Many owners of household appliances are faced with a situation where the standard configuration of the refrigerator is no longer satisfactory. This may be due to moving to a new apartment, where the kitchen doorway is on the other side, or simply due to the desire to optimize the space for more convenient access to products. In such cases door rehanging becomes the only rational solution to avoid the purchase of new equipment or complex redevelopment of the premises. Fortunately, most of the brand’s models Indesit were initially designed with this possibility in mind, which makes the procedure accessible even to a non-professional.
However, before you take up the tool, you need to clearly understand the structure of your unit. Incorrect actions can lead to damage sealing rubber, deformation of the hinged elements or even a violation of the seal of the chamber, which will lead to increased energy consumption. Therefore, the first step should always be a careful visual inspection of the ends and side panels of your refrigerator.
This process requires accuracy, the presence of a basic set of tools and, preferably, an assistant, since the door leaf with shelves and products weighs quite a lot. If you decide to do the work yourself, strictly follow the procedure to avoid stripping threads or losing small but critical fastener parts. Below we will analyze in detail all stages of work, from preparation to final adjustment of the gaps.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting any work, be sure to disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply! Remove the plug from the socket to eliminate the risk of short circuit or electric shock if the wiring leading to the control system or lighting is accidentally damaged.
Necessary tools and workplace preparation
Quality preparation is half the success of the entire operation. You do not need specialized equipment, but the set should be complete so as not to interrupt the process by searching for the right screwdriver at the most crucial moment. The main tool will be wrench or a head of the appropriate size (most often it is 8, 10 or 13 mm), since the hinge bolts are tightened with force. Also, be sure to prepare a Phillips screwdriver for screws of a smaller diameter and a flat-head screwdriver, which will be useful for carefully snapping off decorative plugs.
In addition to the main tool, stock up on auxiliary materials. You will need masking tape or wide duct tape to secure the door in the open position and prevent it from falling. It would be a good idea to place a soft blanket or thick cardboard on the floor in front of the refrigerator - this will protect the floor covering and the equipment itself from scratches if the heavy part does slip out of your hands. To lubricate the rubbing mechanisms of the hinges after installation, use lithium grease or graphite powder, but in no case WD-40, as it washes out the factory grease.
Organize the space around the refrigerator. Move the unit away from the wall so that you have easy access from all sides, including the rear, if cables need to be routed. Remove any foreign objects that may interfere with maneuvers. If you have a model with a system No Frost or electronic control, make sure that the wires are not strained.
☑️ Preparing for rehanging
Determine in advance on which side the hinges will be located after rehanging. Inspect the side of the case: there should be hidden threaded holes covered with plastic plugs. If they are not there, then, alas, the model does not provide for changing the opening side, and further actions may lead to breakdown.
Dismantling the top door and removing the top hinge
We always start disassembling from the top of the refrigerator. This is due to a design feature: the lower door rests on the lower hinge, and the upper one rests on the upper one, so it makes more sense to remove them in order from top to bottom. Open the top door and empty it of food to reduce weight and stress on the fasteners. If there are shelves on the door, it is also better to temporarily remove them, especially glass ones, so that they do not fall out when the door is tilted.
At the end or on top of the top hinge you will notice a decorative plastic plug. It needs to be carefully pryed off with a flat screwdriver or knife. Be careful not to scratch the plastic or break the fasteners. The mounting bolts are hidden under the plug. In some models Indesit there may also be a wire for a temperature sensor or a lighting lamp if they are located in the upper part of the chamber.
⚠️ Attention: If you find wires going to the door, do not pull them sharply! Carefully disconnect the connector, having first photographed or remember the color marking of the contacts, so as not to confuse the polarity during assembly.
After releasing the fasteners, call an assistant. While one person holds the door firmly in an upright position, the second unscrews the top hinge bolts. Once the bolts are removed, the door can be removed from the bottom hinge (if there is one) or simply set aside in a safe place if the design allows. However, in the classic scheme, first remove the top hinge, then the door itself, and then move on to the bottom.
After unscrewing the bolts, remove the metal plate of the top hinge. Inspect it carefully for scoring or corrosion. If the surface is uneven, the door will not close tightly. If necessary, clean the contact pads with fine sandpaper. Now you can remove the upper door itself from the lower pin or free it from the middle fasteners, depending on the model.
What to do if the bolts are stuck?
If the bolts do not unscrew, do not use excessive force so as not to tear off the edges. Try dropping a little penetrating lubricant (for example, kerosene or special fluid) onto the threads and wait 10-15 minutes. Then try again carefully. Using an impact screwdriver is possible, but with great care.
Removing the middle hinge and main door
Once the top door is removed, access to the middle hinge, which is often the connecting link for two-chamber refrigerators, opens. At this stage it is important not to lose the bushings and washers that may be installed between the hinge and the body. They provide the correct clearance and smooth running. Place all small parts in a separate container so that they do not get lost.
