Many owners of household appliances are faced with a situation where the standard configuration of a kitchen unit or the layout of the room requires changing the direction of opening the refrigerator door. Brand units Biryusa are reliable, but their design often implies the possibility of re-hanging the sash, which is not always obvious to an untrained user. If you purchased a model with a right-hand opening, but you need a left-handed one, you shouldn’t panic or look for a specialist - it’s quite possible to perform this procedure yourself if you have a minimum set of tools and basic handling skills.
The process of re-hanging doors on single-chamber models Biryusa has its own technical features that are necessary Take care not to damage the seal or cooling system. Unlike two-chamber analogues, there is no intermediate partition, which simplifies access to fastening elements, but requires care when working with hinges. Properly performed work will ensure that the chamber remains sealed and will extend the life of your refrigerator.
Before starting any manipulations, it is necessary to clear the working space around the unit. You will need access to the device from all sides, so move it at least half a meter away from the wall. Make sure that the floor is level and stable, and that the lighting in the room is bright enough to distinguish small parts of the fasteners.
Necessary tools and preparation for work
To successfully complete the task, you will need a standard home handyman kit. The main tool will be a 10 mm wrench or socket, since this is the size most often used by the manufacturer Turk for attaching hinges. You will also need a flathead and Phillips screwdriver to remove decorative plugs and plastic elements if they block access to the bolts.
It will not be amiss to prepare a small piece of thick cardboard or a wooden block. These items will be needed to hold the door in a raised position or support it while you unscrew the bottom hinge. This is a critical point, since without support a heavy sash can fall to the floor or damage the floor covering.
Pay special attention to the condition of the fasteners before starting work. If you see obvious signs of corrosion or the threads are stuck, pre-treat the joints with a penetrating lubricant, such as WD-40. This will help avoid stripping threads or breaking bolts during dismantling, which would turn a simple repair into a complex problem.
- 🛠️ A wrench or ratchet with a 10 mm head for unscrewing the main bolts.
- 🔧 A set of screwdrivers (phillips and flat) for working with decorative elements.
- 🪵 A wooden block or cardboard box to support the door.
- 🧴 Penetrating lubricant in case of souring of threaded connections.
⚠️ Attention: It is strictly forbidden to use impact tools or excessive force when unscrewing bolts, as this can lead to to deformation of the metal body of the refrigerator.
Prepare the place where you will put the removed parts. It is recommended to place them in the order you removed them, or use separate containers for the left and right sides. This will help avoid confusion during assembly, especially if the configuration of the hinges is different on different sides.
Removing the top hinge and handle
We begin the re-hanging process from the top of the refrigerator. The first step is to remove the handle if it interferes with access to the top hinge or if the design of the model Biryusa implies its dismantling. In some modifications, the handle is attached to screws hidden under decorative plugs, which are easily pryed off with a flat screwdriver.
After the handle is removed or moved to the side, we move on to the upper loop. Carefully unscrew the bolts securing it to the refrigerator body. Do not remove the hinge completely at once - loosen it enough so that you can slightly lift the door, but it is better to leave it hanging on one bolt until you are ready to remove the door completely.
If your model has a decorative trim on the top panel, it must also be removed. It is usually held in place by plastic clips or small screws. Proceed with caution; the plastic on older models may be brittle. By removing the cover, you will have full access to the fastening mechanism.
⚠️ Attention: When removing the top hinge, be sure to hold the door with your second hand or ask an assistant so that it does not fall and injure you or the floor.
Removing the door and preparing for rehanging
When the top hinge is released, the most crucial moment comes - removing the door. Lift the sash upward to remove it from the bottom hinge. The weight of the door can be significant, so it is better to perform this step with an assistant. Carefully set the door aside, placing it on a prepared soft surface, such as a blanket or thick cardboard, so as not to scratch the front panel.
Now you need to remove the bottom hinge. Unscrew the bolts securing it to the body and remove the rod. Pay attention to the condition of the bushings and gaskets - if they are worn out, it is better to replace them with new ones to avoid distortion of the door in the future. Often, spare parts are included with the refrigerator Biryusa or holes for them are already provided on the other side.
☑️ Preparing to remove the door
Carefully inspect the ends of the door. On the side where you plan to hang the door, there should be technological holes for the hinges. If they are covered with plugs, carefully remove them. On the opposite side, where there will be no more hinges, the holes must be closed with plugs, which are usually included in the kit or remain from the previous installation.
Installing the lower support and hinges
We proceed to installing the lower support on the new side. Install the lower hinge rod into the prepared hole on the opposite side of the housing. Secure it with bolts, but do not tighten them all the way yet - this will allow you to adjust the position of the door when hanging. Make sure that the rod is level and perpendicular to the floor surface.
