Rearranging furniture or remodeling the kitchen often dictates new conditions for the placement of household appliances. In such situations, the standard location of the refrigerator door can become an obstacle to comfortable use of the space. Many equipment owners LG wonder whether it is possible to change the opening side of the sash, and if so, how difficult this process is. Fortunately, the design of most modern models provides for this possibility, which allows you to adapt the unit to any size of the room.
The re-hanging procedure requires care and the presence of a basic set of tools, but does not require the professional skills of an engineer. Rehanging the door is an operation that can be completely done independently, saving on calling a technician. The main thing is to strictly follow the sequence of actions and take precautions so as not to damage the aesthetic appearance of the case or the internal filling of the unit. Before starting work, it is important to clear the space around the refrigerator and prepare a flat surface for temporary placement of the removed elements.
Necessary tools and preparation of the workplace
To successfully complete the task, you will need a minimum set of household tools. The main tool will be hex key, which often comes with the refrigerator, but you can also use a standard set from a tool box. A flathead and Phillips screwdriver is also useful for removing decorative elements and handles. If your model has hidden hinges, you may need a socket wrench of a certain size, usually 8 or 10 mm.
It is important to prepare a soft covering in advance, such as a blanket or thick rug, to lay the removed doors on. This will protect them from scratches and chips. It would be a good idea to invite an assistant, since the refrigerator door, even empty, has significant weight and can slip out of your hands at the most inopportune moment. Safety when working with heavy elements, priority number one.
☑️ Preparation for work
- 🔧 Hex key or set of sockets (usually 8-10 mm).
- 🪛 Screwdrivers (flat and Phillips) for screws and plugs.
- 🧤 Work gloves to protect hands from sharp edges.
- 🛋️ A soft blanket or mat for laying the door.
Dismantling the top part and removing the door
The first step is always to disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply. This is critical because tilting the chassis or removing doors can cause damage to internal components, and there is a risk of electric shock if the wiring is accidentally touched. Once unplugged, open all doors and empty shelves to reduce the weight of the structure as much as possible. Remove all removable elements: baskets, egg trays and shelves that can be removed.
Start with the top hinge. Depending on the model LG, it may be hidden under a decorative cover or open. If there is a plastic plug, carefully pry it off with a flathead screwdriver. Unscrew the top hinge mounting bolts, but do not remove it completely yet if the design requires the door to be supported. Holding the door, finally unscrew the fasteners and remove the hinge.
⚠️ Attention: Do not try to hold a heavy refrigerator door with one hand while simultaneously unscrewing the bolts with the other. The risk of dropping the sash and damaging the floor or the unit itself is extremely high. Be sure to enlist the help of an assistant or use stops.
After removing the top hinge, carefully lift the door to remove the bottom axis from the hole, and set it aside on the prepared surface. Now you can move on to the bottom of the structure. If your refrigerator is a two-chamber one and has a separate freezer compartment at the bottom, the procedure will need to be repeated for each door separately, starting from the top.
Flipping the hinges and installing plugs
The most important part of the process is reinstalling the fittings on the opposite side. On the free side of the case you will see holes closed with plastic plugs. They need to be removed. To do this, carefully pry the edges of the plugs with a knife or thin screwdriver. The removed plugs are installed in the holes on the side where the hinges were previously attached to close the empty sockets.
Hinges often have a symmetrical design, but some models LG require the hinge or pin itself to be turned over. Carefully inspect the removed parts: if there are asymmetrical projections or holes on the hinge, they need to be rotated 180 degrees to match the new holes on the body. Hinge pin must face up to ensure proper rotation of the door.
| Element | Action when turning over | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Upper loop | Move to the other side | May require a 180° turn |
| Lower support | Rearrange in the lower hole | It is important not to overtighten the screw |
| Decorative plugs | Change places | Make sure the fit is tight |
| Door handle | Remove and turn over (if symmetrical) | Some handles are asymmetrical |
Install the lower support hinge in a new place and lightly tighten the bolts. Do not tighten them all the way right away, as the door may need to be adjusted after hanging. Make sure that the bottom hinge pin is installed strictly vertically, otherwise the door will open skewed or will not close tightly.
