Changing the opening side of the refrigerator door is a standard procedure necessary when remodeling a kitchen or moving to a new home. Equipment owners Indesit often encounter the fact that the standard arrangement of handles blocks the passage or interferes with the installation of the unit in a niche. Fortunately, the design of most models provides the ability to reinstall the hinge, which allows you to adapt the device to specific room conditions.
The process requires care and adherence to the sequence of actions, since incorrect assembly can lead to misalignment of the sash or damage to the seal. Before starting work, it is important to make sure that you have the necessary set of tools and free space around the unit. Rehanging the doors takes no more than 30-40 minutes if you follow the instructions strictly and do not apply excessive force to the plastic elements.
In this article we will analyze in detail the technical nuances of dismantling and installation loops, features of working with different models Indesit and critical points that cannot be ignored. A correctly performed procedure guarantees the tightness of the chamber and the long service life of the mechanisms.
Necessary tools and preparation of the workplace
To do the job well, you will need a minimum set of home craftsman, but the quality of the tools directly affects the speed of the process. The main tool will be hex wrench (usually 4 mm or 5 mm), which often comes with the refrigerator, but can get lost. It is also necessary to have a 10 mm open-end wrench or a socket head with a ratchet to remove the main fastening bolts.
Do not forget to prepare a flat-head screwdriver for prying up decorative plugs and plastic clips. To avoid damaging the floor covering and to facilitate access to the bottom of the unit, place thick cardboard or soft rags under the bottom of the refrigerator. This is especially true for models with a plastic base, which can be easily scratched when the equipment is moved.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting any work on dismantling the housing elements, be sure to disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply. Remove the plug from the outlet to avoid accidental short circuit or electric shock when working with metal tools near electrical components.
Get at least 1.5 meters of space in front of the refrigerator. You will need to place the doors on the floor or temporary support, so make sure there are no sharp objects or dirt. If the refrigerator has shelves on the doors, it is better to remove them in advance to reduce the weight of the structure and the risk of chipping.
☑️ Preparation for rehanging the doors
Removing the top panel and the top hinge
The first step is always removing the top lids of the refrigerator compartment, if it is structurally provided for in your model Indesit. In most cases, it is secured with two screws at the front, which can be hidden under decorative plugs. Carefully pry the plugs with a flat-head screwdriver and unscrew the fasteners, then slide the cover back and remove it.
Next, move on to the top hinge. In some models, it is closed with a plastic casing, which must be removed by pulling up or snapping the latches. Top hinge is held on by two or three bolts, which must be unscrewed with a key. It is important to hold the door at this moment, as once the fasteners are loosened, it may fall.
Remove the door from the lower pin and place it in a safe place, placing it on a prepared soft surface. Now on the top panel of the case there will be a hole for the hinge, which is currently closed with a plastic plug. This plug must be removed and moved to the opposite side where the loop was previously. This will preserve the aesthetic appearance of the equipment.
Flipping the door and rearranging the handles
The most crucial moment is rearranging the handle on the door. On models Indesit with hidden installation, the handle is usually secured with two screws on the inside of the panel. You need to unscrew them, remove the handle and move them to the opposite end. Please note that the holes can be covered with decorative inserts that need to be moved to the free space.
If your model is equipped with through holes for attaching the handle, the process is simplified. However, it is often necessary to turn the handle itself over or use the supplied plugs. The refrigerator usually comes with a set of plastic plugs and screws for the reverse side. Make sure that the rubber seals on the ends of the door are not damaged, as they can move when turned over.
After moving the handle, you need to turn over the lower bushing (support pin) on which the door rotates. It is located at the bottom of the door. To do this, you may need to remove the lower decorative panel of the refrigerator base. Unscrew the pin from one hole and screw it into a symmetrical hole on the other side, using the same key.
⚠️ Attention: When rearranging the handle, act without fanaticism. The plastic on older models can be brittle. If the screw does not come out, do not use force, try dropping a little penetrating lubricant and wait.
Installing the bottom hinge and hanging the door
After preparing the door, we proceed to installing the bottom hinge on the refrigerator body. Remove the plinth panel (if equipped) to access the fasteners. Unscrew the bolts holding the bottom hinge and move it to the opposite side, into the pre-prepared threaded holes. Tighten the bolts with a wrench, but do not apply maximum force yet.
