The situation when, after purchasing or rearranging furniture, it turns out that that refrigerator door opens in the wrong direction is familiar to many owners of household appliances. This creates enormous inconvenience: it is impossible to open the door completely, adjacent cabinets are affected, or the ergonomics of the kitchen are simply disrupted. Fortunately, the design of most models Atlant provides for the possibility of reinstalling the hinge, which allows you to adapt the unit to the layout of the room.
This process does not require calling a technician from the service center and can be done independently with a minimum set of tools. However, it is important to understand that working with heavy door panels requires physical strength and accuracy so as not to damage the coating or drop the massive structure. In this article, we will analyze in detail the algorithm of actions for various series of refrigerators of the Belarusian brand.
Before taking active steps, it is necessary to carefully prepare the workplace. You will need free space around the unit where you can put the removed parts and the door itself. Make sure that the floor is covered with a soft material, such as cardboard or a blanket, to prevent scratches on the decorative panel due to accidental contact.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting any work, be sure to unplug the refrigerator from the power supply. Removing the plug from the socket is a basic safety rule, which, if ignored, can result in electric shock.
Necessary tools and preparation
The success of the operation directly depends on the correct preparation of the tools. To work with model fasteners Atlant you will need wrenches, most often 10 mm in size, and a set of screwdrivers. In some modifications there may be hexagon bolts, so having the appropriate key will also not be superfluous.
In addition to the main set, prepare a container for storing small parts such as washers, plugs and screws. The loss of even one small element can cause the door to become warped or unable to close properly. It is also recommended to have a knife or flat-head screwdriver on hand to carefully remove the decorative plugs.
An important step is to free up the interior space of the refrigerator and freezer compartments. Shelves, drawers and products significantly increase the weight of the structure, making the dismantling process dangerous and difficult. In addition, loose objects can fall out and break during operation.
- 🔧 10 mm wrench or small adjustable wrench.
- 🔧 Phillips and flathead screwdrivers (slotted).
- 🔧 Hex wrench (often required for handles or specific bolts).
- 🔧 A knife or thin blade for removing plugs.
- 🔧 Soft bedding (cardboard, fabric) to protect the floor and door.
It would not be a bad idea to involve an assistant, especially if we are talking about two-door models or large-volume units. The refrigerator door Atlant weighs a lot, and holding it with one hand while unscrewing the bolts is extremely inconvenient and traumatic.
☑️ Preparing for rehanging
Design features of different Atlant series
Reweighing technology can vary significantly depending on the series of the refrigerator. Models with one compressor and a dual-circuit cooling system, as well as two-compressor units, have their own nuances in the arrangement of fasteners and pipelines.
Modern models often use hidden installation of hinges, where the fasteners are covered with decorative overlays. In older or budget series, the bolts may be immediately visible. It is important to carefully examine the end of the door and the side wall of the case to understand the type of fastening.
Specifics of models with a display
If there is a display or control panel on the door of your refrigerator, the procedure becomes more complicated. You will need to additionally disconnect the wire cables before removing the canvas. Be extremely careful with the connectors so as not to damage the contacts.
Particular attention should be paid to models where the refrigerant pipes go to the door (for example, in some dual-compressor versions or models with the No Frost system, where the pipes go through the top hinge). In such cases, the length of the tubes may not allow you to simply rearrange the door without dismantling the entire system, which requires the intervention of a specialist.
| Series / Type | Location of fasteners | Presence of tubes on the door | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic (single compressor) | Open / Hidden | No | Low |
| With display on the door | Hidden under the panel | No (there are wires) | Average |
| Two-compressor (old) | Open | Possibly (capillaries) | High |
| No Frost (modern) | Hidden | No | Average |
Before starting work, it is strongly recommended to find the technical data sheet for your specific model Atlant. It may contain a diagram specific to your year of manufacture, since the manufacturer periodically makes changes to the design of the hinge mechanisms.
Removing the upper and lower hinges
The process of removing the door leaf always begins with the upper hinge. This is due to the fact that it is it that holds the main weight of the door, while the bottom serves more as a guide. First you need to remove the decorative cover, if present, by carefully prying it off with a knife or screwdriver.
After gaining access to the fasteners, using a wrench, unscrew the upper hinge bolts. It is critical here that you have a helper hold the door firmly, as it may tilt sharply after the last bolt is removed. Do not let the door hit the frame or floor.
Then attention turns to the lower part. It is necessary to remove the plinth grille (if any) and dismantle the lower hinge. In some models Atlant the axis of the lower hinge is inserted into a hole in the door itself, and it will need to be knocked out or carefully pulled out after removing the fixing elements.
