A change in the kitchen layout or a simple desire to update the interior often raises the question of rearranging the equipment for owners of household appliances. Refrigerator It is a large item, and its dimensions do not always allow the unit to be placed as required by the new arrangement of furniture. In such situations, the opportunity to to rehang the doors to the opposite side comes to the rescue, which is provided for in the design of most modern models. Indesit.
This process does not require calling a specialist and special expensive tools, but it requires attentiveness, physical strength and strict adherence to the algorithm of actions. Incorrect installation can lead to skew of the canvas, failure of the seal of the chamber and, as a result, failure of the compressor due to constant operation. Therefore, it is important to prepare the workplace in advance and become familiar with technical nuances your specific model.
In this article we will look in detail at how to change the opening side yourself, what tools you will need and what to pay special attention to so as not to damage the hinges or sealing rubber. You will learn how to properly dismantle the fittings, rearrange the handles and adjust the position of the sash for a perfect fit.
Preparation for work and the necessary tools
Before you begin dismantling, you need to make sure that you have all the necessary equipment at hand. Working with metal loops heavy doors requires a strong grip and precision, so using unsuitable tools can lead to thread breakage or damage to the decorative coating of the case. A standard home craftsman's kit usually includes everything you need, but it is better to check the availability of each element in advance.
The main tool will be open-end wrench or a head of the appropriate size, most often it is 8 or 10 mm, depending on the year of manufacture of the model. Indesit. You will also need phillips screwdriver (usually PH2) to work with screws for securing handles and decorative plugs. It’s a good idea to have a flat-head screwdriver or a plastic spatula on hand to carefully pry up the plugs without scratching the plastic.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting any work, be sure to disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply! This is necessary not only for your safety, but also to ensure that the door opening sensors do not interfere with the process, as well as to avoid accidental activation of the compressor when manipulating the wiring, if the model is equipped with a display on the door.
For ease of operation, cover the floor in front of the refrigerator with a soft material, for example, a blanket or cardboard, so as not to damage the floor covering or scratch the unit itself when tilted. It is also recommended to call an assistant, since even an empty door of the refrigerator compartment weighs quite a lot, and holding it with one hand while unscrewing the bolts is extremely inconvenient and risky.
☑️ Tools for hanging the door
Removing the top panel and releasing the hinges
The first stage of work is removing the top cover of the refrigerator, if it is structurally provided for in your model. Indesit. In most cases, the cover is fixed at the back with two or three self-tapping screws, which must be unscrewed and then the panel moved forward and up. This will open access to the upper fastening door hinge and will allow further operations to be carried out unhindered.
Next, you should release the upper hinge of the main door of the refrigerator compartment. If plastic plugs are installed on the hinge, they must be carefully pryed off with a flat-head screwdriver. After this, the bolts holding the loop are unscrewed. It is important to hold the door firmly at this moment, since after removing the last bolt it will remain hanging only on your hand. Door weight can be significant, so the help of a second person is critical here.
After removing the top hinge, the door is carefully laid aside. Now it is necessary to dismantle the middle hinge (if there is one, in two-chamber models) or the lower fastening in order to completely free the door leaves. It is better to immediately sort all removed bolts and parts and put them in a separate container so as not to lose them among other debris or fasteners.
Design nuances of some Indesit models
In some older Indesit models, the top hinge can be hidden under a decorative strip, which is not completely removed, but simply folds back after unscrewing one screw. Carefully inspect the structure before attempting to remove the cover so as not to break the plastic clips.
Do not forget that in models with a system No Frost or electronic control, wires may pass through the door. They must be very carefully disconnected, having previously photographed the position of the connectors. Wire loops should not be pulled or twisted, otherwise they may be damaged when reassembling to the other side.
Rearranging door handles and plugs
One One of the most noticeable parts of the process is the transfer of handles. On models Indesit handles are most often attached to screws, access to which is hidden under decorative plugs or is located on the inside of the door. You will need to remove the handle from one side and install it on the opposite side, using pre-prepared holes that are factory sealed with plastic plugs.
To remove the handle, you may need to remove the entire door from its hinges and place it on a soft surface. After unscrewing the mounting screws, carefully remove the handle. Then find the technological holes on the opposite side of the door. If there are plugs installed, remove them and install them in the places where the handles were just removed. This will provide aesthetic appearance and close the access of dust inside the structure.
⚠️ Attention: When tightening the screws securing the handles, do not use excessive force. The plastic of the handles and mounting points can be brittle, and an overtightened screw will lead to a crack that cannot be repaired without replacing the part.
Sometimes it happens that on the new side the holes may not line up perfectly due to manufacturing play or features of the model. In this case, you can slightly widen the hole with a drill, but this must be done extremely carefully so as not to damage internal circuit the door. After installing the handles, check the reliability of their fastening by tugging on them with moderate force.
