Rearranging furniture or remodeling the kitchen often poses an unexpected task for owners of household appliances: how to change the refrigerator doors to the other side. For brand equipment Indesit this procedure does not require calling a specialist and can be performed independently with a minimum set of tools. The correct sequence of actions will avoid damage to the body, hinges or the canvas itself.
The rehanging process takes an average of 30 to 60 minutes, but requires attention to design details. Modern models Indesit are designed taking into account the possibility of changing the attachment, but each series may have its own mounting nuances. It is important to prepare the workplace and make sure that there is free space nearby for temporary placement of the removed parts.
Before you begin dismantling, you need to clearly understand what kind of structure you are dealing with. Single-chamber and double-chamber models require a different approach to removing hinges and rearranging fittings. Ignoring this fact may lead to skewed doors or the inability to close them tightly in the future.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting any work, be sure to disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply. This will protect you from electric shock and allow you to safely work with wiring if it passes through door hinges.
Necessary tools and workplace preparation
To successfully complete the task, you will need a basic home handyman kit. The main tool will be hexagon or a Phillips screwdriver, since most fasteners in technology Indesit are made specifically for these types of heads. You may also need a 10 mm open-end wrench to work with hinge nuts.
The second important step is to free up space. You will need to move the refrigerator away from the wall to allow access to the back and sides on all sides. It is better to cover the floor in the work area with soft material or cardboard so that accidentally falling parts or tools do not damage the floor covering.
Don't forget to prepare a container for small parts. Bolts, washers and plugs tend to get lost at the most inopportune moment. If you have the opportunity, have someone help you hold the door leaf while unscrewing the hinges, as they can be heavy and shift the center of gravity of the unit.
- 🛠️ Phillips screwdriver (PH2) or screwdriver with the appropriate bit.
- 🔧 Set of hex keys (usually 4 mm or 5 mm).
- 🔩 10 mm open-end wrench (for some hinge models).
- 🧤 Work gloves to protect hands from sharp metal edges.
- 📦 Container for folding screws and plugs.
Check the equipment of your refrigerator. In some models Indesit the re-hanging kit is already included in the package and is in a foam package or taped to the back of the case. There may be special bushings or alternative screws.
Removing the top panel and top door
Work always starts from the top of the refrigerator compartment. The first step is to remove the top cover of the case, if it is structurally provided for in your model. Usually it is fastened with two screws at the front or simply held on by latches that need to be carefully pressed out.
After removing the cover, access to the top hinge will open. Carefully inspect the mounting: in some cases, the wiring for the backlight or door sensor may run inside the frame and exit through the top hinge. If there are wires, you need to carefully disconnect them, after photographing the contacts.
Now you can begin to unscrew the top loop. Don't remove the screws all at once - loosen them to make sure the door doesn't fall off. After fixing the canvas with an assistant or a stand, unscrew the fasteners completely. Remove the hinge and set it aside.
⚠️ Attention: The design of the hinges may vary depending on the year of manufacture of the model Indesit. If the screws do not come out, do not use excessive force - the threads may have become soured and will require treatment with WD-40.
After removing the top hinge, carefully lift the door leaf up, removing it from the bottom hinge pin. Place the door in a safe place, resting it against the wall with its soft side. Now you have access to the inside of the case to rearrange the elements.
☑️ Preparation for removing the doors
Re-hanging the bottom door and freezer
If you have a two-door refrigerator, the next step is to work with the bottom door of the freezer. The principle here is similar, but it has its own characteristics. It is necessary to remove the handle or decorative trim if it interferes with access to the fasteners.
Unscrew the middle hinge that holds the bottom door. As with the top, proceed with caution. After removing the fasteners, the door is removed from the pin. Pay attention to the condition of the seal - if it is damaged, when reinstalled on the other side, the tightness may be broken.
An important point is the rearrangement of the pins and bushings. The Indesit refrigerator body has holes on both sides. You need to unscrew the plugs from the working side and install them on the opposite side to close the empty holes. The bottom hinge pin is also moved to the new side.
Some models have asymmetrical handles. In this case, you will have to dismantle the handle and install it on the opposite side, using the holes provided by the manufacturer. To do this, you may need to remove the inner panel of the door.
- ❄️ Remove all shelves and drawers from the doors to make the structure lighter.
- 🔩 Move the stoppers and opening limiters to the opposite side.
- 🚪 Check the symmetry of the holes for the handle before drilling (if required).
- 🧹 Clean the ends of the doors and housing from dust before installation.
If your model is equipped with a system No Frost, make sure that when rehanging you will not pinch the air ducts if they pass through the door. In most cases, the channels are located in the body, but checking will not be superfluous.
Installing doors on a new side
The assembly process begins from the bottom up. First, install the bottom door on the freezer. Insert the bottom pin into the prepared hole, put the door on and secure it with the middle hinge. Do not tighten the screws “all the way” right away - leave a small gap for adjustment.
Then the upper door of the refrigerator compartment is installed. Place it on the middle hinge (which is now the top hinge for the bottom door) or on the bottom pin, depending on the design. Align the canvases so that the gaps around the perimeter are the same.
