The need to change the direction in which the refrigerator door opens often arises when remodeling a kitchen or moving to a new home. Refrigerators of the brand Biryusa are designed taking into account the possibility of reinstalling the hinge, which allows you to adapt the equipment to a specific furniture arrangement. The owner can carry out this procedure independently, having a minimum set of tools and basic skills in working with equipment.
The rehanging process requires care, since the doors have significant weight and contain fragile elements, such as glass shelves or light switches. Before starting work, it is important to clear the space around the unit and ensure that the housing is in a stable position. An incorrect sequence of actions can lead to damage to the hinges or failure of the seal.
Preparation for work and selection of tools
To successfully complete the task of reinstalling the door, it is necessary to prepare the workplace and tools in advance. You will need to remove all shelves and containers from the door, and also empty the refrigerator compartment of food. This will not only make the construction easier, but will also prevent objects from falling during dismantling.
The basic set of tools includes wrenches, screwdrivers and, possibly, hexagons, which are often included with equipment. The specific size of the fastener depends on the model Biryusa, so it is recommended to have a set of keys on hand. The help of a second person will also be useful, since holding a heavy door with one hand and simultaneously unscrewing the bolts is extremely difficult and dangerous.
In some cases, it may be necessary to adjust the tilt level of the refrigerator body. For this purpose, adjustable supports are used at the bottom of the unit. Correct leveling ensures that after rehanging the door will close tightly and not open spontaneously.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting any work, be sure to disconnect the refrigerator from the electrical network to avoid electric shock or short circuit if the wiring is accidentally damaged.
Make sure that the floor on which the equipment is standing is level and not slippery If you are working on linoleum or laminate, lay down thick cardboard or soft fabric so as not to scratch the coating with a fallen tool or part.
Removing the top hinge and door
The first step is to remove the top hinge, which holds the door in a vertical position. Depending on the model Biryusa, this loop may be hidden under a decorative plug or plastic cover. Carefully pry up the plug with a flat-head screwdriver, being careful not to damage its fastenings.
After accessing the fasteners, you need to loosen the bolts, but do not remove them completely until the door is fixed. Have a helper hold the door firmly to prevent it from falling after the screws are completely removed. Then carefully remove the top hinge along with the axle, if the design requires this.
The removed door should be placed in a safe place, having first removed the handle from it if it interferes with further work or transportation. At the same stage, you can remove the magnetic sensor or light switch if they are located on the top of the case and interfere with the removal of the hinge.
- 🔧 Use a magnetic tray to store small screws so that they do not get lost.
- 🧤 Wear work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal edges.
- 📏 Measure the distance from the edge to the center of the hinge for precise installation on the other side.
It is important not to lose washers and bushings that may be inside the hinge mechanism. These small details ensure that the door runs smoothly and fits properly. Their loss may lead to creaking or distortion in the future.
☑️ Dismantling the upper part
Repositioning the lower support and axle
The lower part of the structure requires special attention, since it bears the main weight of the door when open. In refrigerators Biryusa the lower support is often a bushing that is inserted into the hole in the housing. It is necessary to remove this bushing from the current hole.
On the opposite side of the case you will find a plug in the hole for the lower hinge. This plug needs to be removed and moved to the place where the loop was just. This will preserve the aesthetic appearance of the refrigerator and prevent dust from getting inside the case.
Then install the lower support sleeve or rod into the vacated hole on the other side. Make sure it fits snug and straight. If the design provides for the use of a hex key for fixing, tighten it until it stops, but without excessive force, so as not to strip the thread.
| Fastening element | Location (Standard) | Location (After overweight) | Tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper hinge | Upper right corner | Upper left corner | Wrench 10 mm |
| Lower support | Bottom right corner | Bottom left corner | Hexagon |
| Decorative plug | Left side | Right side | Screwdriver |
| Door handle | Front/Side | Requires rearrangement | Hex/Screwdriver |
Check the integrity of the thread in the new seat. If there were remnants of factory lubricant or preservative, this is good, but it is better to remove excess dirt with a clean rag. The cleanliness of the mating surfaces affects the durability of the assembly.
What to do if the thread is torn?
If the thread in the body is torn, you can try to use a repair sleeve or increase the diameter of the fastener by selecting a corresponding loop from another model. However, it is better to contact a service center.
Installation of the handle and fittings on a new side
The refrigerator handle Biryusa often has a symmetrical fastening or the ability to be rearranged. If the handle is integrated into the door profile, you may need to remove the entire panel or simply move the mounting screws from one side to the other. In some models, the handle is hidden, and nothing needs to be changed in it.