Reversing the doors to the opposite side
The most crucial moment is installing the doors on new hinges on the other side of the body. To do this, you need to rearrange the hinges themselves (top, middle and bottom) to symmetrical holes on the opposite side of the refrigerator. The refrigerator often comes with an additional set of bushings or studs for hanging, which need to be removed from the packaging with documentation. Indesit Often an additional set of bushings or studs is supplied for re-hanging, which must be removed from the documentation package.
Start by installing the lower support. Insert the pin or axle into the bottom hole on the new side. Then place the door of the freezer (if it is bottom) or refrigerator, depending on the design, onto the axle. After this, install the middle partition or hinge and secure it with bolts. Only after making sure that the lower part is level can you move on to the upper hinge.
When installing the upper hinge, it is important to correctly insert the door into the grooves. Have a helper hold the blade while you insert the mounting bolts. At first, do not screw them all the way to be able to align the door vertically. Adjusting the gaps at this stage it will save you time in the future.
If your model is equipped with a display or control buttons on the door, now is the time to re-run the wires. The wires must pass through special channels inside the door and body. Make sure that when closing the door, the wiring is not pinched or comes into contact with the moving parts of the hinges.
Adjusting the position and tightness of the fit
After all the doors are installed in new places, it is necessary to carry out a thorough adjustment. The doors should close tightly, without distortions, and sealing rubber should evenly fit to the body around the entire perimeter. If you notice gaps or a loose fit in places, this can be corrected by adjusting the height of the door.
In many models Indesit the door height is adjusted using adjusting screws on the bottom hinge. By rotating this screw, you can raise or lower the corner of the door. There are also models where adjustment is made by placing washers under the hinge or changing the position of the studs. Achieve a position in which the door opens and closes smoothly, and when closed magnetic lock works along the entire circuit.
| Problem | Possible cause | Method of elimination |
|---|---|---|
| The door does not fit completely from below | Low installation of the hinge | Tighten the adjusting screw or add a washer |
| The door is skewed to one side | Uneven tightening of the bolts | Loosen the fasteners and level them |
| Difficult to open the door after closing | The clamp is too tight | Check the cleanliness of the seal and the level installation |
| A creaking sound is heard when opening | Friction of hinges or wires | Lubricate the hinges and check the path of the wires |
Pay attention to the operation closersif provided design. The door must be completed independently, starting from a certain opening angle. If this does not happen, it may be necessary to lubricate the hinges or more accurately adjust the tilt of the refrigerator body using the front support legs.
Checking work and final tests
The final stage is a comprehensive check of the work performed. Visually inspect the refrigerator from all sides: make sure that all the plugs are in place, the handles are secured straight, and the gaps between the doors and the body are the same along the entire length. There should be no protruding parts that could interfere with normal operation.
Plug in the refrigerator and listen to its operation. After a while, check whether the doors close tightly. To check the tightness, you can use a simple test with a sheet of paper: clamp the sheet between the door and the body in different places. If the sheet is pulled out with noticeable force, it means seal it is working correctly. If the sheet falls out or is pulled out too easily, additional adjustment is required.
⚠️ Attention: After hanging the doors and turning on the refrigerator, let it work for several hours without loading food. This will allow the system to enter operating mode and make sure that the seal is not broken and the temperature is rising normally.
Also check the operation of the internal elements: do the shelves cling to the walls with the new opening path, is it now convenient for you to use the unit. If everything went well, you can consider the task completed, and the kitchen interior updated.
What to do if there are extra parts left?
If after assembly you still have bolts or bushings, do not throw them away immediately. Keep them in the document box. Perhaps in the future the hinges will need to be rearranged or repaired, and these original parts will come in handy.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Do you need to defrost the refrigerator before rehanging the doors?
There is no special need to defrost the refrigerator, unless you plan to wash it in process. However, if there is a lot of ice in the freezer compartment, it is better to defrost the unit in advance to prevent water from leaking when tilting and moving the doors, which can damage the floor or electrics.
Is it possible to hang the door of an Indesit refrigerator alone?
Technically this is possible, but it is highly not recommended. Refrigerator doors are heavy and bulky. Without an assistant, there is a high risk of dropping the door, damaging the floor, breaking the glass shelves inside, or getting injured. For safe operation, you need at least one insurer.
What to do if the holes for the hinges on the new side do not match?
In the factory, the holes should match perfectly. If this does not happen, check whether you are using the right holes (sometimes there are several pairs). If the holes do not line up due to a defect in the frame, drilling may be necessary, but this will void your warranty and requires high precision.
Does re-hanging the door affect the warranty?
The re-hanging process itself, as described in the instructions, does not void the warranty. However, if you strip threads, break a hinge, or damage wiring in the process, repairs to those damages will be at your expense. Proceed carefully.
Is it necessary to change the opening side of single-chamber refrigerators?
For most single-chamber refrigerators Indesit the door can also be reversed. The process is similar, but simpler since there is only one door. However, in the most budget or older models, the hinges may be asymmetrical, which makes re-hanging impossible without replacing the door itself.