The refrigerator handle can break quite often, which is caused by several factors. First of all, the handle may be subject to excessively active influence from household members. Of course, we are talking about small children who strive to tug on it during their games.
It is noteworthy that the handles break on almost all brands of refrigerators, so even the most branded units are not immune from this unenviable fate. By the way, a broken refrigerator handle is considered mechanical damage, so you will not be able to replace it under warranty, even if the refrigerator was purchased recently and you have a warranty card in your hands. It turns out that you will have to deal with this problem yourself.
How to hang a door on a refrigerator
When you need to move a refrigerator door from right to left, it's best to ask a professional to do it. Not every person can do this job without certain knowledge and skills. If the refrigerator is still under warranty, submit a request to the service center: the technician will do the necessary work quickly and competently.
If there is no warranty for the refrigeration appliance, you can rehang the door yourself without wasting time waiting for a technician or wasting money on unnecessary expenses. The main thing is to arm yourself with the necessary knowledge and tools.
Why change the opening side?
The need to replace it with the other side arises in several cases:
- If the kitchen area in a small apartment does not allow you to optimally install a refrigerator with a standard door opening direction. For example, when the left side is adjacent to a wall, using a refrigerator with a right-hand door is very inconvenient.
- If the tightness of the seal is broken, air from the room penetrates into the refrigerating chamber. As a result, the compressor works harder to maintain the desired temperature balance.
- When the owner of the kitchen is left-handed.
Important: the cause of a loose fit may be wear or deformation of the sealing rubber. Therefore, sometimes drastic actions are not necessary: it is enough to replace only the seal.
Why is this necessary?
In most refrigerators, the doors open from left to right, since potential buyers are mostly right-handed, and therefore, manufacturers focus specifically on this category of people. There are only two companies on the market that produce multiple models that open from right to left: Liebherr and Siemens. Of course, Russian and European manufacturers of modern refrigerators have provided the possibility of re-hanging the door, because demand creates supply.
In addition, the standard direction of door opening does not always allow the refrigerator to be installed in the designated area. Moving the doors solves the problem of limited kitchen space.
Another reason why rehanging may be required is sagging refrigerator doors. If the places where the hinges are attached to the body become loose, then the gap that appears begins to let warm air into the chamber. In this case, to restore the normal position of the door, it is enough to rehang it.
We take into account some features
In order to change the opening side of the door on the refrigerator at home, first look for the technical holes. Their presence at the end of the body indicates that you can change the position of the door yourself.
Re-weighing on a two-chamber unit is easier to do. First, remove both doors one by one, then install them in reverse order on the other side.
In a number of models, for example, there are no hinged handles: they are replaced by special recesses on the side ribs. If the handle on the refrigerator is attached, simply turn it over before replacing it.
Replacing the seal on a Liebherr refrigerator (Libherr)
We bring to your attention a photo report and instructions on replacing the rubber seal on a Liebherr refrigerator from one of our clients.
The refrigerator has been in use for over 10 years. During this time, the sealant material dried out, lost its elasticity and became brittle. The rubber began to crack and gradually collapse.
Cracks in the old seal...
...and even the loss of individual parts
Type of seal fastening: under the bar. On this refrigerator, the manufacturer did not provide for replacing the seal; it is inserted under the inner plastic lining of the door and foamed during production at the factory. To dismantle it we use a flat tool. A mild knife or spatula will do. We cut through the place where the seal is glued to the door to a depth slightly greater than the width of the profile along the entire perimeter. We act carefully so as not to damage the decorative coating, especially if it is paint. In this way we separate the seal from the door.
cut through the place where the seal is glued to the door
After this, remove the old rubber seal, pulling it out from under the inner plastic lining of the door.
pull out the old seal from under the cladding
old seal completely removed from the door
Before installing a new seal, we clean the groove between the metal and plastic parts of the door from pieces of insulating foam. It is better to do this with the blunt side of a knife or a plastic spatula.
preparing to install a new seal
Along the perimeter of the door we drill holes at the very edge of the plastic edging and drill through it into the metal part - in this place the plastic and metal have a slight overlap relative to each other. Drill diameter 2.5 – 3 mm. We clear the holes and groove from chips.
Carefully insert the new seal into the groove and straighten it around the entire perimeter of the door.
We screw screws with a press washer measuring approximately 4x15 into the pre-prepared holes and connect all three parts together - the plastic cladding, the seal and the metal part of the door. For convenience, you can use an awl to pierce the seal through the holes in the plastic.
holes for attaching a new seal
The new seal is in place, the refrigerator did not have to be thrown away. It will still serve!
new seal installed
Special offer!
Replacement of door seals for Liebherr refrigerators (Libherr) on both doors RUB 5,500. Includes the cost of two seals, replacement work and a technician’s visit within the Moscow Ring Road.
How will you change the seal on your refrigerator?
I’ll order the right size and replace it myself. Call a specialist.
Step by step guide
The instructions for maintaining the electrical appliance attached to the passport must contain a complete description of how to move the refrigerator door to the other side at home. If your passport is missing, then use the general guide:
- De-energize the unit.
