixed in the lower hole of the housing.
The central part of the housing, where the partition between the chambers was attached (if it is removable), also requires attention. In some models Samsung or LG it is necessary to remove the intermediate strip. It can be held on with screws or latches. Carefully remove all the elements to prepare the surface for installation on the other side.
Now you need to unscrew the axle from the bottom of the door, if the design requires it. Often the axle is pressed or screwed into the end of the door. This may require a key of the appropriate size. Act smoothly so as not to tear off the edges of the metal.
| Loop type | Location | Removal features | Required tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper | Case cover | Requires door fixation | Screwdriver, 10mm wrench |
| Bottom | Case base | Hidden fasteners | Long bit |
| Medium | Partition | Removable bar | Phillips screwdriver |
| Built-in | Inside the door | Complicated dismantling | Set of heads |
| Hidden | Under the decor | Requires removal of panels | Plastic spatula |
After dismantling all moving parts, inspect the holes. On the opposite side you will see similar sockets closed with plastic plugs. They need to be removed and rearranged to the vacant places in order to maintain an aesthetic appearance.
Installing the hinges on the new side
Now we move on to installation. Move the lower support sleeve or rod into a symmetrical hole on the other side of the body. Make sure it fits tightly and straight. If the design requires the use of lock washers, do not forget about them.
Install the bottom door in place. Insert the axle into the bottom hole and put the door on. Then install the middle bar (if there is one) and secure it with bolts. It is important not to tighten the fasteners “all the way” right away - first you need to tighten all the bolts in order to be able to adjust the position.
We do not install the top hinge yet. First, place the top door on the bottom (or middle) bar, aligning the holes. Now you can put the top hinge in place and insert the bolts. Adjustment is done at this stage: achieve an even gap around the perimeter and make sure that the door is not warped.
⚠️ Attention: Do not overtighten the hinge bolts. This can lead to deformation of the metal of the case or door, as well as impede the movement of the mechanism. Screw them tightly, but without fanaticism.
If your model has wires, carefully lay them through the new holes, being careful not to pinch them with the metal of the door. Connect the connectors until they click. Make sure that the wires do not interfere with closing and do not fall into the area of movement of the hinges.
Adjusting the position and gaps
After installing all the elements in place, the fine-tuning stage begins. The door should close tightly, effortlessly, but at the same time ensure tightness. Check the horizontal installation of the refrigerator itself: if the floor is uneven, tighten the adjustable legs.
Evaluate the fit of the seal around the entire perimeter. The gaps should be uniform. If the top part of the door fits tighter than the bottom (or vice versa), you can slightly loosen the fastenings of the corresponding hinge and move the leaf in the desired direction. Gap between the door and the body when closed should be 2-3 mm (except for the seal area).
Check the operation of the magnetic lock. The door should magnetize itself when you bring it at a distance of about 2-3 cm from the body. If this does not happen, you may need to adjust the tilt of the refrigerator back (the back legs should be slightly higher than the front ones).
Checking work and possible errors
The final stage is testing. Open and close both doors several times. The cotton should be soft, without the sound of metal. Make sure that when closing one door, the second (in two-chamber models) does not open.
A common mistake is incorrect installation of stoppers or forgotten gaskets. If the door squeaks, check to see if the metal parts of the hinges are rubbing against each other. You may need a drop of silicone grease (but not oil, which thickens over time).
Plug in the refrigerator and listen. After 10-15 minutes, check whether the seal fits tightly. You can use a simple test with a sheet of paper: hold the sheet with a door and try to pull it out. It should be pulled out with noticeable force around the entire perimeter.
Is it possible to turn the door upside down if it has a built-in display?
Yes, it is possible, but it is more difficult. You will have to reconnect the cables. In some models Samsung or LG the cables are of sufficient length to be re-wired, in others it may be necessary to extend the wires or resolder the connectors, which is best left to a professional.
What to do if the holes for the loops do not match?
If there are no holes on the back side factory holes, it is impossible to turn the door over without damaging the body and voiding the warranty. Drilling new holes is strictly not recommended, as you can damage the internal cooling circuit or foam insulation.
Do you need to defrost the refrigerator before rehanging?
Complete defrosting is not necessary if you work quickly. However, if you plan to keep the doors open or tilt the unit for a long time, it is better to turn it off in advance so that water from the drainage system does not get on the electronic components.
Will the temperature settings be lost after switching off?
Modern refrigerators store the settings in non-volatile memory. Once connected to the network, they will return to the last set values. However, if the model is very old, the settings may be reset to factory settings.