Changing the kitchen layout or rearranging furniture often dictates its conditions for the arrangement of household appliances. Owners of refrigerated cabinets Hotpoint Ariston often face the need to change the side of the door opening in order to provide convenient access to products. Fortunately, the design of most modern models of this brand provides for this possibility, allowing you to move the hitch from the right side to the left and vice versa without calling a technician.
The process hanging the door is technically simple, but requires care and a basic set of tools. Errors at the dismantling stage or incorrect assembly can lead to distortion of the canvas, failure of the seal, or even breakage of the fasteners. That is why, before starting work, it is important to study the design of the hinges of your specific unit and prepare the workspace.
In this article we will analyze in detail the stages of work, pay special attention to models with and without a display, and also consider typical problems that arise during self-installation. It is critically important before starting work to completely disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply and empty the doors of foodto reduce the load on the mechanism and ensure safety process.
Preparation for work and necessary tools
The first thing that needs to be done before starting any manipulations with the refrigerator body is to completely disconnect it from the network. This safety requirement is mandatory because some models may have display or No Frost wiring running through loops. After shutting down, it is recommended to defrost the chamber if ice has accumulated in it, and remove all shelves and drawers to lighten the structure.
To complete the task, you will need a minimum set of tools that are usually found in the household. The main working tool will be screwdriver or a set of screwdrivers with different bits (phillips and flathead). Depending on the model Hotpoint Ariston, you may need wrenches (often 10 mm open-end) or socket heads.
- 🔧 A set of screwdrivers (phillips PH2, flat) for removing decorative plugs.
- 🔩 A 10 mm wrench or socket for the hinge fastening bolts.
- 🧤 Work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal edges.
- 🧹 A rag for wiping the fastening points from dust.
Free in advance space in front of the refrigerator. You will need to ensure that the unit is accessible from all sides, as you may have to tilt it or walk around it. It is better to cover the floor with cardboard or soft material so as not to scratch the floor covering and the body of the device itself if accidentally touched.
Design features of Hotpoint Ariston doors
Refrigerators Hotpoint Ariston have their own design features, which are important to consider before starting disassembly. In most models, the upper and lower hinges have a symmetrical structure, which allows them to be reinstalled on the opposite side. However, the location of the mounting holes and the shape of the hinges themselves may differ depending on the series (for example, Indesit, Ariston or joint models).
Models with an electronic display on the door require special attention. In such cases, a cable of wires passes through the upper loop. When rehanging, you must carefully disconnect the connector, remember its position, and after installing the door on the new side, connect it back correctly. Careless handling of wires can lead to malfunction of the control panel.
⚠️ Attention: In some models with a display, the length of the connecting cable may be limited. Before final tightening the bolts, make sure that the wire is not stretched or pinched by the metal parts of the loop.
It is also worth paying attention to the freezing system. If you have a refrigerator No Frost, make sure that when rehanging you do not damage the air supply ducts, which sometimes run near the mounts. In classic models with a drip system, such risks are much less.
Is it possible to hang the door on a built-in refrigerator?
Hotpoint Ariston built-in models often have special mounting strips for the kitchen facade. The process of rehanging them is similar, but requires additional dismantling of the decorative panel of the facade. Be careful with the fastening of the facade so as not to break the thread.
Step-by-step instructions: dismantling the door
The process of removing the door should begin with the top hinge, since it is this that holds the main weight of the leaf. First, remove the decorative plastic cover that hides the bolts. Usually it is simply pryed off with a flat screwdriver or removed with a light hand force. Below it you will see fasteners.
Using a suitable wrench or screwdriver, unscrew the top hinge bolts. If the door has a display, at this stage carefully disconnect the wire connector. It is best to photograph the position of the contacts or label them so as not to confuse the polarity during assembly. After disconnecting the wires, you can completely remove the upper loop.
- 🚪 Remove the upper decorative plug.
- 🔓 Unscrew the bolts securing the upper loop.
- 🔌 Disconnect the display cable (if any).
- 🆙 Remove the top metal hinge.
Now the door is supported only by the lower pin or temporary support. Carefully lift the door and remove it from the bottom shaft. It is recommended that two people perform this operation, since the refrigerator door is heavy and large in size. Place the removed canvas on the prepared soft surface with the outer side down so as not to damage the seal.
