Kitchen remodeling often requires moving appliances to a more convenient location, and the standard location of the refrigerator door can be a hindrance. Owners of equipment LG often wonder whether it is possible to change the opening side of the doors so that they do not block the passage or entrance door. Fortunately, the design of most modern models provides for this possibility, allowing the unit to be adapted to the geometry of the room.
The process of hanging a door LG refrigerator requires care, accuracy and a minimum set of tools. Errors at the dismantling stage can lead to damage to the decorative panels or failure of the seal. In this article, we will analyze in detail the algorithm of actions that will help you do the work yourself without calling a specialist.
Before taking active steps, make sure that you are working with turned off from the network the device. This is not only a safety requirement, but also a way to avoid accidentally turning on the compressor during work when the doors are open for a long time. Also free up space in front of the refrigerator to allow easy access from all sides.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting work, be sure to remove all shelves and drawers from the door niches. Even a small load on the sash when unscrewing the hinges can lead to a heavy door falling and injuring your legs.
To complete the task, you will need to prepare certain equipment. Do not use tools with damaged handles or ground edges, as this increases the risk of slippage and damage to fasteners.
- 🔧 A set of screwdrivers (phillips and flat-head) or a screwdriver with appropriate bits.
- 🔩 8 or 10 mm wrench or socket (depending on models LG).
- 🧤 Work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal edges.
- 🧱 A stand or assistant for holding the door during dismantling.
It is important to immediately determine the type of your model, since the complexity of the procedure depends on this. In some cases, it is enough to rearrange the hinges, in others, re-gluing is required. decorative plugs.
Preparation of the workplace and diagnostics of the model
The first step is a thorough diagnosis of your model. LG. Not all refrigerators have a symmetrical design that allows you to change the side of the hinge without additional manipulations. Carefully inspect the ends of the case: if threaded holes are visible on one side, and on the other hand, only decorative plastic plugs, which means that re-hanging is possible.
Free up space around the unit by at least a meter on all sides. You will need to walk around the refrigerator, lift heavy elements and have access to the lower part of the case. Remove carpets to prevent tools from sliding, and ensure good lighting of the work area.
If your refrigerator has a display or control panel on the door, the process. becomes more complicated. Such models often require disconnecting the cables electronics. Find the connection diagram in advance in the user manual or photograph the location of the contacts before disconnecting them.
Check the integrity of the sealing rubber. If it is severely deformed or has cracks, the moment of rehanging is the ideal time to replace it, since access to the fasteners will be open.
Dismantling the upper part and removing the door
Let's begin. direct disassembly. The top door (in two-chamber models) or the only door is always removed. Locate the decorative plug on the top panel above the door. Gently pry it off with a flat-head screwdriver to open access to the top hinge mounting bolts.
Use a wrench or screwdriver to unscrew the bolts. an assistant is requiredhold the door. Even if it seems light, a sharp jerk when unscrewing the last bolt can cause it to hit the floor or walls.
Sequence of actions:1. Remove the plug.
2. Unscrew the top bolts. hinges.
3. Hold the door.
4. Remove the hinge and set the door aside.
After removing the door, put it in a safe place, it is best to place it on a soft surface (for example, on a blanket) so as not to scratch the front panel. Now you have access to the internal elements and the middle one. loop.
⚠️ Attention: The bolts can be tightened too much. If they do not give in, do not use excessive force so as not to strip the threads. Try spraying penetrating lubricant (WD-40) first and wait 5-10 minutes.
If your model LG equipped with a system No Frostthere may be air supply channels inside. Be careful not to damage the plastic air ducts when removing the door elements.
Working with the lower part and rearranging the elements
The next step is to dismantle the bottom door and rearrange the middle hinge. door in the same way: unscrew the middle hinge bolts, holding the weight. After that, remove the middle hinge itself from the body.
Now you need to move all the dismantled elements to the opposite side. On the body LG refrigerator you will see holes closed with plastic plugs. Remove these plugs (sometimes they are removed from the inside of the case or are simply squeezed out) and install them in the vacated holes on the working side.
