Rearranging furniture in the kitchen or changing the layout often requires moving large appliances. In such a situation, the owners are faced with the question: how to unfold the doors on the refrigerator so that opening is convenient and does not take up extra space. Modern models, be it Bosch, Indesit or LG, are most often designed taking into account the possibility of changing the opening side, however, this process requires care and adherence to a strict sequence of actions.
Incorrectly performed re-hanging can lead to damage to the seal, loss of tightness or even breakdown. hinges and door leaf. Before starting work, you need to make sure that your model supports this option, since in some budget series or built-in solutions the housing design may be fixed. Carefully studying the instructions and preparing the workplace is the key to successfully completing the operation without calling a specialist.
Necessary tools and preparation of the workplace
To perform work on rearranging door panels, you will need a minimum set of tools that can be found in every home. The main tool will be hex wrench or a set of screwdrivers (phillips and flat), since fasteners may differ depending on the manufacturer. It is also recommended to prepare a building level to check the horizontal installation after installation is completed.
Pay special attention to surface preparation. Since the refrigerator is a heavy unit, it will have to be tilted or moved, so the floor must be protected from scratches. Use thick cardboard, a rug, or leftover linoleum. Make sure that you have enough free space to maneuver, especially if you are working in a narrow corridor or a small kitchen.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting any work on dismantling the housing elements, be sure to disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply! This is critical for safety and to prevent short circuits if the wiring is accidentally damaged.
It would be a good idea to call an assistant. Even if the design allows one person to theoretically handle it, having a second person will make it much easier to hold the heavy ones while unscrewing the hinges. This will reduce the risk of the part falling and damaging the floor covering or the hinges themselves. door leaves while unscrewing the hinges. This will reduce the risk of the part falling and damaging the flooring or the hinges themselves.
Design assessment and preparatory operations
The first stage is a visual inspection and analysis of the design of your refrigerator. It is necessary to determine the type of hinges: they can be open or hidden, and also have different attachment points. In most cases, the manufacturer provides symmetrical openings on the opposite side of the case, closed with decorative plugs.
If you are the owner of a two-chamber device, it is important to understand that you will have to rehang both doors: the upper (freezer or refrigerator) and the lower. The process always starts from the top of the unit. First you need to remove the top cover, if any, to gain access to the top brackets.
Before picking up tools, empty the door shelves of products and removable elements. This will not only make the structure lighter, but also protect the contents from falling. Remove all magnetic holders, decorative trims and check if anything is interfering with the free movement of the doors.
Removing the upper door and hinges
The process of removing the upper door is the most critical, since this is where the control mechanism or display is often located. If it is installed on the door control panel, it must be carefully disconnected. Usually the wires are hidden inside the door handle or pass through the top hinge.
To disconnect the electronics, locate the connector that can be latched with a plastic clip. Do not pull the wires with force - it is better to use a thin screwdriver to gently release the latch. After disconnecting the cable, you can begin to unscrew the top loop. Supporting the door with one hand, unscrew the bolts with a key.
☑️ Removing the upper door
After removing the upper door, attention turns to the middle hinge, which separates the cameras. In some models it can be secured with a stopper. If you plan to move the door to the other side, the old holes on the current side are closed with plugs, and on the opposite side they are removed.
⚠️ Attention: When unscrewing the bolts, support the door! Metal sheets are heavy, and dropping the door on your foot or the floor can lead to injury or deformation of the metal, which will make further operation impossible.
Hanging the bottom door of the refrigerator
The bottom door is usually removed after dismantling the middle hinge. It is important here to correctly identify the bottom support pin or bushing on which the structure rests. When rearranged, this element often requires replacement with a symmetrical one or rearrangement into a specially provided hole on the other side.
Remove the bottom door and set it aside in a safe place, placing it face up on a soft surface so as not to scratch the enamel. Now you need to remove the bottom hinge. Pay attention to the presence of adjusting washers - their number and location must be remembered or photographed, as they affect height and gap between the door and the body.
Install the bottom hinge on the new side using the holes provided by the manufacturer. If the kit came with special extended bolts or bushings for the reverse side, use those. Secure the structure, but do not tighten the bolts “all the way” yet, leaving a small gap for subsequent adjustment.