- Temporarily remove all contents from the cabinet container.
- Remove the hanging shelves.
- Remove all hanging fittings.
- Carefully pry and remove the plugs covering the technical holes.
- Secure the closed door with construction tape or have a partner hold it.
- Release the fasteners from the plugs.
- Unscrew and remove the bolts from the housing.
- Lift the door slightly and remove it from the body, place it in a free place.
- Unscrew the hinges and install them on the door in the right places.
- Place the door with hinges attached to the body of the refrigerator, making sure that there are no distortions in relation to it.
- Start fastening from the top hinges.
- Attach the hinges, then adjust the seal to fit snugly to the body.
- Install all required fittings on the door leaf.
It is important to carefully adjust the fasteners to prevent distortion and air from entering the electrical appliance.
Following the rules of action will help you move the door in the refrigerator to the other side yourself.
All work must be carried out with due care so as not to spoil the appearance of the surface and the fastening system.
Changing your refrigerator: what needs to be done to reinstall the door
Modern refrigerator models often provide the ability to reinstall the door to the other side. For this purpose, they have ready-made technological holes. In this case, the reinstallation process will be the easiest and fastest.
You should know that in the absence of such an opportunity, reinstalling the refrigerator door to the other side is unlikely to be possible. Initially, the manufacturer does not provide this option.
Some stores offer this service: reinstalling the door to the other side. If you have no skills in similar work, it is better to turn to professionals. However, everything is not as difficult as it seems.
Let's consider a situation where it is possible to rearrange the refrigerator door.
What tools do we need for work?
To do a job like reversing a refrigerator door, you'll need some tools. Prepare them in advance:
- spanners. Different models of refrigerators may require different types. It is better to prepare several wrenches of different sizes;
- screwdrivers. It is better to cook both flat and cross-shaped;
- screwdriver;
- scotch.
Of course, you should also prepare instructions. It will be possible to perform the work of reinstalling the door. If the refrigerator model provides such a function, the instructions will say so.
However, if the instructions for the refrigerator have not been preserved, it does not matter. This not too complicated job can be done without it. Experts recommend working with someone together. It will require some skill. And it won't be easy to cope alone. Therefore, it is better to enlist someone’s help in advance.
Did you know that it is better not to store some foods in the refrigerator? For example, tomatoes. You can read the reason in the next article on our website.
Rearrange the door in the refrigerator: sequence of steps
Before starting all work, you will need to disconnect the refrigerator from the network. Next, remove food from it. And remove all kinds of magnets and decorations from the outside. Be careful while working: do not scratch the glossy surfaces!
Removing the door
Before you can reinstall the door, you will need to remove it first. Most modern refrigerator models have two chambers. The main and freezing chamber, which is located above or below the main one.
And they begin dismantling the doors from the top. This will make it more convenient to remove it and then reinstall it. However, before starting work, it is recommended to secure it with tape. This solution will prevent the door from falling during the reinstallation process. It is better to attach it to the refrigerator itself in several places. This will ensure greater reliability.
The doors are secured with two hinges. The places of screws or bolts are hidden by plastic plugs. They are first removed. And then unscrew the bolts/screws. The same work is done on the other side of the refrigerator. After all, this is where the door will be attached in the future.
It is better to remove plastic plugs using a flat-head screwdriver. The part is carefully lifted with a screwdriver. And then it is easily removed from its place. Decorative panels are removed with a Phillips screwdriver. Proceed with extreme caution! Surfaces may be scratched if the tools are not handled carefully.
Tip: To avoid losing small parts, it is better to put them in a pre-prepared container. For example, a small cardboard box will help keep the room tidy. It will also prevent the loss of parts.
The decorative plug is removed and the bolt is unscrewed. Now the handle is removed from the door. If there is no fastening bolt on the handle, then you don’t need to touch anything. This means that in the design of the refrigerator there is the possibility of reinstalling the door on the other side.
The loop is dismantled. Now the door can be removed by carefully lifting it from the middle hinge. The door is set aside. The previously removed plugs are installed on the opposite side.
Removing the bottom door of the refrigerator
The lower door is removed in the same way. Using a wrench of a suitable size, the middle hinge is dismantled. The door is first secured to the body with tape. Remove the tape and remove the door. The removed plugs are reinstalled into the resulting holes.
All that remains is to remove the bottom loop. It remained on the refrigerator after removing the door. A wrench and a screwdriver are used. The pins and bushings are removed. The screws that hold the hinge are unscrewed. Now it can be removed.
This completes the process of removing parts. Next, you will need to mirror them onto the body of the refrigerator.
How to rehang the door of a single-chamber refrigerator
Many single-chamber models are decorated with masking panels on the outside. This makes work difficult. First of all, carefully remove the parts covering the door fasteners.
Then proceed directly to dismantling the door:
- One by one, from the bottom level, unscrew all the fasteners.
- Remove all hinged parts from the door, remove it, and lay it on the floor.
- Unscrew the hinges of the awnings. Locate the service holes on the left side and install the fasteners.