☑️ Rearrangement checklist
Install the middle hinge in a new place, but do not tighten the bolts until they stop. This will allow you to adjust the position of the lower door during installation. Insert the lower door into the hinge grooves and attach the fasteners.
It is important to correctly orient the opening stops. There are often plastic latches on the ends of the doors. holes for them, which prevent the door from opening too wide. They also need to be moved to the opposite end.
Check that all threaded connections are clean. Metal shavings or dirt getting into the threads can make final tightening difficult.
Installing the top door and final assembly
The final stage of mechanical assembly is to install the top door. Lift the door, insert the bottom pin into the hole in the middle hinge and align the top holes with the body of the refrigerator.
Place the top hinge in place. Now you can finally tighten all the bolts, moving diagonally, tightening the bolts gradually to ensure even distribution of pressure.
| Element | Action | Tool | Test feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper loop | Tightening bolts | Wrench 8-10 mm | No play |
| Middle hinge | Axle fixation | Screwdriver | Axle is standing vertically |
| Stoppers | Rearrangement | Screwdriver | The door does not hit the body |
| Plugs | Replacement sides | Tweezers/Knife | The holes are closed |
After tightening, check the vertical installation of the doors. If there is noticeable distortion, loosen the middle hinge bolts and, adjusting their position, align the doors relative to each other.
What what to do if the door does not close tightly?
If after rehanging the door does not fit tightly, check whether the seal in the grooves is twisted. Also make sure that the refrigerator is level - often the distortion of the floor interferes with the correct operation of the closing mechanism. Try unscrewing the front adjustable legs of the refrigerator a little so that the body tilts back and the door closes under its own weight.
Features of models with a display and Smart system
Owners of modern models LG with screens on the door or system Smart ThinQ you need to be especially careful. In such designs, the control cable runs inside the door hinge or through a special channel in the housing.
When you dismantle the top door, you will see a connector. Never pull on the wires. Find the connector lock, gently press it out and disconnect the contacts. When assembling on the new side, make sure that the cable is not pinched by the metal of the loop.
The length of the cable may be limited. If the wires are short, proceed with extreme caution. In some rare cases, the cable may need to be extended, but the length is usually sufficient for a standard change.
After connecting, check the operation of the display. If the screen does not light up, check the connector for tightness. Sometimes it takes a few seconds after turning on the network for the system to initialize.
Adjustment and leak testing
The final stage is checking the quality of the work performed. Doors should close tightly, without creaking or jamming. The gap between the door and the body should be uniform around the entire perimeter.
Carry out a test with a sheet of paper. Clamp the sheet between the door and the body at different points around the perimeter. If the sheet is pulled out with noticeable force along the entire contour, it means tightness it’s normal. If in some place the sheet falls out freely, adjustment of the hinges is required.
Let the refrigerator stand turned off for another 30-60 minutes after all manipulations, especially if you touched the tubes or tilted the unit too much. This is necessary to stabilize the refrigerant in the system.
⚠️ Attention: Do not turn on the refrigerator immediately if you tilted it strongly during work. The oil in the compressor needs time to drain back into the crankcase, otherwise a water hammer may occur during startup.
Turn on the device and listen to the operation. There should be no extraneous vibrations from the doors. If the door rattles, check the tightness of the hinge bolts.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Do you need to defrost the refrigerator before rehanging it?
Full defrosting is not necessary if you work quickly. However, if there is a lot of ice in the freezer, it is better to wait until it melts so that water does not flow into the cabinet or onto the floor when the doors are tilted. In addition, empty doors are easier to remove.
Is it possible to rehang the door on an LG Side-by-Side refrigerator?
In most Side-by-Side models (two vertical doors at full height), the design does not provide for reversing the doors. The locking mechanism and cooling system are more complicated there. Check this in the instructions for your specific model.
What to do if the plastic plug is lost?
If you have lost a decorative plug for the hole at the end, it can be ordered at the service center LG by catalog number. Temporarily, the hole can be covered with a piece of black electrical tape or painted over with a marker to avoid corrosion of the metal.
Why does the door open by itself after rehanging?
Most likely, the angle of the body is broken. Refrigerator doors are designed for the body to be slightly tilted backwards. If the floor is level, unscrew the front adjustable feet to create this tilt artificially.