How to hang the refrigerator door to the other side: detailed instructions
Almost all modern refrigerators provide the technical ability to move the door to the other side.
Moreover, this procedure does not violate the terms of warranty service and for its free implementation, you can contact the manufacturer's service center (for example, LG and Samsung provide this option).
But what if the warranty has already ended and at the same time it becomes necessary to rehang the door due to a change in the layout of the kitchen? How can you do it yourself and what should you know in advance?
Content
Why you need to hang the door on the refrigerator
There are 3 situations where it may be necessary to rehang the refrigerator door:
- The buyer is left-handed. Accordingly, it will be more convenient for him if the handle for opening the door is on the right. And by default it is set to the left. Accordingly, the situation can be corrected by hanging the door.
- The layout of the kitchen has changed. And there is simply no place to open the door if it is located by default. The same will have to be done if the refrigerator is planned to be moved to a new location.
- The seal located around the perimeter of the door is worn out. You can replace it with a new one, or you can simply move the door to the other side and continue to use the equipment.
But the very principle of hanging the door in most refrigerators is similar. And this is true of both two-chamber and single-chamber models.
The door itself is attached on top of the hinge, in the lower part there is a fixed rod - a pin. That is, to remove the door, you only need to unscrew the upper hinge, and also move the pin mount.
The whole procedure takes, on average, 15-20 minutes. Certain difficulties can arise only with those refrigerators whose doors have an electronic display.
What you need to hang the refrigerator door
In most cases, you will need a basic set of tools: two screwdrivers (flat and Phillips), an open-end wrench or head, masking tape.
You should also “arm yourself” with the instruction manual for the refrigerator, since there is a detailed step-by-step algorithm for how the door is hung. If you encounter any difficulties, you can find a hint on what to do next.
Not all manufacturers of refrigerators provide for the possibility of hanging the door. This can be clarified both in the instructions and in the technical specifications on the official website of the manufacturer.
How to remove the door
The door is fastened with hinges, which are located under the plastic decorative plug at the top and bottom. The principle of fastening the door of both refrigerating and freezing chambers is identical.
Step by step removal is performed as follows:
- First of all, the refrigerator must be de-energized. Remove all shelves and products from the door.
- Remove the top decorative plastic cap. As a rule, it is held only by special plastic grooves. It is recommended to pry off some kind of plastic spatula or card, run it around the entire perimeter of the plug.
- Remove the decorative cap to the side. Open the door. At the top you can see the hinge fastening. It is held, as a rule, by only 3 screws, unscrewed with a conventional screwdriver or screwdriver.
- Unscrew the loop. After that, it will be possible to remove the door. There is no hinge at the bottom, instead there is a protruding rod on which the door is held.
- Unscrew the rod fastener. It will later need to be installed on the other side.
According to the same algorithm, the door of the freezer is also removed.
Mounting the door on the other side
First of all, it is necessary to outweigh the lower hinges (fixed rods on which the door is held). That is, rearrange them to the other side, secure with screws.
Further actions:
- Install the door on the lower hinge (rod), fix with adhesive tape. Or ask an assistant to temporarily hold it.
- Install the top hinge, screw it.
- Similarly, install the door of the freezer (if it is provided in the refrigerator).
- Replace decorative caps.
Also, after this procedure, it is necessary to adjust the hinges.
As a rule, a special adjusting screw is provided for this (where exactly it is located - check in the official instructions). That is, it is necessary to turn it 2 turns clockwise or counterclockwise, focusing on the resistance when opening the door.
The hinges should not be strongly loosened, because because of this, the seal fits less tightly to the body, that is, the tightness of the refrigerator or freezer may be violated.
How to reposition a handle
Most modern refrigerators do not have handles.
More precisely, a “grip” is used instead, located on the bottom edge of the door. In this case, no additional manipulations will be required, since the grip is provided by default on both sides.
If there is a full-fledged handle, then on the other side of the door there are always decorative plastic inserts. With their help, the mounting holes are hidden, where it is installed.
That is, the steps will be as follows:
- Remove the decorative inserts behind which the mounting holes are located. Do not use a screwdriver or knife for this, as the door trim or enamel can be damaged.
- On the handle itself, there are also decorative inserts, behind which there are screws for fastening. Remove in the same way.
- Loosen the screws.
- Set the handle to a new location.
- Close the mounting holes where the handle was originally placed with decorative plugs.
It is also recommended to thoroughly wipe the installation site before installing the handle. Since sealing gum is provided at the attachment points, they protect the paint (enamel) from damage. And if water gets between it and the seal, it can lead to corrosion.
If the display door
Approximately half of all refrigerators now have a built-in display in the door itself (for example, Indesit ITI 5181 W or Atlant XM-4625-149-ND).
It displays either technical information (for example, the current temperature readings inside the refrigerator or freezer), and in some models you can even set your own picture.
But a distinctive feature of such refrigerators is that power is supplied to the door. That is, there are wires connecting the refrigerator (its control unit) and the door itself.
How to outweigh it in this case? First of all, you should read the instruction manual.
It indicates in detail where the cable channel is located, in which the wire is located. In most cases, this is in the area of \u200b\u200bthe lower loop (rod). There is a swivel (connector), which, when removing the door, must be carefully disconnected.
In other models, the connection is made from above, directly under the decorative panel. And there is a connector for power supply and information exchange on the other side (where the loop is attached).
That is, it is enough to unscrew the screws at the top, carefully disconnect the connector, then mount the hinges on the other side, as well as the connector for connecting the display.
There are also models where the connection cable is threaded directly through the loop. And on the upper edge of the door there is another decorative insert. It is behind it that the connector for connecting the display is located.
But most manufacturers place mini-displays directly behind the top decorative insert. That is, there are no wires for connecting to the door.
In refrigerators from Samsung, the connector for connection is located directly in the loop (there is a recess in the door for it). And the power supply to the display can be connected from either side (that is, the control board provides 2 loops, but you need to connect only to one).
In the event that the wiring, connector or cable was damaged during dismantling, then you should contact the service center. As a rule, all replacement parts can be purchased there, but the warranty is voided.
In what cases it is impossible to outweigh the door
As a rule, it is not provided to rehang the doors in old refrigerators, as well as with their vertical placement (which open like “sashes”).
But, as a rule, for such models, two door variations are always produced: one common or two separate. But you will have to buy them for your own money, replacement under warranty is not provided.
In total, outweighing the refrigerator door on your own is quite realistic. And you don’t need any special skills or a specialized tool to complete this task. The most important thing is to be careful.
It should also be noted that even minor damage to the hinges, the display or the door itself will void the warranty.
Therefore, if the refrigerator is less than 12 - 24 months old, then it is better to use the services of a field master (contact an authorized service center).
Useful video
Hanging the refrigerator door is not so difficult. Check it out by watching the video:
