Owners of refrigeration equipment are often faced with the need to change the direction of door opening. This may be due to rearranging furniture in the kitchen, changing the layout, or simply inconvenient location of the handle relative to the work area. Candy refrigerators designed taking into account the possibility of such modification, which makes the rehanging process accessible even to a non-professional. However, in order not to damage seal or the hinge mechanism, it is necessary to strictly follow the sequence of actions.
The procedure requires a minimum set of tools and takes from 30 to 60 minutes depending on the model and the experience of the master. It is important to understand that rehanging doors this is not just a cosmetic operation, but a technical intervention affecting the tightness of the chamber. If the seal does not fit tightly, the compressor will work with increased load, which will lead to excessive energy consumption. Therefore, each step must be performed with maximum precision and accuracy.
Before starting disassembly, it is necessary to prepare the workplace. You will need some free space in front of the refrigerator to place the removed parts. It is also worth enlisting the help of a second person, since door leaf along with the shelves it can weigh quite a lot, and it is extremely undesirable to drop it. Proper preparation will eliminate the risk of damage to the floor covering or the unit itself during operation.
To perform work on changing the opening side, you will need the following set of tools and materials:
- 🛠️ A set of screwdrivers (phillips and flat) for dismantling fasteners elements.
- 🔧 8-10 mm wrench or socket (depending on the hinge model).
- 🧤 Work gloves to protect hands from sharp metal edges.
- 📏 Level or ruler for checking the horizontal installation.
Particular attention should be paid to the condition fastening bolts. If the refrigerator has been in use for a long time, the threads may have soured. In this case, it is recommended to pre-treat the joints with penetrating lubricant to avoid tearing off the bolt heads during dismantling. This will allow the work to be carried out smoothly and without unnecessary loss of time.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting any work, be sure to disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply! Remove the plug from the socket to eliminate the risk of short circuit or electric shock if the wiring in the loop area is accidentally damaged.
The first step is to free up the internal space and remove the hinged elements. The door should be as light as possible to reduce the load on the mechanism and the risk of falling. Remove all food, glass shelves and plastic containers from the door. Also remove the top shelf if it interferes with access to the top hinges.
Next you need to remove the decorative plugs. On most models Candy they are located at the end of the door or directly on the hinges. Gently pry them off with a flathead screwdriver. The mounting bolts are hidden under the plugs. Do not use excessive force to avoid breaking the plastic plug holders, as it can be difficult to find new ones on sale.
Now you can proceed to disconnecting the door from the main body. Start working from the top loop, since it is this that holds the main weight of the canvas. Have a helper hold the door while you remove the bolts. After removing the top hinge, carefully lift the door to release the bottom hinge.
The removed door is best placed on a soft surface covered with a blanket or cardboard, face down. This will protect the enamel coating and glass (if any) from scratches. At this stage, you can clean the ends of the door from accumulated dirt and dust, which often prevents the seal from sealing tightly.
☑️ Preparation for dismantling
The main difficulty when working with refrigerators Candy is to correctly dismantle the handle and rearrange the limiters. On some models, the handle may be integrated into the door frame and will require partial disassembly of the interior panel to relocate it. Be careful with plastic latches - they are fragile in the cold or during long-term use.
If your model is equipped with a door open alarm, you need to rearrange the magnetic sensor. It is usually located in the lower or upper corner of the door. Carefully remove the sensor from the old hole and install it in the new one provided by the design on the opposite side. The wiring, if any, should be pulled through special channels inside the door, avoiding kinks.
For models with a display or control buttons on the door, the procedure becomes more complicated. In this case, it is necessary to disconnect the cable of wires going from the refrigerator body to the control panel. Cable it is very thin and breaks easily, so disconnect it by holding the plastic connector, and not the wires themselves. When reassembling, make sure that the connection is latched until there is a characteristic click.
| Element | Action on the left side | Action on the right side | Tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper hinge | Dismantle and rearrange | Install in its original place | 10 mm key |
| Lower hinge | Leave in the groove (support) | Dismantle and rearrange | Screwdriver |
| Door stop | Move to the left hole | Move to the right hole | Flat screwdriver |
| Sensor magnet | Move to the left corner | Move to the right corner | Tweezers |
After preparing all the holes and moving the fittings, you can start hanging the door to a new side. Place the bottom hinge in its new location and secure it with bolts. Place the door with the bottom axis on the hinge, holding it in a vertical position. Align the door so that the top hinge hole matches the holes in the body.