If the design of your model Turkish involves the use of a special bushing or washer for the lower hinge, be sure to install it. These small details play a crucial role in the correct movement of the door and its tight fit to the body. Ignoring this stage may result in the door opening by itself or, conversely, not closing completely.
| Fasting element | Installation location | Fastening type | Torque tightening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom support | Bottom of the body (new side) | M6 or M8 bolt | Middle (without fanaticism) |
| Upper hinge | Top of body (new side) | M6 or M8 bolt | Strong |
| Decorative plug | Old hinge location | Latch | Manual installation |
| Door stop | Bottom of the case (opposite side) | Screw | Medium |
After installing the lower support, you can move on to the upper mount. Attach the door to the body, aligning the bottom hole with the installed stem. Then carefully lift the top and line up the holes for the top hinge. Insert the bolts and start tightening them, making sure that the gaps between the door and the body are uniform.
What to do if the holes do not match?
If the holes on the body and the door do not match, check whether the lower support is installed correctly. Sometimes it takes a slight rocking of the door up and down to get it into the groove. Do not use force to avoid stripping the thread.
Installing the handle and adjusting the gaps
When the door is installed on the hinges, you need to secure the handle. Move it to the new side using the same mounting holes that were previously covered with plugs. If the handle design is universal, simply turn it over or rearrange the fasteners according to the instructions for your specific model Biryusa.
Now the most important step is adjustment. Check the tightness of the seal around the entire perimeter. The door should close easily, but tightly, without distortion. If you notice that there is a larger gap in one corner than in the other, slightly loosen the bolts securing the upper or lower hinge and adjust the position of the leaf, then tighten the fasteners again.
Pay attention to the operation of the door stopper. In some models it can be moved to the opposite side or adjusted with a screw. The stopper is necessary to prevent the door from opening too wide and damaging the hinges or adjacent furniture. Make sure that it functions correctly after rehanging.
Do not forget to install decorative plugs on the old holes for the hinges. This will not only improve the appearance of the refrigerator, but also protect the internal cavities from dust and moisture. If the plugs are lost, you can use pieces of plastic or even plugs from other equipment of a suitable size.
Checking tightness and typical errors
After completing all installation work, it is necessary to carry out a final check. Plug in the refrigerator and let it run for at least 30-40 minutes. Then check the temperature inside the chamber and make sure that the seal fits snugly around the entire perimeter of the chamber. There should be no creases or inversions on the surface of the seal.
One of the common mistakes is insufficient tightening of the bolts, which over time leads to sagging of the door. The other extreme is overtightening, which can deform the metal or damage the thread. Golden mean is the force at which the bolt is securely fixed, but the metal does not begin to deform around the bolt head.
Also, users often forget to check the tilt level of the refrigerator itself. If the floor is uneven, the door may open on its own or may not close completely even if the hinges are installed correctly. Adjust the front supports of the refrigerator so that the body has a slight tilt back - this will ensure that the door closes automatically when released.
⚠️ Attention: If after rehanging the door does not close tightly, do not rush to blame the seal. In 90% of cases, the problem is solved by correctly adjusting the height of the refrigerator's support legs or tightening the top hinge.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it necessary to defrost the refrigerator before rehanging the door?
It is not necessary to defrost the unit specifically to rehang the door, since this process does not directly affect the cooling system. However, if you plan to tilt the refrigerator too much or risk damaging the interior shelves if not handled carefully, it is best to turn it off and let the ice melt. This will also lighten the weight of the structure when moving.
Is it possible to hang the door on the Biryusa refrigerator alone?
Technically, this is possible if you have experience and physical strength, since the door of a single-chamber refrigerator is quite heavy and bulky. However, manufacturers and craftsmen recommend working together: one person holds the sash, and the second works with the tool. This minimizes the risk of the door falling, damaging the floor, or causing injury.
What to do if the plugs for old holes are lost?
If the factory plugs are lost, they can be replaced with similar plastic elements of a suitable diameter from a hardware store or even cut out circles from thick black electrical tape (although this is less aesthetically pleasing). The main thing is to close the holes so that moisture and dust do not get inside, which can cause corrosion of the metal.
Why did the door begin to close worse after rehanging?
Most likely, the geometry of the installation is broken. Check that the refrigerator is level on the floor and adjust the legs. Also make sure that the seal does not curl inward during installation. If the door is skewed, you will need to re-adjust the position of the top hinge by loosening it and moving it in the desired direction.
Does re-hanging the door affect the warranty?
Re-hanging the door yourself, as a rule, is not a basis for refusing warranty service if the refrigerator components were not damaged in the process (threads are torn off, plastic is broken, seal is damaged). However, if you doubt your abilities, it is better to contact an authorized service center to keep the warranty completely intact.