The situation when you need to change the opening direction of the refrigerator door Nordoccurs quite often. This may be due to the redevelopment of the kitchen space, moving to a new apartment, or simply the desire to make the use of equipment more convenient. Fortunately, the design of most models of this brand allows you to do hanging the doors on your own, without calling a specialist.
However, before you start work, you need to understand that the process requires accuracy and adherence to the sequence of actions. Incorrect installation can lead to a loose seal, which will result in increased energy consumption and food spoilage. In this article, we will look in detail at how to properly dismantle and reinstall doors on different sides.
Owners of models with the system No Frost should be especially careful, since the design of their doors may include additional elements of the air exhaust system. It is also important to consider that some budget or older models may not have factory holes for hinges on the opposite side of the case, which will require additional effort or make re-hanging impossible without drilling.
Necessary tools and workplace preparation
To successfully complete the task, you will need a minimum set of tools, which are usually found in every home. The main tool will be open-end wrench or a head, most often 10 mm in size, although in some models Nord fasteners for a Phillips screwdriver or hexagon may be used. Also, a flat screwdriver for removing decorative plugs will not be superfluous.
The work area must be prepared in advance. Make room in front of the refrigerator so that you can open the doors completely and move a sufficient distance away from the unit. It is better to cover the floor with soft material, such as a blanket or cardboard, since removed doors have significant weight and can damage the floor covering or break if accidentally dropped.
Be sure to turn off the power to the refrigerator before starting work. This is a critical safety rule that cannot be ignored. While the equipment is turned off, it is recommended to completely defrost if there is ice in the chamber, and remove all shelves and drawers to lighten the structure and avoid damage during manipulation.
- 🔧 Open-end wrench or set of heads (usually 8-10 mm)
- 🪛 Phillips and flat-head screwdrivers
- 🧤 Construction gloves to protect hands
- 📦 Container for folding small fastener parts
If you have a model with a display or control buttons located on the door, prepare electrical tape or adhesive tape. They will be needed to fix the wires so that they do not interfere with dismantling and are not accidentally pinched or torn.
Removing the top door of the refrigerator
The process of removing the top door begins with releasing the fasteners of the top hinge. Depending on the model Nord, the loop may be covered with a decorative plastic cover. Carefully pry it up with a flathead screwdriver and remove it to gain access to the bolts. Do not use excessive force to avoid breaking the plastic clips.
After removing the cover, you will see two or three bolts holding the hinge in place. They need to be unscrewed, but do not remove them completely right away. Leave the thread in the body of the hinge so it doesn't get lost. Now you will need the help of a second person, since the door is heavy and will need to be held when you finally unscrew the fasteners.
⚠️ Attention: Before completely unscrewing the top hinge, be sure to lock the door in the open position or ask an assistant to hold it firmly. A sudden drop of the door can cause injury or damage to the lower hinge.
When the upper hinge bolts are removed, carefully lift the door up, removing it from the lower axle. If the door has a shelf for bottles or other hanging elements, it is better to remove them in advance. Place the removed door on the prepared soft surface with the outer side down so as not to scratch the enamel.
Now inspect the free space. Where the loop was secured, a decorative hole-plug will most likely be installed. This plug must be removed and moved to the opposite side, where the loop will now be located. A similar procedure should be carried out with holes for handles, if they are provided for in the design.
What to do if the plugs are lost?
If the decorative plugs are lost, they can be temporarily replaced with pieces of black plastic or even carefully seal the holes with masking tape to match the color of the refrigerator, although aesthetically it will look worse.
Removing the bottom door of the freezer
After the top door has been removed and set aside, we move on to the bottom of the unit. Here is lower hingelocated, which often has a more complex structure, since it experiences the main load from the weight of the entire structure. In some models Nord a locking mechanism can also be attached to the same hinge.
Unscrew the bolts securing the lower hinge. Unlike the top door, here the door can be secured with a pin or axle that is inserted into the body. Be careful: when unscrewing the fasteners, the door may begin to collapse, so support it from below. Remove the door from the axle and put it in a safe place.
At this stage, it is important to check the condition of the sealing rubber. While the doors are removed, this is an ideal time to wash and degrease the rubber bands, and check them for cracks or creases. If the seal is deformed, you can try to straighten it with a hair dryer, but it is better to immediately replace it with a new one.
- ❄️ Check the condition of the magnetic tape in the seal
- 🧼 Thoroughly clean the door ends from dirt
- 🔍 Inspect the hinge seats on subject to corrosion
If your refrigerator is equipped with a No Frostsystem, make sure that the air ducts running inside the door are not damaged. When removing the bottom door in such models, you need to be especially careful with the wires if they pass through the bottom hinge.
Re-hanging the hinges and installing plugs
The most crucial moment is preparing the case for installing the doors on the new side. You need to rearrange all fasteners. Locate the holes on the opposite side of the case that are closed with plastic plugs. Carefully remove them using a thin knife blade or an awl.
Insert plugs into the empty holes on the old side. If the refrigerator came with special bushings or studs for hanging, install them in the corresponding holes on the new side. In some models Nord it is necessary to rearrange the locking pin, which limits the opening angle of the door.
Now let's get to the doors themselves. It is also necessary to rearrange the handles on them if they are asymmetrical, or move them to the other side. To do this, unscrew the fastening screws from the inside of the door, remove the handle and install it in a new place using the holes provided by the factory.
