Changing the kitchen layout or rearranging furniture often dictates new requirements for the location of household appliances. Owners of refrigeration units LG often face the need to change the direction of door opening in order to provide convenient access to products. Manufacturers provide this possibility, but the process requires care and adherence to a certain sequence of actions. Careless performance of work can lead to damage fittings or violation of the tightness of the circuit.
Before starting work, it is important to understand that the design of different models may differ significantly. While on some units it is enough to rearrange the hinges, on others it will be necessary to dismantle additional control elements. Electronics modern refrigerators are sensitive to mechanical influences, so all manipulations should be carried out only after completely disconnecting the device from the power supply. This is a basic safety rule, which cannot be ignored.
In this article we will analyze in detail the algorithm of actions for various series of refrigerators LG. You'll learn what tools you'll need, how to properly remove the handles, and what to do with the closure sensors. Proper preparation of the workplace and the availability of free space around the unit will be the key to the successful completion of the operation. Let's begin a detailed examination of each stage.
Necessary tools and preparation of the workplace
Quality preparation for work takes almost half of the time, but it is this that determines the final result. To hang a door, you will need a minimum set of tools that are usually found in the arsenal of a home craftsman. The main tool will be hex wrench (often included with the refrigerator) or a set of screwdrivers with different tips. Some models may require a certain size of wrench.
Get some space around the refrigerator so you can access it from all sides. It is advisable to cover the floor with a soft material, such as a blanket or cardboard, to protect the floor covering and the unit itself in the event of small parts falling. It is also recommended to prepare a container for fasteners, since the screws of different units may differ in size and length. Confusing them means risking damage to the threads or the casing device.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting any work, be sure to unplug the refrigerator and remove all food. Heavy doors can slide off unexpectedly if they are not supported, so having an assistant is highly recommended.
Check the contents of your device. Manufacturers often include a special hanging kit that includes hole plugs and extra screws. If such parts are lost, you can order them at the service center or pick up similar ones at a hardware store. The absence of plugs is not critical, but the appearance of equipment with unclosed holes on the front side will be less aesthetic.
☑️ Preparation for rehanging
Removing the top panel and top hinge
The conversion process begins from the top of the refrigerator compartment. The first step is to remove the decorative cover that hides the fasteners of the top hinge. Depending on the model LG, it can be held on with latches or fixed with screws. You need to act carefully so as not to break the plastic fasteners, which become brittle at low temperatures.
After removing the cover, access to the hinge fastening bolts opens. Use a suitable one key to unscrew them. It is important to hold the door at this moment, since after the fasteners are loosened, it will lose its fixation and may fall. If the model is equipped with a display or control panel on the door, the wires must be disconnected by first remembering or photographing the connector connection diagram.
Remove the top hinge and set it aside. The door can now be carefully lifted and removed from the lower axis. Place the removed door on a prepared soft surface with the outside side down. Be careful with the seal - its damage will lead to loss of tightness and increased energy consumption in the future.
Nuances of working with electronics
If your LG refrigerator model has a control panel built into the door, a cable of wires may pass inside the door cavity. Do not pull the wires sharply - carefully disconnect the connectors by pressing on the connector latches. When reassembling, make sure that the wires are not pinched by the metal of the loop.
Rearranging the handle and plugs
The most visually noticeable stage is moving the handle to the opposite side. On most modern models LG the handles are attached to screws, access to which is closed with decorative plugs. These plugs are located on the back side of the door, where the handle will be installed after rehanging. They need to be carefully removed and replaced in place of the old holes.
To dismantle the handle itself, you may need to remove the bottom part of the door or gain access to the fasteners through special holes. Use hexagon the appropriate size. After unscrewing the screws, the handle can be easily removed. Install it in the new location using the same fasteners and tighten the screws tightly. Make sure that the handle sits straight and does not wobble.
The holes remaining on the front side after dismantling the handle must be closed. For this purpose, plastic plugs are used, which usually come with the refrigerator or are located in the niche for vegetables. If there are no supplied plugs, you can use silicone sealants to match the color of the case, but this is a less aesthetic solution. Wipe the surface thoroughly before installing the plugs to degrease it.
Re-hanging the bottom hinge and freezer door
The lower part of the refrigerator, be it the freezer or the second refrigerator compartment, requires a similar approach, but has its own characteristics. The hinges here experience a lot of load, so their fastening should be as reliable as possible. First, remove the decorative panel from below, if present, and gain access to the bottom hinge bolts.