- Use plugs to close the holes remaining on the right side. This will prevent dirt from getting inside.
- When installing, first tighten the upper mounting screws, then the lower ones. This will prevent possible distortion and damage to the fastening units.
- Make sure the door fits snugly. To do this, adjust the screws gradually, placing a sheet of paper in different places between the body and the seal. If the paper moves freely when you pull it out, tighten the fastener in that area more.
- Reinstall the panels and handle.
You must begin unscrewing the fasteners from the bottom hinges. If you first release the upper fastening units, the door may warp during dismantling and, with its weight, damage the lower fastening system.
Do not reinstall the door on a single-chamber unit alone. It is quite large and weighs more than models with two cameras. Therefore, it is impossible to fix it with mounting tape during dismantling. It is better if an assistant holds the door. Otherwise, there is a risk of damage to the fastening units and deformation of the holes.
Re-hanging the door in a refrigerator with one or two chambers
Changing the door position to a mirror one in a single-chamber refrigerator is quite simple. The device remains standing in its place along with all its contents.
For models with two cameras, in most cases it is recommended to switch them to a horizontal position. It is necessary to carefully move the unit to the rear wall, after unloading the products from it.
In two-door refrigerators, you need to determine the type of fastening. If it is separate, then if desired, you can rehang only one sash. If a combined fastening is provided, then it is necessary to remove both doors at the same time.
Overhang in two-chamber models
In refrigerators with two chambers, reversing the doors can be done without outside help. Read the instruction manual carefully or inspect the unit. If there are plugs covering the spare mounting holes, feel free to begin dismantling. But first, be sure to disconnect the device from the network and temporarily unload all the contents from it.
To move the door on the refrigerator to the other side, follow the detailed instructions:
- Using a spatula or knife, remove the small plugs at the ends of the housing.
- Secure the top door with construction tape.
- If there is a panel on top, remove it.
- Unscrew the lower bolts first, then the upper ones.
- Tear off the tape and remove the door panel.
- Close the vacated holes with plugs.
- Move the fasteners to the left side.
In exactly the same order, remove the lower door from the body.
Fasten both door panels in the following order:
- Install the lower part by first bolting the upper fasteners to the refrigerator body, then the lower ones.
- Mount the top door in the same way.
- Check the fasteners for tightness using thin paper.
- If the paper sheet passes freely when the door is closed, it is necessary to tighten the fastening screws.
The final stage of installation is hanging handles and decorative elements.
You can see how to hang the door of a two-chamber refrigerator in the video:
CONNECTING THE REFRIGERATOR
A refrigerator is one of the most necessary household appliances. The safety of your food directly depends on the quality of the refrigerator. And the quality of operation of the refrigerator depends on proper installation and connection.
Before connecting the refrigerator, you must make sure that there are no signs of damage to the electrical wiring and carefully read the operating instructions.
Connecting the refrigerator to electricity must be done taking into account the compliance and stability of the voltage. The operating voltage of the refrigerator is indicated on the plate on the back wall and in the accompanying documentation. In case of large deviations in voltage, the refrigerator must be connected through a household autotransformer, which will maintain the required voltage and protect the device from surges in the electrical network. It is best to entrust the work of connecting the refrigerator to the electrical network to specialists.
The refrigerator must be connected to electricity without food. It takes time for the refrigerator to cool to the desired level.
Be sure to read the operating instructions, which clearly indicate when you can put food in the refrigerator, the sequence of actions and time. Remember, the refrigerator must be washed periodically using special detergents.
CONNECTING A REFRIGERATOR WITH AN ICE MAKER
The refrigerator is connected to water if the refrigerator has an ice maker. Such a refrigerator can be equipped with a water purification and softening filter and dispense purified water. At the same time, you receive chilled drinking water and ice of different shapes, depending on the model of the refrigerator.
The refrigerator is connected to water through a three-way tap and a plastic tube that comes with the refrigerator. There are also options with metal braided hoses. It is convenient to connect the refrigerator to water if the refrigerator is installed next to the kitchen sink. This is convenient in terms of connecting to water and sewerage. If the refrigerator is installed away from communications, then the hose can be routed into a baseboard or box.
If the refrigerator requires connecting the drain hose to the sewer, then the hose can be connected through the drain tee.
Our company’s specialists will quickly and efficiently install and connect a built-in or free-standing refrigerator, with or without an ice maker.
Features in popular models of refrigeration electrical appliances
The door hanging process may vary slightly between different models.
- In "Ariston" and "Nord", for example, there are no handles: they are replaced by special recesses on both sides of the doors. This makes the job easier.
- The easiest way to do the re-hanging yourself is in two-chamber Veko, Samsung, Haier, Pozis.
- In some models "Bosch", LG, "Indesit", "Atlant" this possibility is not provided at all.
Therefore, if there is an urgent need to change the door on the refrigerator from right to left, we advise you to contact a workshop. A specialist will inspect the refrigerator and decide whether it is possible to drill technical holes for installation in your model yourself. Otherwise, you risk irreversibly damaging the structure of the unit.