Install the top hinge and tighten the bolts. Do not tighten them all the way at once. First, make sure that the door is level and that nothing interferes with its free movement. If everything is in order, tighten all fasteners evenly. Check that the gaps between the door and the body are the same along the entire length.
What to do if the holes do not match?
If the holes for the hinges do not match after rearrangement, check whether you have mixed up the left and right hinges. Sometimes they have different designs. Also make sure you use the correct holes in the case, as there may be several pairs for different modifications. In rare cases, drilling is required, but this is not provided for factory Candy models.
The final stage is adjusting the tightness and installing the handles. Make sure that sealing rubber is not bent anywhere or has any creases. If you notice any deformation, heat the rubber with a hairdryer on low or hot water to straighten it. Install the handle into the prepared hole and securely fasten it from the inside of the door.
Check the operation of the door: it should open smoothly, without creaking or jamming. When closing, a characteristic pop should be heard, indicating the creation of a vacuum and tightness. If the door closes too tightly or, conversely, bounces, the height of the refrigerator legs or the position of the hinges must be adjusted.
⚠️ Attention: Do not turn on the refrigerator immediately after rearranging the doors! Allow the refrigerant and oil in the compressor to settle for 2-4 hours. A sharp start can lead to water hammer in the system and failure of the compressor.
A frequent problem after re-hanging is the door not fitting tightly around the hinges. This can be solved by adjusting the height of the front legs of the refrigerator. By twisting them, you change the tilt of the body back, and the door, under the influence of gravity, begins to fit more tightly to the body. Use level to control the vertical.
It is also worth checking the operation of the lock (if there is one) and latches. Make sure that when closing the door does not touch the internal shelves or protruding elements of the cabinet. If you hear a grinding noise, the door may be warped. Loosen the top hinge bolts, level the door and tighten them again.
In some cases, users notice that after rehanging the door began to close worse. This may be due to the fact that the seal has “remembered” the old shape. To fix this, place weights (such as water bottles) inside the door overnight after closing it. This will help the rubber straighten and take the desired shape.
If your model Candy has a No Frost system, make sure that the air channels are not blocked after changing the door position. Sometimes, during careless assembly, the insulation or air ducts can be displaced, which will lead to deterioration of air circulation and the formation of ice.
After completing all the work and turning on the refrigerator, monitor its operation during the first days. Pay attention to the frequency at which the compressor turns on and the temperature in the chambers. If the refrigerator begins to work longer than usual or water appears inside, it means that the seal is broken and re-adjustment is required.
Regularly check the condition of the seal in the first weeks after re-hanging. If you notice that it begins to move away or crack in new bend places, you may need to replace the sealing tape with a new one, adapted to the current position of the door.
Is it possible to change the doors on the Candy refrigerator yourself without calling a technician?
Yes, in most models Candy the design allows this to be done operation yourself. However, if you do not have experience working with tools or the refrigerator model has complex electronic components on the door, it is better to contact specialists so as not to damage the equipment.
What to do if, after rehanging, the door does not hold and opens itself?
Most likely, the angle of inclination of the case is broken. Try unscrewing the front adjustable legs of the refrigerator to raise the front. The door should open on its own only at an opening angle of more than 30-40 degrees. If it opens immediately, check whether the floor is touching any obstacles.
Is it necessary to change the seal when changing the opening side?
Usually the standard one seal is universal and does not require replacement. However, if the rubber is old, has lost elasticity or has cracks in the places of new bends, it is recommended to replace it with a new one to ensure tightness.
How long should you let the refrigerator stand after rearranging?
It is recommended to wait 2-4 hours before inclusion in the network. This is necessary to stabilize the refrigerant and compressor oil, especially if the refrigerator was tilted more than 40 degrees during operation.