What to do if the holes do not match?
In some models of LG refrigerators, the holes for the hinges may be closed with factory plugs inside the case. If you don't see threads, carefully check the depth of the hole. If there is plastic or metal without threads, perhaps your model does not provide for overhanging, or the use of adapters from the kit is required.
Features of turning handles and locks
The mechanism of the handles deserves special attention. In most modern models LG handles are integrated into the body or have hidden installation. If the handle is attached to screws, you need to unscrew them, remove the element, turn it over (if the design allows) or install it in a new place. However, there are models where the handle is part of the design and does not require rearrangement, or requires replacement with a mirror version, which must be ordered separately.
If your refrigerator has a magnetic child lock or electronic door open sensor, the wires may run inside the door leaf. In such cases, when turning over, it is necessary to handle the cable channel with extreme caution. The wiring is usually long enough to be carried, but should not be pulled or pinched by the hinge mechanism.
- 🖐️ Check the symmetry of the handle before removing.
- 🔌 Make sure that the sensor wires are not tensioned.
- 🔩 Use original screws to fasten the handles.
- 👀 Check the operation of the closing mechanism after installation.
Installing the door on a new side
After preparing all the holes and installing the lower support, you can begin hanging doors. This is the stage where the help of a second person becomes indispensable. Lift the door, carefully slide its bottom hole onto the installed bottom hinge pin. After making sure that the door is level and vertical, you can proceed to installing the top hinge.
Attach the top hinge to the end of the door and the refrigerator body. Insert the bolts and start tightening them. At this stage, it is important not to fully tighten the fasteners. First you need to achieve the correct position of the door relative to the body so that the gaps around the perimeter are uniform. Adjusting the gaps is a key point to ensure tightness.
⚠️ Attention: If after installation you notice that the door is skewed or does not fit tightly to the seal, do not use excessive force to close it. Loosen the top hinge, level the door and retighten the bolts.
Tighten all the top hinge bolts with a wrench. Check the ease of movement of the door: it should open and close smoothly, without creaking or jamming. If the door touches the body or adjacent shelves, it may be necessary to (fine-tune) the height of the lower support or the position of the upper fastening.
Final adjustment and tightness check
Last stage - checking the quality of the work performed. Plug in the refrigerator and let it run for a few minutes. Check that the rubber seal fits tightly around the entire perimeter. To do this, you can use a simple test with a sheet of paper: hold the piece of paper in the door and try to pull it out. If the paper is pulled out with force along its entire length, the seal is OK.
Pay attention to the operation of the door opening sensor (if there is one). When the shutter opens, the light in the chamber should come on and, possibly, a signal should sound. If the light does not come on, the switch may have been dislodged or damaged when turned over. In some models, it also needs to be moved to a symmetrical hole on the opposite side.
During the first few hours of operation, monitor the temperature inside the chambers. If the refrigerator begins to freeze less or condensation appears on the walls, this may indicate a loose door fit. In this case, the procedure for adjusting the hinges will have to be repeated more carefully.
What to do if, after turning over, the door does not close completely?
Most often, the problem lies in the incorrect installation of the lower support hinge or the skew of the upper hinge. Try loosening the top hinge, pressing the door tightly against the body and tightening the bolts. Also check whether the products on the shelves do not interfere with closing the door.
Is it possible to hang the door if the refrigerator is built-in?
With built-in appliances, everything is more complicated. Dismantling of decorative facades and furniture hinges is often required. Before starting work, be sure to study the instructions for a specific model, since the fastening mechanisms may differ from free-standing analogues.
Do you need to defrost the refrigerator before rehanging?
Full defrosting is not necessary if you work quickly. However, if there is a lot of ice in the freezer, it is better to let it melt so that water does not flow out when the door is tilted. It is also easier to move and tilt an empty refrigerator.