☑️ Checklist before removing the door
After removing the door, inspect the lower support. In some models Hotpoint Ariston a bushing may be installed there, which will also need to be moved to the other side. Clean the mounting points from old grease and dust so that the new installation goes smoothly.
Installing the door on the opposite side
The next step is preparing the new side for hanging. At the opposite end of the refrigerator body there are usually technological holes closed with plastic plugs. You need to remove these plugs and install them in place of the old holes to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the device.
Now let's move on to the door itself. It is also necessary to rearrange the handle (if it is not through) and turn the hinges over. To do this, unscrew the handle fasteners and install it on the other side using the existing threaded holes. Then move the mating parts of the hinges to the new end of the door, tightening the bolts with force, but without fanaticism, so as not to strip the threads.
Install the lower support sleeve into the hole on the new side of the body. Carefully place the door onto the bottom pin, holding it in a vertical position. Make sure it is level and not falling over. Now you can mount the top hinge to the new side by threading the display wires through the hole provided.
| Element | Action | Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Top hinge | Repositioning to new side | Wrench 10 mm / Screwdriver |
| Door handle | Dismantling and installation on the other side | Phillips screwdriver |
| Plugs | Replacing the installation sides | Flat screwdriver |
| Wires | Connecting the connector | Hands (carefully) |
After installing the top hinge and connecting the wires (if applicable), you can tighten the fasteners. Do not tighten the bolts all the way right away. First, tighten them, check the alignment of the door, and only then make the final tightening. This will avoid distortions.
Adjusting gaps and checking tightness
After the door is installed, you need to check the quality of its fit. The rubber seal should evenly touch the body around the entire perimeter. If you notice gaps or a loose fit, the cold will escape and the compressor will work harder, which will lead to increased energy consumption.
To check the tightness, you can use a simple test with a sheet of paper. Clamp the sheet with the door in different places around the perimeter. If the paper is pulled out with force, the seal is good. If the sheet falls out or is removed too easily, adjustment of the door height or hinge position is required.
⚠️ Attention: A loose door is the main cause of ice formation and compressor failure. Take maximum time to adjust.
Height adjustment is usually done using adjusting screws on the lower support or by changing the position of the upper hinge. By rotating the screws, ensure that the upper end of the door is strictly parallel to the refrigerator lid, and the gap between the doors (in two-chamber models) is uniform.
Frequent errors and troubleshooting
When doing work on their own, beginners often make common mistakes. One of the most common is overtightening the bolts, which leads to deformation of the hinge metal or breakage of the threads in the body. Another mistake is not checking the floor level. If the refrigerator is not level, the door may open on its own or not close completely.
Another problem is damage to the seal during installation. If you accidentally pinch the rubber or tear it, the seal will be compromised. In this case, the seal will have to be replaced. It is also important not to forget to return all the plastic plugs to their place, otherwise dust and moisture will get inside the case.
- ❌ Forgot to connect the display cable - the panel will not light up.
- ❌ If the door is skewed - cracks and air whistling appear.
- ❌ Lost plugs - the external one is damaged appearance and protection against corrosion.
- ❌ If you didn’t check the level, the door opens spontaneously.
If after all the manipulations the door slams or closes too tightly, check whether it touches the protrusions of the body or shelf. Sometimes a slight adjustment to the position of the internal elements of the refrigerator is required.
Do I need to call a professional to re-hang doors?
If you have basic skills with tools and the physical strength to hold the door, calling a technician is not necessary. However, if the model is complex, with the Multi-Air Flow system, or you are afraid of damaging the electronics, it is better to contact a service center Hotpoint Ariston.
What to do if the holes for the new side do not fit?
In the original Hotpoint Ariston models, holes for reversing are always provided. If you don't find them, carefully inspect the end - they may be covered with factory stickers or hidden under a decorative strip. You cannot drill new holes!
Is it possible to rehang the door on a Side-by-Side refrigerator?
On most Side-by-Side (side-by-side) models, reversing the doors is impossible or extremely difficult due to the complex system of hinges and water hoses. For such units, only the factory configuration is usually provided.
How often should you check the fit of the door after re-hanging?
In the first week after re-hanging, check the fit daily. Metal and plastic may shrink a little in their new location. After a month, carry out a control check with a sheet of paper.