The situation when the standard arrangement of door leaves is no longer satisfactory occurs quite often. This may be due to kitchen remodeling, interior design changes, or simply the need to make the unit more convenient for left-handers to use. Equipment owners Hotpoint Ariston often wonder whether it is possible to change the opening side themselves without calling a technician. The answer is clear: yes, this is a very real procedure, accessible to a person with basic skills in handling tools.
However, the process requires care and adherence to a strict sequence of actions. Improper reinstallation of the hinges can lead to misalignment of the sash, loose seal and, as a consequence, breakdown of the compressor due to constant operation. In this article we will analyze in detail how to change the doors on a Hotpoint Ariston refrigeratorwhat nuances to consider when working with different models and how to avoid common mistakes.
Before starting any manipulations, you must make sure that the refrigerator is completely defrosted and disconnected from the power supply. Water inside the chambers must be removed, and shelves and drawers removed to reduce the weight of the structure and avoid damage to fragile elements. Only after careful preparation can you begin dismantling.
Preparation of tools and workspace
The success of the operation depends 90% on proper preparation. You do not need complex industrial equipment, but a set of hand tools should be equipped in advance. The main work will be carried out using wrenches and screwdrivers, since fasteners in refrigerators Hotpoint most often are hexagon or Phillips bolts.
Particular attention should be paid to organizing the workplace. The refrigerator is a heavy unit, and you will have to tilt the case to access the bottom hinges. To avoid scratching the floor and damaging the legs of the equipment, be sure to place thick cardboard, an old blanket or special pads underneath it. You will also need free space around the unit with a radius of at least one meter.
Here is a list of necessary equipment that needs to be prepared before starting work:
- 🔧 A set of wrenches or heads (most often sizes 8 mm and 10 mm are required).
- 🪛 Screwdrivers: Phillips (PH2) and flathead for removing decorative plugs.
- 🧤 Work gloves to protect hands from sharp metal edges.
- 📦 A small container for folding bolts so that they do not get lost.
- 🧱 Assistant for holding the body or door during removal fasteners.
⚠️ Attention: Make sure that the floor on which the refrigerator stands is level and non-slip. Tilt of a heavy case without secure fixation can lead to its fall and injury.
☑️ Ready to rehang the doors
Dismantling the top door and removing the top hinge
The process always starts from the top of the refrigerator. The freezer or refrigerator door (depending on the model) is attached to the top hinge, which is often hidden under a decorative plug. The first step is to carefully remove this plastic element by prying it off with a flat screwdriver or knife, being careful not to damage the paintwork of the case.
Under the plug you will find mounting bolts. Their number can vary from two to four depending on the series Hotpoint Ariston. Before completely unscrewing the bolts, you need to fix the door or ask an assistant to hold it, since after loosening the fastening it may fall. Unscrew the bolts sequentially, but do not remove them completely until you are sure that the door is stable.
After removing the upper hinge, the door leaf is carefully lifted and removed from the lower pin part. Some models may have an intermediate sleeve installed between the hinge and the door - be careful not to lose it. Now the upper part is freed, and you can proceed to the next steps.
If your model has a system installed No Frost, pay attention to the cables or tubes running inside the door. In most modern models Hotpoint the wires are laid with a margin, but when lifting the door, act carefully so as not to stretch them to the point of breaking.
Working with the lower door and the central support
After removing the upper panel, attention switches to the lower door and the central partition. In two-chamber refrigerators, there is often a middle hinge between the chambers, which simultaneously serves as a support for the upper door and a fastener for the lower one. Its dismantling requires special care.
First, the lower door is removed. To do this, unscrew the central hinge (or the fasteners of the lower door, if the structure is separate). As in the previous case, hold the door. After removing the canvas, access to the inside of the case opens, where holes can be located for rearranging the hinges to the other side.
Nuances of the design of the middle hinge
In some Hotpoint Ariston models, the middle hinge has an asymmetrical shape. This means that it cannot simply be turned over - you must use the components that come with the refrigerator, which are stored in foam packaging or separately in a bag with documents.
On the inner wall of the case, on the opposite side, you will find factory plugs. These are plastic or metal elements that cover threaded holes. They must be removed and replaced in place of the newly vacated holes. This is a critically important point: if you leave the holes open, cold will escape through them, and moisture will penetrate inside, which will lead to corrosion of the metal.
The table below will help you navigate the typical fastener sizes for different series:
| Fastening type | Thread diameter | Head type | Where used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top hinge | M8 | Hexagon | Freezer compartment (top) |
| Middle support | M10 | Hexagon/Star | Chamber separator |
| Bottom hinge | M8 | Hexagon | Case base |
| Door stop | M6 | Cross | Position lock |
After preparing the holes, you can install the bottom hinge on the new side. Do not tighten the bolts too much yet, leave a small gap for subsequent adjustment.
