Many owners of household appliances are faced with a situation where, after purchasing a refrigerator Snaige it turns out that its location in the kitchen space is not entirely convenient. The standard factory configuration requires the door to open in one direction, but the kitchen layout may dictate its own rules, requiring the door to swing open in the opposite direction. Fortunately, the design of most models of this Lithuanian brand provides the possibility of hanging doorswhich allows you to adapt the unit to the specific conditions of the room.
This process does not require calling a specialist and can be done independently with basic skills and a minimum set of tools. However, it is worth considering that different series of refrigerators may have design features for fastening hinges i handles. In some models, the handles are part of the body or have a hidden fastening mechanism, which requires a special approach when dismantling.
Before taking active steps, you need to carefully study the internal structure of your specific model. Improper dismantling may damage decorative elements or compromise the tightness of seals. In this article we will analyze the stages of work in detail, paying attention to the nuances specific to the equipment Snaige.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting any work, be sure to disconnect the refrigerator from the electrical network. This is critical for safety, since you will be working with metal elements in close proximity to electrical wiring and the compressor.
To successfully complete the task, you will need a standard DIY kit. The main tool will be a wrench or socket of size 8 mm and 10 mm, as well as Phillips and flat-head screwdrivers. In some cases, a hexagon may be required if the hinge screws are hidden under decorative plugs.
Preparation of the workplace and necessary tools
Quality preparation is the key to the success and safety of your kitchen set. Before you start unscrewing the bolts, you need to clear the space around the refrigerator. You need to provide access to the unit from all sides in order to be able to easily walk around it and safely lay down the removed parts.
Particular attention should be paid to protecting the floor covering. Refrigerator doors are quite heavy, and falling or moving them carelessly can damage the laminate or linoleum. It is recommended to cover the floor around the equipment with thick cardboard, an old blanket or special rugs.
- 🛠️ A wrench or ratchet with 8 and 10 mm heads are the main tools for working with fastening bolts hinges.
- 🔧 Phillips screwdriver (PH2) - needed for removing decorative panels and some types of handles.
- 🧤 Construction gloves - metal edges of shelves and internal elements can be sharp, and heavy doors are difficult to hold with bare hands.
- 📦 Plastic container or magnetic tray - for folding screws to they did not get lost during the work.
It is also highly advisable to enlist the support of an assistant. While it's theoretically possible to do it alone, the risk of dropping a heavy glass door or scratching the frame on protruding kitchen corners increases significantly when working alone. A second person will help fix the body and carefully accept the removed door.
⚠️ Attention: Do not attempt to carry out re-hanging work if the kitchen floor has a strong slope or the surface is slippery. The stability of the refrigerator is the main safety condition when dismantling heavy elements.
Make sure that you have enough free space for temporary storage of removed doors. They cannot be placed vertically, leaning on an angle, as this can lead to deformation of the canvas or broken glass. It is best to prepare a clean space on the floor, covered with a soft cloth.
Removing the top panel and top hinge
The first stage of work is to remove the top decorative cover of the refrigerator. It is under it or through special holes in it that access is made to the upper hinge that holds the door. In most models Snaige the cover is fixed with several screws on the front or back, which need to be carefully unscrewed.
After removing the cover, access to the top hinge will open. Before unscrewing the bolts, you need to fix the door in the closed position so that it does not fall on your feet at the most inopportune moment. You can have an assistant simply hold it, or use masking tape to temporarily secure it.
Use a wrench to loosen and remove the bolts holding the top hinge to the body. Please note that the bolts can be quite tight, so apply the force firmly but not jerkily to avoid stripping the threads. After unscrewing the bolts, the hinge can be removed.
☑️ Preparation for removing the hinges
If you see the connectors, they must be carefully disconnected, having first photographed the connection diagram. Do not pull the wires sharply so as not to damage the contacts.
Removing the door and rearranging the lower hinge
After the upper hinge is removed, the door is no longer fixed at the top, but still rests on the lower axis. Now you can carefully lift the door by removing it from the bottom pin. This should be done smoothly, controlling the weight of the structure, especially if you have a model with a large freezer or glass shelves.
The removed door should be immediately put aside in a safe place prepared in advance. Do not place it on its edge or on the handle - only flat on a soft base. Now attention turns to the bottom of the refrigerator. Here is the mating part of the lower hinge, which also needs to be dismantled.
The lower hinge is usually attached to the body with two or three bolts. Unscrew them and remove the metal plate. At this stage, you will be faced with the task of rearranging the elements to the opposite side. The refrigerator often comes with plugs for the holes that will remain free after moving the hinge. Snaige Often there are plugs for the holes that will remain free after the loop is transferred.
- 🔩 Remove the bottom hinge from the current side by unscrewing the fastening bolts.
- 🚪 Carefully lift the door from the bottom pin and set it aside side.
- 🔄 Move the lower support sleeve (pin) to the opposite side of the case, if the design allows for this.
- 🧩 Install the removed hinge in a new place using the holes provided by the factory.
When installing the bottom hinge in a new place, make sure that it fits snugly against the case. The bolts must be tightened evenly, alternating their tightening to avoid distortion. This is important so that the door closes tightly and without distortion in the future.
Installing the door on the new side
When the bottom hinge is securely fastened to the new side, you can begin hanging the door. This is the most crucial moment that requires precision. Lift the door and carefully slide its bottom hole onto the installed pin or bottom hinge pin.
While holding the door upright, align the top holes of the door with the holes in the top hinge that you previously moved to the new side or prepared for installation. Here again, the help of a second person is indispensable: one holds the door, the second tightens the bolts of the upper hinge.