For models with overhead handles, you need to unscrew the fasteners from the current side. The holes that remain free are closed with decorative plugs included in the kit, or with those that were removed from the opposite side. This is an important aesthetic point.
Install the handle on the new side using the holes provided by the manufacturer. Tighten the screws evenly to avoid misalignment, which can lead to breakage of the plastic during active use. The plastic on older models can be brittle, so proceed with caution.
⚠️ Warning: Do not overtighten the handle mounting screws as this may cause cracks in the plastic or deformation of the metal base of the door.
If your model has a door closer or hold-open device, make sure it is also reinstalled or adjusted correctly. These mechanisms can be one-sided, and ignoring them will lead to incorrect operation of the door.
Installing the door and top fasteners
After preparing the lower support and moving the handle, you can begin hanging the door. This is the most crucial moment requiring coordination of actions. Lift the door and slide its bottom hole onto the previously installed support sleeve or rod.
While holding the door in a vertical position, align the top holes with the mounting points on the body. Insert the top hinge pin into the door hole and attach the hinge itself to the refrigerator body. Now you can tighten the mounting bolts by hand.
Tighten the bolts with a wrench, but do not tighten them completely yet. This is necessary in order to be able to adjust the position of the door relative to the body. Make sure that the gaps around the perimeter of the door are the same.
- 🚪 Check that the door does not touch the body when opening 90 degrees.
- 📐 Use a building level to control the vertical installation.
- 🔩 Tighten the bolts crosswise for even distribution pressure.
Perform final tightening of the upper fasteners only after you are sure that the door is level. Sudden force may move the axle, so proceed gradually. Check the operation of the magnetic lock.
Adjusting the position and eliminating distortions
After installation, a situation often arises when the door is skewed or does not fit tightly to the body. To eliminate this defect, refrigerators Biryusa are provided with an adjustment system. It can be done by loosening the fastening of the hinges and moving the door.
If the door warps to one side, slightly loosen the bolts securing the upper or lower hinge. Slide the door in the desired direction and tighten the fasteners again. Repeat the procedure until the gap is uniform around the entire perimeter.
It is also important to check the horizontalness of the refrigerator itself. If the floor is uneven, use adjustable feet. The front of the refrigerator should be slightly higher than the back so that the door closes itself under the influence of gravity.
Check the tightness of the seal along the entire contour. To do this, you can use a sheet of paper: hold it with a closed door and try to pull it out. If the paper comes out easily everywhere, then additional adjustment or replacement of the seal is required.
⚠️ Attention: If after adjustment the door still does not fit, check the condition of the rubber seal. An old or damaged seal may not provide a tight seal even when the hinges are installed correctly.
In some cases, it may be necessary to heat the seal with a hairdryer if it has become deformed during transportation. Warm air will restore elasticity to the rubber, and it will take the desired shape.
Checking operation and tightness
The final stage is a comprehensive check of the work performed. Open and close the door several times, paying attention to the smoothness of movement and the absence of extraneous sounds. The door should open easily and close with a characteristic bang.
Plug in the refrigerator and leave it running for several hours. Periodically check the temperature inside the chamber and make sure that the motor is operating normally. Frequent activation of the compressor may indicate a loose door fit.
Make sure that the light comes on when the door is opened, and goes out when closed. If the sensor does not operate, the wire may have been damaged during installation or the switch itself needs to be replaced.
- ❄️ Check the formation of ice after 24 hours of operation.
- 🔊 Listen for the absence of creaks when opening.
- 👀 Visually inspect the tightness of the fit seal.
If all parameters are normal, you can load products. Remember that fully loading the refrigerator immediately after defrosting or installation is not recommended; let the unit return to operating mode.
How to check the tightness without paper?
You can use a flashlight. Place the turned on flashlight inside the refrigerator and close the door in a dark room. If light breaks through the cracks, the seal is broken.
Do you need to call a specialist to rehang the door?
No, if you have basic tools and physical strength, you can do it yourself. However, if the refrigerator is under warranty, independent intervention may void it, so it is better to check the conditions with the manufacturer.
What to do if the plugs for the holes are lost?
Plugs can be ordered at a service center or picked up similar in size at a hardware store. As a last resort, the holes can be sealed with decorative film or painted over, choosing a color.
Is it possible to rehang the door without removing the refrigerator from its place?
Technically possible, but extremely inconvenient. You will need access to the back and sides, as well as a place to put the removed door aside. It is better to move the refrigerator at least 1 meter from the wall.
Why does the door not close tightly after rehanging?
Most likely, the geometry of the hinges is broken or the refrigerator itself is not level. Also, the cause may be deformation of the seal or a foreign object getting under the rubber.