Now you need to remove the main, lower door. The principle is the same: fix the door leaf, unscrew the middle fastener (which is the top support for the bottom door) and remove it. Pay attention to the condition sealing collar. When removing the door, rubber may get stuck in the opening. Do not pull the door by force - carefully bend the elastic around the perimeter, freeing it from sticking to the body.
Having removed the doors, inspect their ends. This is where you will rearrange the fastening elements - bushings, plugs and mating parts of the locks. On most models Indesit these elements are symmetrical. You need to unscrew the fasteners on one side and screw them on the other, into pre-closed technological holes. Use the plugs that were removed at the beginning of work.
Important point: check the condition of the hinge pins. If they have wear or rust, it is better to replace them with new ones, since the tightness of the door depends on this. The rust can be cleaned, but deep grooves can only be eliminated by replacing the part.
Rearrangement of fasteners and fittings
The most critical stage is the migration of fittings. You need to move all the hanging elements to the opposite side of the door leaf. This applies not only to the hinges, but also to the handle, if it is asymmetrical, and the stoppers. The refrigerator Indesit often comes with a set of additional plugs for holes that will remain free after turning over. Don’t forget to cover the holes on the “old” side with them to maintain aesthetics and thermal insulation.
When rearranging the lock strikers, make sure they are level. If the bar is skewed, the door will close with force or, conversely, will not hold. For fixation, use the same screws that were originally, but if they are too long for the new position (this happens in rare cases), select analogs of a shorter length so as not to break through the door wall.
Pay special attention to the bushings. They are installed in holes at the end of the door and in the body. Lubricate them with a small amount of technical grease. This will ensure quiet operation and smooth running in the future. If the bushings are plastic and show signs of heavy wear, it is better to replace them, since they are inexpensive and affect the geometry significantly.
| Element | Action | Tool | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper loop | Remove and rearrange | Wrench | Watch the wires |
| Middle loop | Remove and expand | Screwdriver, key | Check the pin |
| Keeper | Move to the end | Phillips screwdriver | Keep the level |
| Plugs | Close the old holes | Hands | Use from the kit |
Installing doors in a new position
Assembly is carried out in the reverse order of disassembly. First, the lower (now main) door is installed. Have a helper hold it while you insert the bottom pin into the corresponding hole on the new side. Make sure the door is level and does not fall down. Only after this can the middle loop be attached.
When installing the middle loop, do not immediately tighten the bolts all the way. First, just bait them so that the structure “grabs” but has a little play for adjustment. Then the top door is installed. Here again, the help of a second person will be required, since you need to simultaneously hold the heavy blade and get into the holes of the top hinge.
When all the doors are hung, you can begin the final tightening. Move from bottom to top: first, finally tighten the middle hinge, checking the tightness of the bottom door, then move to the top. Use torque wrenchif you have one, so as not to overtighten the thread, but at home, hand effort plus a small amount of force with a wrench is enough.
Adjusting gaps and checking tightness
After installation, a situation often arises when the door hangs crookedly or does not fit tightly. This can be solved by adjustment. There are adjusting screws in the legs of the refrigerator Indesit e. By twisting the front legs, you can raise or lower the corner of the body, which will change the inclination of the doors relative to each other. If the top door touches the bottom door, you need to unscrew the front legs to tilt the refrigerator back.
Check the tightness. Take a sheet of paper or a bill, clamp it around the perimeter of the door and try to pull it out. The paper should come out with noticeable force along its entire length. If in some place it flies out freely, it means that seal it is not adjacent. In this case, you can try warming the rubber with a hairdryer (carefully!) or placing a thin gasket under the seal in the problem area.
Let the refrigerator stand off for at least 2-4 hours before turning it on. This is necessary so that the refrigerant and oil in the compressor calm down after transport tilting and manipulation. Only after this can you connect the unit to the network and load products.
What to do if the door slams too hard?
Excessive slamming when closing indicates too much pressure or lack of shock absorption. Check to see if the door is twisted. You can also slightly loosen the hinge screws (literally half a turn) to add micro-play. Sometimes it helps to install small rubber shock absorbers on the body at the point of impact.
Is it possible to hang a door if it has a glass shelf?
Yes, you can. However, glass shelves increase the weight and fragility of the structure. Be sure to remove such shelves before starting work. When reinstalling, make sure that the shelf guides on the new side of the door are installed symmetrically and securely.
Why did a whistle appear after re-hanging?
The whistle can occur due to metal-to-metal friction in the hinges, if the lubricant has dried, or due to air leaks through a loose seal. In the first case, lubricating the hinges will help, in the second, adjusting the position of the door or replacing the rubber band.
⚠️ Attention: The design of the hinges and the location of the holes may vary slightly depending on the year of manufacture and the specific series Indesit (for example, series B, C, EF, etc.). Always focus on the visual presence of threaded holes on the body.
Completing all these steps will allow you to independently change the opening direction of your refrigerator doors. This will not only solve the problem of ergonomics in the kitchen, but will also give you confidence in your abilities to maintain household appliances. The main thing is to act consistently and not ignore safety measures.