Re-hanging the handles and installing stoppers
Many users forget that the handles also need to be rearranged along with the door. In models Hotpoint Ariston handles are often attached to the inside of the door with screws. To gain access to them, it is necessary to remove the decorative trims or, in some cases, partially dismantle the inner door panel (which requires high qualifications).
However, in most standard cases, it is enough to unscrew the handle from the outside or from the inside, if access is open, and move it to the opposite side. Pay attention to the holes: they can be closed with plugs that need to be moved to the vacant places in order to maintain an aesthetic appearance.
Deserve special attention stoppers (opening limiters). These are small plastic or metal pins located at the bottom of the frame or on the door itself. Their function is to prevent the door from swinging too wide and hitting walls or furniture. When changing the opening side, the stopper must be moved to the opposite side.
- 🔍 Find the locking mechanism at the bottom of the doorway.
- 🔧 Unscrew the fixing screw and remove the pin.
- 🔄 Insert the stopper into the symmetrical hole on the other side.
- ✅ Check the reliability of the fixation by opening and closing the door several times (without installing the door leaf).
⚠️ Attention: Do not ignore installing the stopper. Without it, the door may hit the refrigerator body with a strong jerk, which will lead to deformation of the metal or destruction of the seal.
Assembling the structure on the new side
When all the preparatory work is completed, the plugs are rearranged, and the lower hinge is installed, the assembly stage begins. The bottom door is hung first. Align the holes in the door with the pins on the bottom hinge. If the holes do not match perfectly, this is normal - adjustment is in front.
Then the middle hinge is installed (if the design is two-chamber). Through its holes, the lower door is fixed with bolts. Now you can hang the upper door. Align it with the top of the middle hinge or immediately with the top hinge if the model is single-chamber. Insert the top hinge into the seat on the body.
At this stage, you only need to tighten the bolts without tightening them all the way. This is necessary for final adjustment. Make sure that all wires, if any, are neatly laid in the channels intended for them and are not pinched by the metal parts of the hinges.
Close the doors and visually assess the gaps. They should be uniform around the entire perimeter. If one part of the door protrudes more than the other, you will need to adjust the height using the adjusting screws on the legs of the refrigerator or loosening the hinges.
Adjusting the tightness and magnets
The final and, perhaps, the most important stage is checking the tightness. After all the bolts are finally tightened, you need to make sure that magnetic seal it is adjacent to the body along the entire perimeter. A loose fit will lead to the formation of ice and an increase in energy consumption.
The test can be carried out in a simple way: close the door on a sheet of paper clamped with the seal. If the paper is pulled out with force along the entire perimeter, everything is in order. If in some places the paper falls out freely, then there is a gap there. To eliminate the distortion, you can slightly loosen the bolts securing the hinges and, pressing on the door in the right place, tighten them again.
Also check the operation of the light switch and door opening sensors. In some models Hotpoint Ariston, when repositioning, you need to rearrange the sensor itself or the magnet that acts on it. They are usually located at the top of the doorway. If the refrigerator "thinks" the door is open when it is closed, check this element.
Plug in the refrigerator and let it run for several hours. Monitor the temperature inside the chambers. If the cold accumulates normally and no excess condensation appears on the walls, it means the rehanging of the doors has been completed successfully.
What to do if the door opens by itself?
If after installation the door does not stay closed, check two factors: the tilt of the body and the condition seal. The refrigerator should be tilted slightly backwards (the back legs are higher than the front legs) to allow gravity to assist in closing. Also make sure that the floor is clean and nothing interferes with a tight fit.
Is it possible to hang a door if it has glass?
Yes, you can, but extra care is required. Glass inserts make the door heavier and more fragile. Be sure to remove all shelves before starting work and use soft pads when placing the door on the floor during manipulation. It is better to perform this operation together.
Where to put the old holes?
The old holes on the back side must be closed with plastic plugs that were originally in the new place. If the plugs are lost, they can be ordered from a service center or carefully sealed with heat-resistant tape and painted to match, although this is less aesthetically pleasing.
Concluding the article, it is worth noting that independently changing the side of the door opening on the refrigerator Hotpoint Ariston is a completely solvable task. It does not require special engineering knowledge, but dictates the need for accuracy and consistency. By correctly completing all the steps, you will not only adapt the equipment to your needs, but also extend its service life by ensuring the tightness of the chambers.