The situation when a refrigerator Indesit becomes too bulky for your kitchen is familiar to many. It often happens that after moving or remodeling a kitchen unit, it turns out that the door opens in the wrong direction, blocking the passage or preventing the opening of adjacent cabinets. Fortunately, the design of most models of this brand provides for the possibility of reinstalling the doors, which allows you to adapt the equipment to new operating conditions. Rehanging doors This is a procedure that can be performed independently if you strictly follow the technical regulations and are careful.
Before taking up the tools, you need to assess your strength and the condition of the equipment. If your refrigerator Indesit is equipped with a system No Frost or has an electronic display on the front, the process may require more care when working with the wiring. In classic models with a drip defrosting system, the task is simplified, since there are fewer electrical connections in the door leaf. The main thing is to take your time and prepare a flat surface for work in order to avoid damage to the enamel or mechanical parts.
It is important to understand that incorrect reinstallation of the hinges can lead to a loose seal, which will lead to loss of cold and increased energy consumption. Tightness of the chamber is a key parameter that should not be damaged as a result of your manipulations. In this article, we will analyze all the nuances of the process, from the selection of tools to the final adjustment of the gaps, so that you can be confident in the result.
Necessary tools and preparation of the workplace
To successfully perform work on changing the opening side, you will need a minimum set of tools that any home craftsman usually has. The main tool will be screwdriver or a set of screwdrivers with Phillips and flat slots, since most fasteners in refrigerators Indesit have the appropriate thread. You may also need a wrench, usually 8 or 10 mm in size, to work with the hinge bolts.
A critical element of preparation is to clear the space around the unit. You need to move the refrigerator at least one meter away from the wall to have easy access from all sides. Do not forget to completely defrost the chamber and remove all shelves and drawers - this will significantly reduce the weight of the structure and reduce the risk of accidental falling of heavy glass elements during work.
⚠️ 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 a short circuit if the door control wires are accidentally damaged.
Take care of the protection of the floor covering and the equipment itself. Place thick cardboard or a soft blanket under the bottom of the refrigerator to avoid scratching the floor when moving or damaging the bottom of the cabinet. To fix the position of the door in the open state while dismantling the upper hinges, it is convenient to use tape or ask an assistant to hold the door.
Design features of doors of different Indesit models
Refrigerators Indesit are produced in various modifications, and the design of their door assemblies may differ significantly. In budget single-chamber models, the process often comes down to a simple rearrangement of bolts, while in two-chamber systems No Frost the situation is more complicated. Here it is important to take into account the presence of air channels and electrical harnesses that go from the body to the lamps, displays or control buttons located on the door.
Particular attention should be paid to the type of handle. In some series, the handles are integrated into the door profile, and their reinstallation requires disassembling the interior panel. In other cases, especially in models with overhead handles, it is enough to simply move the mounting screws to the opposite side. Study hinge diagrams in the instructions for your specific model is the first step that will protect you from mistakes.
It is worth noting that in refrigerators with a system No Frost wires often pass through the top hinge, powering the fan or sensors. When disconnecting them, you need to act extremely carefully, using thin tools so as not to damage the plastic connector retainers. In older models, the wiring can be soldered, which requires skills in working with a soldering iron, however, in modern versions Indesit standard connectors are used.
Step-by-step instructions: dismantling the door
The process of removing the door begins with dismantling the top hinge, since it is this that holds the main weight doors If you have a two-compartment refrigerator, remove the top freezer door first. Unscrew the top hinge bolts, but do not remove them completely until you are sure that the sash is securely fixed. After loosening the fasteners, carefully lift the door, removing it from the lower pin.
☑️ Preparation for dismantling
When working with the lower door of the main chamber, the algorithm is similar, but here the preliminary dismantling of decorative plugs is often required. In place of the future mounting holes, plastic pistons are usually installed, which need to be removed and moved to the vacant places on the other side. This is necessary to maintain an aesthetic appearance and protect the metal from corrosion.
⚠️ Attention: The refrigerator doors are heavy and slippery. Always use a safety net or the help of a second person to prevent the door from falling on your foot or from breaking the glass of the shelf inside.
If the door has a magnetic lock or an opening sensor, carefully disconnect the connectors. Do not pull the wires - press the connector latch and smoothly pull out the contact group. To make it easier to remember the connection, you can take a photo before disconnecting. Marking the wires in such systems it is usually standard, but it is very easy to confuse the colors during assembly.
