Modern Pozis refrigerators have proven themselves to be reliable equipment that can work for years without complaints. However, even the highest quality devices sometimes require maintenance that cannot be performed without partially disassembling the case. Most often, the need dismantle the door occurs when transporting equipment through narrow doorways, when the assembled dimensions exceed the width of the passage, or when deep cleaning the internal surface.
Owners are often faced with a situation where standard opening methods are not enough and physical removal is required doors This may be caused by replacing the sealing rubber, which over time loses its elasticity and no longer fits tightly to the body. Also, dismantling is necessary if there is broken traction control of the freezer damper, which is typical for some models with a bottom freezer.
The process of removing the flap from Russian-made refrigerators has its own design features, which are important to consider before starting work. Incorrect actions can lead to damage to plastic elements, deformation of metal, or loss of sealing of the circuit. In this article we will analyze in detail all the stages of preparation, the necessary tools and the sequence of actions for various modifications of equipment Pozis.
Before taking active steps, it is necessary to prepare the workplace. Make sure that there is enough room to maneuver around the refrigerator and that the floor is covered with soft material to avoid scratches if parts are accidentally dropped. Remember that a door with shelves and products weighs quite a lot, so it is better to carry out the work with an assistant, especially if we are talking about double-leaf models or large-volume devices.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting any disassembly work, be sure to disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply. Unplug the plug from the socket to eliminate the risk of electric shock or accidental start of the compressor while manipulating the wiring.
Necessary tools and preparation
To successfully dismantle door panels, you will need a minimum set of tools, which can usually be found in the drawer of any home handyman. The main tool will be a wrench or a socket of the appropriate size, most often it 8 mm, 10 mm or 13 mm, depending on the year of manufacture and model of your unit. It would also be a good idea to have flat-head and Phillips screwdrivers on hand for removing decorative plugs and plastic panels.
It is important to free the door shelves from products and removable elements in advance in order to reduce the weight of the structure and avoid breaking glass or plastic. Remove all egg trays, bottle holders and balcony shelves as they may fall off when tilting or removing the sash. If a complex storage system is installed on the door, it is also better to dismantle it in advance by unscrewing the fastening screws from the inside.
☑️ Preparing to remove the door
Particular attention should be paid to models with a system No Frost or electronic control, where cables can pass through the doors. In such cases, simply unscrewing the hinges will not be enough; careful work with the connectors will be required. Prepare a container in advance for folding the screws so that they do not get lost, since fasteners in different units may differ in the length and diameter of the thread.
Design features of Pozis doors
Refrigerators Pozis are available in various modifications, from classic two-chamber models to single-chamber options with the top freezer. The design of the hinges and the method of fastening the sashes can vary significantly depending on the series. In most cases, upper and lower fastenings are used, where the main load falls on the lower axis, and the upper one serves as a guide.
For some models, such as the series RK-139 or RD-149, the upper hinge can be hidden under a decorative plastic cover. This cover is usually held in place by latches or a single screw that must be carefully removed. After removing the plastic, access to the main fasteners opens, which holds the door in a vertical position.
What is the difference between left and right opening?
The design of Pozis doors often allows the doors to be hung on the other side. For this purpose, threaded holes are provided on the opposite end side of the case and doors closed with plastic plugs. When rehanging, it may also be necessary to reposition the handle if it is asymmetrical.
It is important to understand that in some modifications the lower hinge is part of the defrosting mechanism or air damper pull. When removing such a door, you must act extremely carefully so as not to damage plastic rod or break the cable. If you see that wires are coming to the door (for example, for a display or lamp), do not pull the door sharply, but carefully inspect the connection point.
Removing the top door of the refrigerator
The process of removing the top door usually begins with removing decorative elements. Look at the end or top of the door for plastic plugs that hide the mounting bolts. Carefully pry them off with a flathead screwdriver or knife, being careful not to scratch the enamel of the case. Under them you will find screws that need to be unscrewed counterclockwise.
After the upper fastener is released, the door is still held on the lower hinge. In some models, you first need to remove the top hinge itself along with the door, and in others, you first need to unscrew the hinge from the body and then remove it along with the sash. If the door is heavy, be sure to have someone hold it to prevent it from falling on your feet or damaging the flooring.
If your model is equipped with a magnetic lock or a locking system in the "open" position, make sure that the mechanism is unlocked before final removal. Smoothly lift the door up, removing it from the lower axis. The movement should be strictly vertical, without distortions, so as not to deform the holes in the hinges.
After removing the sash, inspect the lower bushing for wear. Often it is the development of this element that leads to distortion and loose fit. If the bushing is plastic and has traces of wear, it is better to replace it with a new one to avoid problems in the future.
Removing the bottom door and working with rods
The bottom door of Pozis refrigerators often has a more complex design due to the presence of a rod for controlling the freezer damper. This rod is a plastic rod or cable that connects the handle or lever on the door to the mechanism inside the frame. When removing the door, this connection must be broken carefully so as not to break the fragile plastic fasteners.