When tightening the bolts of the upper hinge, do not immediately tighten them “all the way.” First, just tighten them to fix the position, check the evenness of the gaps, and only then make the final tightening. This will allow you to correct the position of the door if it is skewed.
What to do if the holes do not match?
If the holes in the top hinge do not match the holes on the door, you may have oriented the door incorrectly or mixed up the top and bottom hinges (if they are symmetrical in fastenings, but different in design). Check the markings on the parts. In rare cases, it may be necessary to adjust the position of the refrigerator itself on the floor.
After fixing the top hinge, check the operation of the door. It should open freely, without creaking or jamming. If the door closes by itself when not fully opened, this is normal for a properly installed refrigerator that slopes backwards. If the door opens spontaneously, it means that the balance is upset and adjustment is required.
Adjusting gaps and seals
Correct adjustment is a guarantee that your Snaige will work economically and silently. After rehanging, be sure to check the tightness sealing rubber along the entire perimeter. The gaps should be uniform, and the rubber itself should fit tightly to the body.
To check the tightness of the fit, you can use a simple sheet of paper. Clamp it with the door at different points around the perimeter. If the paper is pulled out with difficulty along its entire length, the tightness is excellent. If in some places the paper falls out freely or, conversely, gets stuck tightly, adjust the door position.
| Check parameter | Normal condition | Required action |
|---|---|---|
| Gap between the door and the body | Uniform around the entire perimeter (1-2 mm) | Loosen the hinges and level the door |
| Tightness of the rubber band | Rubber is pressed tightly, no gaps | Warm up hairdryer or replace the seal |
| Self-closing | The door closes itself when opened 20-30 degrees | Check the tilt of the refrigerator back |
It often happens that after hanging the door begins to touch the internal shelves or boxes. This may be due to the fact that during factory assembly on the “original” side the gaps were minimal. In this case, you can slightly loosen the fastening of the hinges and move the door a millimeter to the side by placing a washer.
⚠️ Attention: If you find that the sealing rubber has deformed or lost elasticity during the work, do not ignore it. A loose fit will lead to ice freezing and increased energy consumption. You can try to straighten the deformed area with the warm air of a hairdryer.
Features of overhanging in two-chamber models
Owners of two-chamber refrigerators Snaige (where the freezer is located separately, at the top or bottom) will have to perform the procedure described above twice: separately for the door of the refrigerator compartment and separately for the door freezer. The principle of operation remains the same, but the amount of work is added.
You should always start from the bottom door (usually the refrigerator compartment), if the design allows, or follow the instructions strictly in the order specified in the manual for your model. Often in a two-chamber model, a partition has its own peculiarities for fastening the hinges, which must not be disturbed.
It is important not to confuse the fastening elements, since the bolts for the upper and lower doors may differ in length. Using a bolt that is too long can cause it to rest against the inner wall or even damage the cooling circuit, which will be fatal for the refrigerator.
After installing both doors, check their operation independently of each other. Make sure that the open upper door does not interfere with the opening of the lower one and vice versa. In some compact models, when one door is fully opened, the second one can be blocked - this is a design feature that simply needs to be taken into account during operation.
Common mistakes and useful tips
Even following the instructions, you can make mistakes that will subsequently complicate your life. One of the most common is the loss of hole plugs. When you transfer the hinges, holes are left on the old side. They must be closed with special plastic plugs that come with the kit (usually they are attached to the back of the door or in a bag with documents).
If the plugs are lost, do not leave the holes open - moisture and dust will get in there, which can cause metal corrosion. As a last resort, you can paint them with enamel of a suitable color or use decorative stickers.
- 📸 Always take photographs of the disassembly process. After an hour, you may forget which bolt was unscrewed from where, especially if there are many of them and they are similar.
- 🧹 Wipe the seals and door ends before final assembly. Dirt and crumbs trapped under the rubber band will break the seal.
- ⏳ Let the refrigerator “settle” for 2-3 hours after installation before turning it on, especially if you tilted or tilted the unit strongly during work.
Another important point is adjusting the height of the legs of the refrigerator. After re-hanging the doors, it may be necessary to adjust the tilt of the frame. The refrigerator should stand with a slight slope back so that the doors close on their own under their own weight.
Do not forget that some modern models Snaige with the system No Frost may have additional air ducts on the doors. When dismantling them, be extremely careful, the plastic becomes brittle in the cold and easily breaks if handled carelessly.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Is it necessary to defrost the refrigerator before re-hanging the doors?
It is not necessary to defrost the refrigerator specifically for re-hanging the doors, unless there is nothing inside large amounts of ice, which can spill out when tilting or removing the door. However, if you are planning the work for a long time, it is better to remove all the products and shelves to make the structure lighter.
Is it possible to rehang the door if the refrigerator is built into the kitchen unit?
This is extremely difficult and often impossible without removing the refrigerator itself from the niche. Re-hanging requires access from all sides, especially from the rear and sides. Built-in appliances are usually reweighed at the installation stage, before they are connected and built into the furniture.
What to do if, after rehanging, the door does not close completely?
Most likely, the geometry of the hinges is broken or the refrigerator is not level. Check whether the unit is level and try to loosen the top hinge bolts a little, press the door closer to the body and tighten the bolts again. Also check if anything inside (shelves, bottles) is in the way.
Will the warranty still apply if I move the door myself?
According to the law, the consumer has the right to independently service the equipment if this does not require complex special tools and does not lead to breakdown. Re-hanging doors using standard methods does not violate the warranty if you do not damage the frame or seals in the process. However, if problems with sealing occur in the future, the service center may refer to “violation of operating conditions.”