Now you need to put the door in place. It is more convenient to do this with an assistant, since one hand will be occupied with holding the canvas, and the other with directing the pin. Align the hole in the bottom door bushing with the installed bottom hinge. Make sure that the door is level and not skewed.
After installing the bottom support, move on to the top. Insert the top hinge into the slots on the frame and into the bottom of the door (through the top hole). Screw in the top hinge mounting bolts. Right now it is necessary to finally tighten all connections, ensuring the reliability of the structure. Check that the hinge axis is in the center of the mating part.
| Element | Action | Tool | Nuance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top cover | Remove and put away | Hexagon | Do not lose the screws |
| Top hinge | Move to the other side | 10 mm key | Remove the plastic casing |
| Door handle | Move to the opposite end | Screwdriver | Close the holes with plugs |
| Bottom bushing | Twist in the door | Hexagon | Access through the base |
Adjusting the position and checking the tightness
After assembly, the question of tightness will inevitably arise. Adjusting the doors is the final stage to ensure proper cooling. If the door is skewed or does not fit tightly, you need to tighten the bolts securing the top hinge. Loosen them a little, move the door to the desired position and tighten again.
Check the operation of the magnetic seal around the entire perimeter. Take a sheet of paper, clamp it with the door and try to pull it out. Normally, the paper should be pulled out with force. If it falls out freely or breaks when jerked, additional adjustment of the height of the refrigerator legs or the position of the hinges is required.
Do not forget to replace all decorative plugs in place of the former fastenings. This is not only a matter of aesthetics, but also protection from dust and moisture getting inside the case. Check that nothing is preventing the door from completely closing, including products on the nearest shelves.
What to do if the door moves away on its own?
If after rehanging the door does not hold and moves away, check the angle of the body. The refrigerator should be tilted slightly backwards. This is adjusted by twisting the front legs. Also check whether the seal does not touch the body when opening.
Frequent errors and technical nuances of Indesit models
When rehanging refrigerator doors Indesit users often make typical mistakes. One of them is the loss of stubs. Small plastic parts can easily get lost in carpet or grass when working outdoors. Another mistake is overtightening the bolts, which can lead to threads breaking in the aluminum body or plastic cracking.
In models with a display or electronic control panel on the door, the situation is more complicated. Here you may need to reconnect the cable cable. Electrical cable you need to carefully disconnect it, thread it through a new hole and connect it again. Be careful with the connectors, they are very fragile.
- ⚙️ Do not forget to rearrange the opening stops, if your model has them, otherwise the door will open at the wrong angle.
- 🔧 Use only original fasteners; replacing with bolts of a different diameter may damage the threads.
- 🧼 Before installation, wipe the seal with warm water and soap to remove dust and improve the fit.
⚠️ Attention: If your refrigerator has a No Frost system with a cold air channel in the doors, make sure that when rearranging you do not pinch corrugated air duct hose. This will disrupt the air circulation.
Questions and answers (FAQ)
Do you need to defrost the refrigerator before rehanging the doors?
Full defrosting is not necessary if you work quickly. However, it is recommended to remove all products and shelves to make the structure lighter and to avoid objects falling when the door is tilted. If there is a lot of ice in the freezer, it is better to wait, since the ice can shift the center of gravity.
Is it possible for one person to hang the doors on their own?
Technically, this is possible, but it is highly not recommended. Refrigerator doors, especially double-chamber ones, are heavy and bulky. Without an assistant, there is a high risk of dropping the door, damaging the floor, or getting injured. It’s better to call someone for insurance.
What to do if the plugs for the holes are lost?
Plugs can be ordered at the service center Indesit or pick up universal analogues in furniture fittings stores. As a last resort, the holes can be sealed with a decorative sticker in the color of the body, although this is less aesthetically pleasing.
Why did the door become worse to close after rehanging?
Most likely, the angle of the refrigerator is broken or the height of the legs is incorrectly set. The refrigerator should be tilted slightly backward so that the door closes itself under the influence of gravity. Also check whether the seal is touching the body.