The situation when, after purchasing or rearranging furniture, it turns out that refrigerator door opens in the wrong direction is familiar to many. This creates significant inconvenience in operation, especially in small kitchens, where every centimeter of free space is important. Fortunately, most of the brand's models Candy are designed taking into account the possibility of rehangingwhich allows you to adapt the equipment to the layout of the room.
The process of changing the hinge requires accuracy and the availability of a basic set of tools, but is not a very difficult engineering task. You do not need to be a professional master to cope with this operation yourself, if you follow a clear algorithm of actions. The main thing is to follow the sequence of dismantling and installing the hinges so as not to damage facade panel or the seal.
In this article we will look in detail at how to correctly change the door opening side on refrigerators Candy, what nuances should be taken into account and how to avoid common mistakes. Properly performed work will ensure a long service life of the mechanism and maintaining the tightness of the chamber.
Preparation of the workplace and necessary tools
Before starting the active phase of work, it is necessary to prepare the space. A refrigerator is a large item, and for comfortable work there should be enough space around it. Move the unit away from the wall at least 50-70 centimeters to have free access to the back and side edges on all sides.
It is critical to ensure the stability of the equipment during manipulation. If you have an assistant, ask him to hold the body. It is more difficult to work alone, but it is possible if you use special stops or wedges under the legs to fix the position of the device. Carelessness at this stage can lead to heavy metal doors falling.
To complete the task, you will need a minimum set of tools, which are usually found in every home. However, using unsuitable objects (for example, kitchen knives instead of screwdrivers) can lead to breakage of screw slots or scratches.
- 🛠️ A set of screwdrivers (phillips and flat) for removing fasteners.
- 🔧 8 or 10 mm socket wrench or socket (depending on models Candy).
- 📏 Construction level for checking the horizontal installation after completion of work.
- 🧤 Work gloves to protect hands from sharp metal edges.
It is also recommended to prepare a container in advance for folding screws and small parts so that they do not get lost. Some models. Candy equipped with spare plugs and screws that are attached with tape to the back wall or are in the package with documents - be sure to check their availability.
☑️ Preparing to rehang the door
Empty shelves and dismantling elements
Refrigerator door Candy it weighs a lot even when empty, and with the food inside it becomes almost impossible to lift. Before starting any work with the hinges, you must completely empty the door of the contents to reduce the load on the mechanism and minimize the risk of falling.
The next step is to remove all the removable shelves attached to the inside of the door. Usually they are simply removed by moving upwards or to the side. dismantle the top cover of the refrigerator, if it is structurally provided in your model, as it may interfere with access to the top hinge.
Pay attention to the control system If the buttons or display control panels located on the door, the process becomes more complicated. In such cases, it may be necessary to disconnect the loops, which requires special care. If the control panel is located on the body of the refrigerator, the task is greatly simplified.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting work, be sure to disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply! sockets. This is necessary for safety, since when dismantling the doors, accidental shorting of the contacts of the door opening sensors or damage to the wiring may occur.
Do not forget to defrost the chamber if there is ice in it. Although the re-hanging process itself does not require defrosting, working with wet surfaces and slippery tools is inconvenient. Wipe the seals dry to ensure a secure grip during installation. data-i="81">Removing the top hinge and handle
Removing the top hinge and handle
The process of changing the opening side always begins from the top of the unit. First of all, you need to remove the decorative plugs from the top hinge. They can be made in the form of plastic caps or rubber plugs. Pry them off with a flat screwdriver or a knife, act carefully so as not to damage the plastic.
Afterwards. Removing the plugs will provide access to the mounting bolts. Use a suitable wrench (most often 8 or 10 mm in size) to unscrew the screws securing the top hinge. Do not remove the hinge axis completely, unless otherwise indicated in the instructions for your model - often it is enough to simply loosen the fastening. Candy unless otherwise stated - often simply loosening the fastening is sufficient.
At this stage, you will definitely need one person to help you. hold the refrigerator door, preventing it from moving or falling while the second one unscrews the fasteners. The door is heavy, and its fall can lead to injury to the legs or damage to the floor covering.
- 🔩 Remove the decorative trim from the top hinge.
- 🔧 Loosen or unscrew the bolts securing the top hinge.
- 🚪 Remove the door from the lower support pin (after removing the upper hinge).
- 🧱 Place the door in a safe place, placing it on a soft cloth.
If on your model the handle is integrated into the body or has a complex fastening system, it may also need to be removed. Typically, the handle is attached with self-tapping screws from the inside. sides of the door. Find the technological holes (often closed with plugs), unscrew the fasteners and remove the handle to install it on the opposite side.
What to do if the bolts are rusty?
If the fasteners of the top hinge do not unscrew due to corrosion, do not use excessive force - you can strip the threads. Treat the joint with a penetrating lubricant (for example, WD-40) and leave for 15-20 minutes, after which you can try again.
Removing the door and rearranging the lower hinge
After the upper hinge is released, the door is removed from the lower support pin. Carefully lift the door up and set it aside. Place it on a prepared soft surface (cardboard, blanket) with the outer side facing down so as not to scratch the front panel.