Assembling the structure on the new side
Assembly is carried out in the reverse order of dismantling. First, the bottom door is installed on the bottom hinge. Make sure the door sits flat in its seat. Then the middle hinge is mounted, onto which the upper door is placed. At this stage, it is important to correctly align the mounting holes.
If your model is equipped with a magnetic lock or a system No Frost with a special arrangement of air ducts, make sure that when closing the nichts do not interfere with a tight fit. Sometimes it is necessary to rearrange the plastic stops inside the case, which prevent the doors from opening too wide.
Nuances for Side-by-Side models
In Side-by-Side refrigerators, the procedure is more complicated, since it often requires complete removal of the doors from the hinge mechanism. Such models may not have the ability to be rearranged without replacing the door leaves themselves with mirror ones, which is a paid service.
After installing all the elements in place, you can begin the final tightening of the fasteners. Use torque wrench if it is available, or simply tighten the bolts well, but without fanaticism, so as not to strip the thread. Check that all decorative plugs are installed in their new places, hiding the old holes.
Adjusting gaps and checking tightness
The final and, perhaps, the most important stage is adjustment. Doors should close tightly, but not too tightly. If the door is skewed, it will not fit tightly to the body, which will lead to ice freezing and increased load on the compressor. Adjustment is usually done by tightening the bolts on the hinges or using the adjusting supports at the bottom of the refrigerator.
Check the operation sealing rubber along the entire perimeter. It should fit evenly to the body. To check, you can use a sheet of paper: hold it against the door and try to pull it out. If the paper comes out easily anywhere, it means that the seal is broken and additional adjustment of the loop is required.
| Validation parameter | Normal state | Symptom of the problem |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Door gap | Uniform, 2-4 mm | It jams when opening or the gap is too large |
| Seal Fit | Dense throughout | There are places where the rubber comes off |
| Door travel | Smooth with a magnetic click | Creaking, tight movement or spontaneous opening |
| Body position | Vertical | Tilt back or to the sides |
If the doors are skewed, use the adjusting screws on the hinges (if the model allows) or tighten the front support legs of the refrigerator to change the tilt of the body. This often helps eliminate misalignment without complex mechanical adjustment of the hinges.
Common mistakes and troubleshooting
In the process of re-hanging themselves, beginners often make a number of common mistakes. One of the most common is the loss of fasteners. Bolts from different hinges may differ in length and thread, so it is recommended to lay them out in a strict order or sign them.
Another mistake is ignoring the level check. If the refrigerator is on an uneven floor, the doors may open on their own or, conversely, not close completely. Always use a building level to check the position of the unit in two planes.
It is also worth mentioning the problem with the wires. If you do not lay the display cable correctly, it may become twisted or crushed when closing the door. This will cause the control panel to not work. Make sure that the wires lie in the grooves intended for them and have a small power reserve.
⚠️ Attention: The design of the loops and the presence of holes for hanging may vary depending on the specific modification and year of manufacture. Always check the official diagram in the user manual, since there is no universal algorithm for all brands.
Questions and answers (FAQ)
Is it possible to reverse the doors on a built-in refrigerator?
In most cases, it is possible to reverse the doors on built-in models, but this is more difficult because furniture door. It is also necessary to rehang the cabinet front, which often requires special tools and knowledge. In addition, access to the sides may be limited.
What to do if there are no holes for hinges on the opposite side?
If there are no holes, then the model does not provide for overhanging. It is strictly forbidden to drill new holes yourself - this will break the tightness of the internal circuit (especially in the evaporator area) and will lead to loss of warranty and damage to the equipment.
Is it necessary to defrost the refrigerator before rehanging it?
It is not necessary to specifically defrost the unit if it is in good working order. However, if there is a lot of ice inside, it is better to wait until it thaws so that water does not pour out when tilting the refrigerator. In addition, an empty refrigerator is easier to move.
Why does the door not fit tightly after rehanging?
Most likely, the reason is improper adjustment of the hinges or misalignment of the refrigerator body itself. It is also possible that the sealing rubber was deformed during storage or installation - in this case, it can be heated with a hairdryer to restore its shape.