Unscrew the fasteners and remove the hinge. Pay attention to the presence of a pin on which the door is placed. In some models LG this pin needs to be moved to the other side. This may require knocking it out or unscrewing it, depending on the design. After moving the pin, install the hinge in a new place and temporarily secure it.
Install the freezer door onto the lower pin and secure the upper part of the hinge (which in this case is the middle part of the entire structure). Tighten all bolts firmly, but not too much, so as not to strip the threads. Check the vertical installation of the door - distortions are unacceptable, as they will lead to a loose fit seal.
| Element | Action | Tool | Nuance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper hinge | Removal and rearrangement | Hex / Screwdriver | Watch the display wires |
| Handle door | Transfer to the other side | Hexagon | Use plugs for old holes |
| Bottom hinge | Repositioning the pin | Key, hammer (optional) | Requires precise positioning |
| Door sensor | Rearrangement or re-soldering | Tweezers, soldering iron (rarely) | Depends on the electronics model |
Features of working with the No Frost system and sensors
Refrigerators LG with the system No Frost often have a more complex door design due to built-in air ducts and sensors. When rehanging, it is important not to damage the air circulation channels. Some models require rearrangement of plastic flaps or plugs inside the end of the door, which direct the flow of cold air.
The door opening sensor deserves special attention. In older models, it could be mechanical and require physical relocation to the other side, which sometimes even included resoldering the contacts. In modern units, this element is most often magnetic or electronic, and its transfer is not required - it reacts to a magnet in the mating part of the case, which also has symmetrical seats.
⚠️ Attention: If after assembly the refrigerator beeps about an open door, although it is slammed, check the position of the magnet or sensor. It is possible that when the door was moved, the gap between the sensor and the magnet became too large.
Check the integrity of the sealing rubber around the perimeter. With frequent openings or careless dismantling, it could become deformed. If you notice any creases, try warming them up with a hairdryer and straightening them out with your fingers. A tight fit of the seal is critical for proper operation of the system No Frost and to prevent the formation of ice.
Adjusting the door position and final check
After all the elements are installed on new ones place, it is necessary to make final adjustments. Refrigerator doors LG should open freely, but at the same time close tightly under their own weight with a slight deviation. If the door opens on its own or, conversely, requires force to close, it is necessary to adjust the height of the refrigerator legs or the position of the hinges.
For adjustment, use the front support screws (legs). By rotating them, you can change the tilt of the entire body, which will affect the opening angle of the doors. Also, the design of the hinges may include play for (fine adjustment). Loosen the hinge mounting bolts a little, align the door with the body and tighten the fasteners again.
Plug in the refrigerator and leave it running without load for several hours. Listen to the operation of the compressor - it should not work continuously, which may indicate a leak in the chamber. Check the tightness of the doors using a sheet of paper: clamp it between the door and the body; it should be removed with noticeable force along the entire perimeter.
What to do if the door does not close after rehanging tightly?
First of all, check whether anything inside the chamber (shelves, products) is preventing it from closing tightly. Then inspect the seal - it may have jumped out of place during installation. If there are no mechanical obstacles, try loosening the hinges and re-adjusting the geometry of the door, lightly pressing on it in the desired direction.
Is it possible to re-hang the door yourself if the refrigerator is under warranty?
Formally, independent intervention in the structure, resulting in a breakdown, may cause a refusal of warranty service. However, the very fact of reversing the door, as provided for in the instructions, is not a violation. The main thing is not to damage fasteners and electrical circuits. If you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to call a technician from an authorized service center.
Do you need to wait after rearranging before turning it on?
There is no specific waiting time required after re-hanging the door (if the refrigerator was not transported lying down). However, if during the work the refrigerator was tilted strongly or the vibration was significant, it is recommended to allow the oil in the compressor to settle for 1-2 hours before the first start.
Where should the holes from the hinges on the old side go?
Included with refrigerators LG usually there are plastic plugs in the color of the body. They are inserted into the vacated holes at the top and bottom. If the plugs are lost, the holes can be covered with decorative stickers or carefully covered with furniture wax of a suitable shade to prevent moisture from getting inside the case.
Why does the door squeak after reinstallation?
Creaking can occur due to overtightened hinges or lack of lubrication. Try loosening the mounting bolts slightly. If this does not help, drop a little silicone grease or special oil for refrigerators into the area of the rubbing metal parts of the hinge. Do not use edible oils (sunflower, olive), as they thicken over time and cause even more squeaking.