⚠️ Attention: Do not try to forcefully tear off the door if the bolts cannot be unscrewed. Treat the threads with a penetrating lubricant (for example, WD-40) and wait a few minutes to avoid stripping the edges of the bolts.
When removing the hinge (on three-door models or refrigerators with a bottom freezer), proceed in the same way. First, the upper fastening of this section is released, the door is removed, then the lower fastening unit is dismantled.
Rearranging the handles and plugs
After the door leaf is removed and placed on a prepared soft surface, the stage of preparation for installation on the new side begins. First of all, you need to rearrange the handles. On most models Atlant they are fastened with screws from the inside, access to which can be obtained after removing the decorative trims.
Carefully inspect the ends of the door and the side walls of the refrigerator body. You will see a number of holes: some of them are occupied by fasteners, and some are closed with plastic plugs. Your task is to remove the plugs from the new side of the installation and move them to the old, vacated holes.
To remove the plugs, it is best to use a thin knife blade or an awl. Pry the edge of the plastic and gently pull it out. Do not use excessive force so as not to break the plug latches, otherwise it will not stay in the new place.
- 🖐️ Remove the handles by unscrewing the screws on the inside of the door.
- 🖐️ Remove the plugs from the holes on the new side of the installation.
- 🖐️ Install plugs in the holes left free after dismantling.
- 🖐️ Screw the handles to a new place using the same holes, but on the other side.
Sometimes the holes on the new side may be closed not with plastic plugs, but with metal plates or filled with factory paint. In such cases, you may need to drill a neat hole or cut off the jumper, but this is rare for modern models Atlant.
Installing the door on a new side
The most crucial moment is installing the door in a new place. Install the lower hinge into the hole provided for it on the opposite end of the housing and secure with bolts. Make sure that the hinge axis points straight up and is positioned vertically.
Insert the lower door pin into the hole of the installed hinge. At this stage, you will again need the help of a second person to hold the heavy canvas level. Once the bottom is fixed, proceed to installing the top hinge. Align the holes on the body and the door, insert the bolts and tighten them.
The bolts should be tightened evenly, without tightening one all the way, leaving the other weak. First, tighten all the bolts by hand, then gradually increase the tension with a diagonal wrench. This will ensure correct positioning of the door without distortions.
If you are working with a model where there is an intermediate door (freezer compartment at the bottom), the process is repeated: the middle hinge is installed, the door is hung, then the upper part of the unit is installed. It is important to follow the assembly order so as not to disturb the geometry of the entire refrigerator cabinet.
Adjusting gaps and tightness
After installing the door in place, it often turns out that it does not fit tightly or is skewed. This is normal, since during dismantling and installation it is difficult to get into the same microscopic positions. Adjustment is carried out using hinged screws or by tilting the body itself.
Check the operation of the magnetic seal around the entire perimeter. The door should fit evenly to the body, without gaps. If a gap forms in some place through which the cold escapes, try loosening the hinge mounting bolts and moving the door slightly in the desired direction, then tighten them again.
⚠️ Attention: Excessive force when tightening the bolts can lead to deformation of the metal hinge bushing or breakage of the threads in the body. Tighten the fasteners until there is firm resistance, but without fanaticism.
It is also worth checking the operation of the stopper that holds the door in the closed position. If it is installed incorrectly after rehanging, the door may not close completely or, conversely, open with difficulty. If necessary, move this element to the new side.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to hang the door if the refrigerator is in a niche?
Technically this is possible, but it is extremely inconvenient. For high-quality work, you will need to pull the refrigerator out of the niche by at least 50-70 cm on all sides in order to have free access to the bolts and space for storing the removed door. Working in cramped conditions is dangerous for equipment and your health.
What to do if one of the plugs for the holes is lost?
Without a plug, the appearance of the refrigerator Atlant will suffer, and dust or moisture may get into the holes. original plugs or choose universal furniture plugs of a suitable diameter and color in a hardware store.
Do I need to wait some time before turning it on after rehanging?
No specific waiting time is required for mechanics. However, if during operation you tilted the refrigerator strongly (more than 40 degrees), it is recommended to let it stand upright for 2-4 hours before turning it on, so that the oil in the compressor flows into the crankcase.
Is it possible to re-hang the door yourself if the refrigerator is under warranty?
According to the rules of many service centers, independent intervention in the structure, including re-hanging the doors, will not invalidate warranty on the compressor and electronics, if there was no mechanical damage. However, it is better to clarify this point in the warranty card of your region.