Re-hanging the hinges and installing them on the new side
After the doors are removed and set aside safe place, you need to prepare the refrigerator body. Find places on the opposite side of the case to install hinges - they are usually closed with decorative plugs. Carefully remove them and move them to the vacated holes on the side where the doors were originally. This is an important step, since the presence of plugs prevents dust and moisture from entering the thermal insulation layer.
Now we move on to installing the hinges on the new side. The top hinge is installed first. Insert the mounting bolts into the corresponding holes on the body and door, but do not tighten them all the way yet. This will allow you to adjust the position of the door in space. Make sure that the lower hinge pin fits exactly into the mating hole at the end of the door.
What to do if the holes do not match?
If the holes do not match, check whether the old bushings have been completely unscrewed and whether the remaining threaded connections have been removed. Sometimes the door needs to be slightly rocked during installation to get the pin into the correct position. Do not use excessive force to avoid stripping the threads in the refrigerator body.
When installing the bottom hinge, which is often a support hinge, it is important to ensure that the installation is vertical. Use a spirit level if you have any doubts about the levelness of the floor or the stability of the refrigerator. Tighten the bolts crosswise, gradually increasing the force to avoid distortion metal profile hinges.
Adjusting the gaps and tightness
After installing all the elements in new places, it is necessary to carry out a thorough adjustment. The door should open freely, without creaking or jamming, and when closing, fit tightly to the body around the entire perimeter. If you notice a distortion, loosen the fastening bolts of the middle hinge (if there is one) or the top support and slightly move the door in the desired direction.
Checking the tightness is carried out using a simple method: close the door with a sheet of paper and try to pull it out. If the paper is pulled out with force along the entire perimeter, it means sealing rubber it fits correctly. If in some places the sheet slips freely, additional adjustment of the height of the refrigerator legs or the position of the hinges is required.
| Adjustment element | Tool | Purpose | Sign of correct adjustment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper hinge | Key 8-10 mm | Fixation of the upper position | No play at the top |
| Middle hinge | Screwdriver cross | Chamber separation | Uniform gap between doors |
| Bottom support | 10 mm key | Basic support | Tight fit of the bottom of the door |
| Refrigerator legs | Adjustable wrench | Tilt the body back | Spontaneous closing |
Don't forget that it's new a seal or rubber that has not been sealed for a long time may take several hours to straighten. Therefore, it is better to carry out the final tightness check 2-3 hours after assembly, when rubber profile takes its working form. At this time, you should not load the door shelves with heavy products.
Typical mistakes and expert advice
One of the most common mistakes is ignoring the instructions for a specific model Indesit. The design of hinges may differ even within the same model range released in different years. Blindly following advice from the Internet without taking into account the features of your unit often leads to the door warping or no longer closing tightly.
Another common problem is loss fasteners. Bolts for refrigerator hinges often have a specific thread or length, and replacing them with ordinary construction screws is unacceptable. This can lead to stripping of the threads in the plastic bushings of the housing, the repair of which will require serious intervention. It is better to immediately put all removed parts into a magnetic tray or labeled container.
⚠️ Attention: Do not use vegetable oil or Vaseline to lubricate the hinges - they thicken over time and turn into a sticky mass that collects dust. Use only special aerosol lubricants or silicone.
If after reinstallation you find that the door does not close completely, check the tilt level of the refrigerator itself. The body should be tilted back slightly to allow gravity to assist in closing. Adjusting the front supports allows you to achieve this effect. Also check whether the products on the shelves do not rest against the door when closing.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to hang the door if there is a display?
Yes, this is possible, but requires increased caution. The cable going to the display is usually long enough to transfer it to the other side, or a second connector is provided in the design. However, in some budget models Indesit the length of the wire may be limited, and then the cable will need to be extended, which is best left to a professional.
What to do if, after rehanging, the door does not magnetize?
Most likely, the installation geometry is broken or the seal has not had time to straighten. Check the tightness of the hinge bolts and make sure that the refrigerator is level. If the problem persists, it is possible that the magnet in the seal was damaged during installation or the rubber profile itself was deformed.
Do you need to wait after re-hanging before turning it on?
No special waiting is required if you have not carried out work on the refrigeration circuit. However, it is recommended to give the compactor a couple of hours to adapt to the new position before fully loading it with products, so that it forms the correct contour of the seal.
Will the warranty remain valid after re-hanging it yourself?
Formally, if you do not damage the unit components in the process, the warranty remains valid. But if during disassembly the plastic is broken, the cable is torn or the thread is torn off, the service center may refuse free repairs. Be extremely careful.