To access the rod, you may need to remove the decorative panel from the inside of the door or dismantle the handle. In mechanically controlled models, the rod is usually simply inserted into a groove, and it must be carefully removed from there. In more complex systems, it may be necessary to disconnect the plastic tip from the lever.
| Element | Mounting type | Tool | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top hinge | Wrench bolts | Key 10 mm | Hidden under plastic |
| Bottom axis | Sleeve/Pin | Pliers | May rust |
| Valve rod | Plastic groove | Hands/Screwdriver | Fragile, requires care |
| Door handle | Inside screws | Phillips screwdriver | Access through holes |
When reinstalling, it is important to correctly align traction with the mechanism. If this is not done, the damper will not open and cold air will not enter the refrigerator compartment, which will lead to food spoilage. Check the travel of the rod by hand - it should move freely, without jamming.
In case the lower hinge is rusty and does not yields, do not try to rip it off by force. Treat the joint with a penetrating lubricant (such as WD-40) and leave for 15-20 minutes. This will help dissolve the oxides and facilitate the rotation of the fasteners.
Reversing the doors to the other side
Many users are interested in whether it is possible to change the side of the door opening in order to adapt the refrigerator to a new kitchen layout. In most models Pozis this possibility is provided structurally. To do this, you need to move the hinges to the opposite side and reinstall the handles if they are symmetrical or have a universal fastening.
The process begins with the complete dismantling of the doors, as described in the previous sections. Then on the front side of the case there are holes closed with decorative plugs. These plugs must be removed and moved to the vacant places on the working side. A similar operation is carried out on the doors themselves, if there are threaded holes for hinges.
⚠️ Attention: When rehanging doors, make sure that the slope of the floor in the new installation location allows the door to close on its own under the influence of gravity. If the floor has a strong slope in the other direction, the door may not reach the body.
After rearranging all the elements, adjustments must be made. The door should fit evenly around the entire perimeter of the body. If gaps are noticeable in the upper or lower part, they can be eliminated by placing washers under the hinges or adjusting the height of the legs of the refrigerator.
Adjusting and eliminating sagging
A frequent problem after long-term use is the sagging of the door, which is why it stops closing tightly. This leads to the formation of ice, increased energy consumption and accelerated wear of the compressor. Adjustment begins with checking the horizontal installation of the refrigerator itself.
Use a building level to make sure that the unit is level. If the refrigerator is tilted forward, the door will open by itself, but if it is tilted backward, it may not close completely. Adjust the front support legs by twisting or unscrewing them until the desired position is achieved. Ideally, the back should be slightly lower than the front.
If the installation geometry is fine, but there is still a gap, the problem may be deformation of the door itself or wear of the seal. Try to slightly bend the door where it does not fit tightly. This should be done carefully by heating the plastic with a hairdryer or using a soft gasket so as not to leave dents.
How to check the tightness of the seal?
Take a sheet of paper and clamp it between the door and the body in different places around the perimeter. If the sheet is pulled out too easily or, conversely, is tightly clamped, the hinges need to be adjusted or the seal needs to be replaced.
It is also worth checking the condition thrust washers on the hinges. Over time, they wear out and the door drops below the required level. Replacing these inexpensive parts often solves the problem of sagging without the need for complex repairs.
Frequent errors during disassembly
When performing work on their own, beginners often make mistakes that can lead to equipment breakdown. One of the most common is an attempt to remove the door without completely unscrewing all the fasteners. Always double-check for hidden screws under stickers or in the recesses of handles.
Another mistake is ignoring electrical connections. On models with a door display, forgetting to disconnect the wire harness before pulling the door away can result in broken wires or damaged connectors. Always check for wires before the final pull.
Do not use excessive force. If something doesn't work, it means you missed some fixing element or are acting in the wrong sequence. The use of force can lead to chipped enamel, cracks in plastic or broken threads, the restoration of which will require professional intervention.
Questions and answers (FAQ)
Do you need to defrost the refrigerator before removing the doors?
It is advisable, but not necessary. Defrosting will make the structure lighter and eliminate the risk of water leaking out when changing the position of the unit. However, if you just need to quickly rehang the door, you can do without complete defrosting, proceed carefully.
Is it possible for one person to remove the door?
Technically it is possible if the door is not and you are in good physical shape. However, manufacturers and craftsmen recommend working together, since one hand will be busy holding the sash, and the other unscrewing the bolts, which increases the risk of the part falling.
What to do if the hinge bolt is rusty?
Do not try to rip it off right away. Apply a penetrating lubricant (WD-40, kerosene or a special rust cleaner) liberally and leave for 20-30 minutes. Then try to gently loosen it with a key. If that doesn’t help, you can slightly warm up the metal with a hairdryer, but be careful with the plastic around it.
The plug for the hinge hole is lost, where can I get a new one?
You can order an original spare part at a service center Pozis or pick up a universal analogue in furniture fittings stores. Temporarily, the hole can be sealed with a piece of black electrical tape or decorated to prevent dust from getting in.
Does removing the door affect the warranty?
Removing the door yourself for transportation or cleaning, as a rule, does not void the warranty if the seals on the compressor have not been damaged and the internal system has not been repaired. However, if in the process you break the plastic or break the thread, this will be considered a warranty case.