⚠️ Attention: Make sure that the holes for the handle on the new side match the holes on the door. If there are no holes, and the door design does not provide for universal fastening, it will not be possible to reposition the handle without drilling, which is not recommended.
Also check the need to rearrange the lock mate (if there is one) or the magnetic latch. In most modern models, this element is symmetrical or automatically operates on either side, but in older models Nord the tongue may require mechanical rearrangement.
Installation of doors on a new side
Assembly is carried out in the reverse order of disassembly. Start by installing the bottom freezer door. Insert the lower axle into the body and slide the door onto it. Place the bottom hinge in place, tighten the bolts, but do not tighten them all the way yet. This will allow you to adjust the position of the door.
Next, install the top door. Place it on the axis of the lower hinge (if the design is two-door and the axes are connected) or secure it to a separate axis. Install the top hinge and just tighten the mounting bolts. It is important that the doors remain movable for the final adjustment.
If your model has wire connections (for a lamp, display or sensors), carefully connect the connectors. They are usually keyed, meaning they only connect in one position, but be careful. Place the wires in special grooves so that they do not fall under moving parts.
Only after all the elements are installed and checked, you can begin the final fixation. Tighten all top and bottom hinge bolts evenly. Do this sequentially, making sure that the door does not warp during the tightening process.
Adjusting the position of doors and gaps
Correct adjustment is the key to long service life of the refrigerator Nord. The doors should close tightly, without distortion, and the gap between them (in two-chamber models) should be minimal and uniform along the entire length. If the door is askew, food may not cool properly.
To make adjustments, use the adjustment screws, which are often located on the bottom hinge. By rotating them, you can raise or lower one of the corners of the door. Also, in some models, the height can be adjusted using the support legs of the refrigerator itself, unscrewing them from the front or back.
| Problem | Possible cause | Remedy |
|---|---|---|
| The door does not fit on top | Disk of the upper hinge | Loosen the upper bolts, press the door, tighten |
| Large gap between the doors | Incorrect height of the lower door | Adjusting the screws of the lower hinge |
| The door bounces when closing | The body is skewed or there is dirt in the seal | Aligning the legs of the refrigerator, cleaning the rubber band |
| It is difficult to open the door after closing | The drainage is clogged hole | Clean the drainage, check the vacuum |
Check the operation of the magnetic seal around the entire perimeter. Take a sheet of paper, clamp it with the door and try to pull it out. If the paper is pulled out with force along the entire perimeter, then the seal is normal. If in some place the paper comes out easily, additional adjustment of the hinge on this side is required.
Frequent errors and troubleshooting
When independently replacing the door opening side, mistakes are often made that can negate all efforts. One of the most common is insufficient tightening of fasteners, which leads to gradual loosening of the structure and the appearance of play. The other extreme is overtightening the bolts, which can cause the hinge metal to burst or the threads to break.
Another problem is forgotten plugs. If you do not move the decorative elements to new places, moisture and dust will enter the holes, which can lead to corrosion of the internal parts of the case. In addition, it is simply unaesthetic.
- 🚫 Do not forget to rearrange the locking mechanism (if any)
- 🚫 Do not ignore the wires leading to the lighting
- 🚫 Do not leave the doors open for a long time without fixing
If After installation, you notice that the refrigerator starts to work louder or vibrations appear, check whether the door touches the body or the floor when opening. Sometimes this requires slightly unscrewing the front adjustable feet to raise the unit.
⚠️ Attention: On electronically controlled models where the display is located on the door, errors may need to be reset or sensors calibrated after re-hanging. If the panel does not light up, check the reliability of the cable connection.
In some cases, especially on older models Nord, the geometry of the doors may be damaged by time. If you see that the door is skewed and adjusting the screws cannot fix it, you may need to replace the door itself or the hinges with new original spare parts.
☑️ Check after installation
Is it possible to rehang the doors if there are no holes on the opposite side?
If there are no factory holes on the opposite side of the body and door, this means that this model Nord does not provide for overhanging. Drilling new holes yourself is highly not recommended: you can damage the internal cooling circuit, break the seal, or ruin the appearance. In such cases, the opening side is fixed.
What to do if, after rehanging, the door does not close completely?
Most likely, the problem is in adjusting the tilt of the body. Try unscrewing the front legs of the refrigerator to tilt it back a little. This will help the door close under gravity. Also check if anything inside (shelves, food) is preventing it from closing tightly.
Do you need to wait after installation before turning it on?
Yes, after any manipulations with moving or tilting the refrigerator, especially if it was working before, it is recommended to let it stand in an upright position for at least 2-4 hours before turning it on. This is necessary so that the compressor oil flows into the compressor crankcase.
How to remove the handle if the screws are not visible?
In many models Nord the screws for securing the handles are hidden under decorative plugs or are located on the inside of the door. Carefully inspect the end of the door or the inside surface. Sometimes it is necessary to remove the entire inner panel of the door to get to the fasteners.
Why did condensation appear after rehanging?
The appearance of condensation may be due to a violation of the tightness due to improper adjustment of the hinges. If the door does not fit tightly, warm air gets in, causing moisture to form. Check the fit of the seal and, if necessary, tighten the adjusting screws.