The final stage is installing the top hinge and cover. Screw the top hinge, thread the wires (if any) and connect the connectors. Make sure the wires are not pinched by metal or twisted. Close the top cover of the case and secure it with screws.
Now you can completely tighten all the mounting bolts. Move diagonally, tightening the screws gradually to distribute the load evenly. Check whether the door fits tightly around the entire perimeter.
Adjusting the position of doors and gaps
After installation, a situation often arises when the doors hang skewed or do not fit tightly to the body. To correct this, the Indesit design provides an adjustment system. This is usually done using adjusting bolts in the lower part of the body or on the hinges themselves.
If the bottom of the door protrudes more than the top, you need to slightly unscrew the adjusting support leg of the refrigerator on the corresponding side. This will raise the angle and straighten the vertical. If the distortion occurs diagonally, the height of the front leg is adjusted.
Check the operation of the magnetic lock. The door should open with little effort, and when released in the half-open position (about 30 degrees), it should close on its own. If this does not happen, it means that the angle of the body is selected incorrectly.
| Problem | Possible cause | Method of elimination |
|---|---|---|
| The door does not close tightly | The body is skewed or the seal is dirty | Align the legs, wash the seal with warm water with water |
| Strong skew of the canvas | Hinges are not tightened correctly | Loosen the screws, align the door, tighten it again |
| The door creaks when opening | No lubricants in the hinges | Lubricate the hinges with technical oil or silicone |
| It touches adjacent furniture | The opening radius is incorrectly selected | Use the opening angle limiter (if any) |
Pay attention to the rubber seal. After rehanging, it may not immediately fall into place. Warm it up with a hairdryer (without overheating!) or just wait a couple of days until it straightens out under the influence of room temperature.
Features of models with display and electronics
Owners of modern models Indesit with a display on the door you need to be especially careful. In these refrigerators, the control cable often runs through the top loop. If re-positioned, its length may not be enough for the new side.
In most cases, the cable has sufficient reserve inside the housing, but sometimes it is necessary to carefully move the wiring harness closer to the new exit location. Be extremely careful not to damage the insulation or pull out the cable from the control board.
If the display does not light up after assembly, check the tightness of the connector. Sometimes the contacts oxidize or become stuck. Also make sure that you do not crush the wire with the metal part of the hinge during the final tightening.
⚠️ Attention: In some models with electronics, after rehanging the door, an error reset or calibration of the opening sensor is required. Consult manual for your specific model.
For models with a system smart home or complex indication, checking the functionality of all functions is required before full assembly. Make sure that the door opening signals are correctly transmitted to the control module.
What to do if the wire length is not enough?
In rare cases, the standard cable length is really not enough. In such a situation, you can carefully extend the wire using soldering and high-quality insulation, or contact a service center to replace the harness with an extended analogue.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
One of the most common mistakes is trying to do the work alone. The doors of Indesit refrigerators, especially wide models, are quite heavy. Without safety nets, it’s easy to drop the canvas, damage the floor or get injured.
The second mistake is losing the plugs. The small plastic or rubber plugs that cover unused holes often get lost. If you lose them, dust and moisture will enter the case, which can lead to corrosion. Always use a special container.
The third mistake is overtightening the screws. Excessive force can strip the threads in the metal housing or, conversely, split the plastic bushing of the hinge. Tighten the fasteners with moderate force, using a ratchet with a limiter or feeling the tightening torque with your hand.
- 🚫 Do not ignore the instructions, even if everything seems obvious.
- 🚫 Do not leave the refrigerator on during work.
- 🚫 Do not use unsuitable ones tools that can lick the edges of the bolts.
- 🚫 Do not forget to return all the plugs to their places.
It is also important not to forget about the shipping bolts, if they were installed on the rear wall to fix the compressor (although they are usually not touched when rehanging the doors, it is theoretically possible to confuse them with the hinge fasteners).
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to defrost the refrigerator before hanging the doors?
Full defrosting is not necessary if you work quickly. However, if you plan to leave the refrigerator open for a long time or tilt it more than 40 degrees, it is better to defrost the chamber so that water does not get on the technical components.
Is it possible to reverse the door on an old model Indesit refrigerator?
Most models Indesit have a symmetrical design and provided holes. However, in very old models (pre-90s), the holes may only be on one side. In this case, drilling will be required, which is not recommended.
What to do if after rehanging there is an extra gap left?
The gap is adjusted by the height of the refrigerator legs and loosening/tightening the hinges. If the gap remains, check whether a foreign object has gotten under the seal or whether the door leaf itself has become deformed.
Will the temperature settings be lost after shutdown?
Modern models save the settings in memory. However, after turning on, the refrigerator may take some time (up to 2-3 hours) to gain temperature, and during this period the settings may not be able to be changed. Old mechanical models have no memory, but there is nothing to lose.
Where can I get new plugs if the old ones are lost?
Plugs can be found in the spare parts kit when purchasing a refrigerator (often found in a package with instructions). You can also order them at the service center Indesit according to the refrigerator model or select similar ones in size at a furniture fittings store.