Now move to the bottom of the refrigerator. Find the bottom hinge and support pin. Unscrew the bolts securing the bottom hinge to the refrigerator body. CandySave all the screws - they will be needed for installation on the other side. side.
An important point: on the opposite side of the case, where there was previously no hinge, there should be threaded holes closed with plastic plugs. Remove these plugs and install them in the empty holes on your working side. This will provide an aesthetic appearance and protection from dust.
Install the bottom hinge and support pin in a new place (on. opposite side). Insert the pin into the groove of the door and secure the hinge with the bolts. Do not tighten them tightly yet, leave a small gap for subsequent adjustment.
| Element | Action during removal | Action during installation | Important nuance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper hinge | Remove the plugs, unscrew the bolts | Install on the new side, tighten | Requires an assistant to hold the door |
| Bottom loop | Unscrew, remove the pin | Move to the new side, insert the pin | Do not tighten all the way right away |
| Plugs | Remove from new holes | Install into old holes | Protect from loss |
| Handle | Unscrew the screws from the inside | Screw it on the new side | Make sure of the symmetry |
After installing the bottom hinge on the new side, you can put the door in place. Place the bottom of the door on the installed pin, and align the top hole with the place where the top hinge is attached.
Installing the top hinge on the new side
The final stage of the mechanical part is installing the top hinge on the opposite side. Align the holes in the door and body of the refrigerator. Insert the mounting bolts and begin tightening them.
At this stage, it is critical to align the door correctly. It should stand vertically, without distortion. The gap between the door and the body along the entire length must be the same. If the door is skewed, the seal will not fit tightly, which will lead to loss of cold and the formation of ice.
Use a building level, placing it against the end of the door to check the vertical. Also check that the top edge is horizontal. Only after making sure that the door is perfectly level can you finally tighten all the bolts of the upper and lower hinges.
Tighten the bolts consistently and evenly. First tighten the top ones a little, then the bottom ones, then the top ones again. This will help avoid metal tension and distortions. Make sure that the door opens and closes smoothly, without creaking or jamming.
⚠️ Attention: Some models Candy may require repositioning the door lock locking tab. If the door does not close tightly or the sensor does not work, check the instructions to see if it is necessary to move the lock to the opposite side.
Adjusting the position and checking the tightness
Once all the bolts are tightened, the work does not end. Final adjustments need to be made. It often happens that due to unevenness of the floor or installation errors, the door hangs crookedly. In this case, you can adjust the height of the refrigerator legs.
By rotating the front support legs, ensure that the refrigerator body leans slightly back. In this position, the door will tend to close under its own weight if it is not opened completely (usually to an angle of 30-40 degrees). This is normal behavior of a working refrigerator.
Check the tightness of the seal. Take a sheet of A4 paper, clamp it with the door around the perimeter and try to pull it out. The paper should be removed with noticeable force. If the sheet flies out freely or, conversely, the door does not close due to the seal being too tight, adjustment of the hinges is required.
- 👀 Visually inspect the perimeter of the door for gaps.
- 📄 Carry out a test with a sheet of paper to check the pressure.
- 🚪 Check ease of opening and closing.
- 🔊 Make sure that when closing there are no strong impacts or, conversely, slamming.
If you notice that the door is skewed, loosen the problem hinge (top or bottom) by half a turn, straighten the door and tighten it again. Sometimes it takes several iterations to achieve the perfect result.
Frequently asked questions and troubleshooting
During the work, non-standard situations may arise. For example, after installing a door, it may touch the body or not close completely. Often the reason lies in an incorrectly installed handle or forgotten transport elements.
If the refrigerator door Candy after rehanging began to open by itself, check the angle of inclination of the entire body. As mentioned above, the refrigerator should be tilted slightly backwards. If the floor is perfectly level, twist the front legs to raise the front of the unit.
If the magnetic valve (if your freezer model has one) is on the wrong side, it also needs to be rearranged. Usually it is simply inserted into the groove. Move it to the new side corresponding to the magnets of the main door.
Do you need to call a specialist to rehang the door?
No, if you have minimal technical skills and the right tools, you can do it yourself. However, if you have an expensive model with a display on the door and complex electronics, and you are afraid of damaging the cables, it is better to turn to professionals.
What to do if the plugs for the holes are lost?
Plugs can be ordered at the service center Candy or pick up universal analogues at a furniture store accessories. As a last resort, the holes can be carefully sealed with a decorative sticker in the color of the body, although this is less aesthetically pleasing.
Does re-hanging the door affect the warranty?
Re-hanging the door yourself, as a rule, does not void the warranty if parts were not damaged in the process (threads were torn off, plastic was broken, wires were cut). However, if you damage the unit during self-repair, the warranty case for this damage will not be considered.
Is it possible to hang the door on a two-chamber refrigerator?
Yes, the principle is the same, but you will have to work with two doors separately. First, the upper door (of the freezer) is removed, then the lower one. It is important not to confuse fasteners and hinges, as they may differ in size and design.
After completing all work, turn on the refrigerator. Let it idle for about 2-3 hours to get up to temperature before loading the food. A correctly hung door will ensure comfortable use of the equipment for many years.