Changing sides opening the refrigerator door is a common need that arises when rearranging furniture or changing the layout of the kitchen. Equipment owners Haier often face a situation where the standard arrangement of handles or hinges interferes with convenient access to products. Fortunately, the design of most modern models, including the series C2F, B2F and Side-by-Side, provides the ability to reinstall the hinge.
This process requires not so much complex tools as care and adherence to the sequence of actions. Incorrect assembly can lead to misalignment of the valves and a violation of the tightness seal and, as a result, increased energy consumption. Before starting work, it is important to empty the chambers of products and disconnect the device from the power supply.
In this article we will analyze in detail the stages of dismantling and installing hinges, adjusting the position of doors and installing plugs. You will learn how to avoid common mistakes and ensure a perfect fit of the seal around the entire perimeter. This will preserve the aesthetics of the kitchen and extend the life of your refrigeration equipment.
Preparation for work and necessary tools
Before you begin to physically impact the structure of the refrigerator, you need to prepare the work space. Make sure that the floor is covered with soft material to avoid scratches on the decorative covering of the door if it falls. You will also need free access from all sides of the unit.
To perform the work you will need a standard home handyman kit. The main tool will be hex key or a set of bits, since most fasteners in technology Haier have the appropriate type of head. A flathead and Phillips screwdriver may also be useful, as well as a knife to carefully remove the plugs.
- 🔧 A set of hex keys (usually 4 mm or 5 mm).
- 🪛 Screwdrivers with different types tips.
- 🧤 Work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal edges.
- 🧹 Soft rags for wiping parts.
It is important to check the equipment of your refrigerator. In some models, a re-hanging kit (additional screws or adapter plates) is already included in the kit, in others, the same fasteners are used as were originally installed. Safety requires complete disconnection of the device from the 220V network before starting any manipulations.
☑️ Preparation for re-hanging
Dismantling the upper part and removing the door
You should always start disassembling from the top hinge, since it is this that holds the bulk of the door leaf. First, remove the decorative cover that hides the mechanism. It can be secured with latches or screws that need to be unscrewed counterclockwise.
After removing the cover, you will see the top hinge and mounting bolts. Do not unscrew them completely at once. Loosen the fastening, but leave the hinge in place so that it continues to hold the door. Now carefully lift the door to remove it from the lower support, and only then completely unscrew the upper bolts.
⚠️ Attention: The refrigerator door is heavy and has an offset center of gravity. Ask an assistant to help you when removing the door leaf to avoid falling and damaging the floor or the unit itself.
The removed door must be placed on the prepared surface with the outer side down. Be sure to place thick cardboard or a blanket under it. Now you can begin to rearrange the handle and remove the lower hinge from the reverse side.
Features of dismantling Side-by-Side models
In Side-by-Side refrigerators, the procedure may be different: first, remove the upper door of the freezer compartment, then the lower door of the refrigerator compartment. Be careful about the sequence so as not to upset the balance of the structure.
Rearranging handles and fittings
The most labor-intensive stage is moving the handle to the opposite side. In models Haier handles are often attached to hidden screws, access to which is opened after removing the decorative trims. These pads are usually pryed off with a thin knife or plastic spatula.
Unscrew the mounting screws holding the handle and carefully remove it. Pay attention to the gaskets or bushings - they need to be saved and moved to a new location. There will be holes on the free side that need to be closed with plastic plugs included in the kit or already installed from the factory.
Install the handle in a new place using the same screws. Tightening the screws It should be uniform to avoid skewing of the handle. Make sure that the mechanism fits tightly to the surface of the door and does not wobble when opening.
- 🔩 Carefully remove the decorative plugs from the new side of the installation.
- 🧼 Clean the holes from dust before screwing in the screws.
- 🔨 Use a soft drift if the plugs are very tight.
Installation of the lower hinge and installation of the door
After preparing the door, we move on to the bottom of the refrigerator. Here is the bottom loop, which also needs to be transferred. Unscrew the bolts securing the hinge in its current position and remove it along with the axle.
Install the hinge on the opposite side, into the previously prepared technological holes. Tighten the bolts tightly to ensure a secure fit. Now you can begin installing the door in its place.
Place the bottom of the door onto the hinge axis, then lift it to the level of the upper hinge. Align the holes and insert the mounting bolts. At this stage the bolts are not fully tightened, they should have a slight play for subsequent adjustment.
| Work stage | Tool | Nuances of implementation |
|---|---|---|
| Removing the top hinge | Hexagon | Do not remove the bolts completely until the door is removed |
| Moving the handle | Screwdriver | Save all gaskets and bushings |
| Installing the lower hinge | Open-end wrench | Tighten all the way before attaching |
| Final fixation | Set of keys | Adjusting gaps after installation |
Adjusting gaps and door position
After installing the door in place, a situation often arises when it does not fit tightly or is skewed. To eliminate this, it is necessary to carry out position adjustment. Loosen the bolts of the upper and lower hinges (if the design allows) and align the door with the body.
Check the gaps around the entire perimeter. They should be the same. If the door warps to one side, loosen the fasteners slightly and move the door in the desired direction. Pay special attention to the fit of the seal in the corners.
⚠️ Attention: Over-tightening the bolts may deform the hinge metal or strip the threads. Tighten the fasteners with moderate force, controlling the tension.
You can use a sheet of paper to check the tightness. Clamp it between the door and the body at different points. If the sheet is pulled out with force along the entire perimeter, then the adjustment has been made correctly. If in some place the paper falls out freely, additional adjustment is required.
Installation of plugs and final assembly
When the door is installed and adjusted, it is necessary to put the appearance of the refrigerator in order. There are open holes where the hinges and handle were previously located. They need to be closed with decorative plugs.
Included with the refrigerator Haier usually there is a set of such stubs. If they are not in the package, look for them on the back of the door where they may have been installed originally. Carefully insert them into the holes until they click or fit snugly.
Reinstall all decorative hinge covers. Make sure they are securely fastened and not loose. Now you can plug in the refrigerator and start it up. Let the compressor run for a couple of hours before fully loading the products.
Frequent problems and their solutions
Sometimes after rehanging, users are faced with the fact that the door slams or, conversely, does not close completely. This may be due to improper installation of the seal or misalignment of the hinges. Check if the rubber profile is jammed.
If the door opens by itself, the refrigerator may not be level. Check the position of the adjustment feet at the bottom of the housing. The front legs should be twisted so that the body has a slight tilt back. This will ensure gravity closing.
- ❄️ The door does not close tightly - check if the products on the shelves are in the way.
- 🔊 Hinges creaking - lubricate the mechanism with silicone grease.
- 📉 Door sagging - the upper one needs to be re-adjusted fasteners.
What to do if the holes for the hinges do not match?
In 99% of cases, the holes in the body of refrigerators Haier are symmetrical and prepared from the factory. If you don't see any holes, check to see if they are covered with factory stickers or plastic inserts that need to be carefully removed. You cannot drill new holes!
Do you need to call a specialist to re-hang it?
If you have basic skills in working with tools and the physical strength to hold the door, you can handle it yourself. However, if the model is heavy or you are afraid of damaging expensive glass, it is better to contact a service center.
Does re-hanging the door affect the warranty?
Re-hanging the door yourself, as a rule, does not void the warranty unless parts are damaged or threads are broken in the process. However, if after your actions the hinge breaks or the glass breaks, this will not be a warranty case.