How to adjust the refrigerator door with your own hands? One of the most common local problems associated with a refrigerator is the deformation or lack of a tight fit of the seal to the door or body. In this regard, the question of door repair arises. Most often, you can do this yourself, because... Calling a technician to your home is not a cheap service.
Few people know that completely replacing the rubber seal on the refrigerator door in most situations is associated with damage to the material or destruction of its base. In all other cases, if the seal is deformed or does not fit tightly to the door (or body) of the refrigerator, repairs can be carried out yourself, without involving specialists in this process.
It is quite easy to determine a malfunction that is a consequence of a worn seal:
- The refrigerator hums and does not maintain a stable temperature inside, thereby consuming excessive electricity.
- Constant ice and moisture appears inside and outside the refrigerator, i.e. its depressurization occurs.
Identifying and self-correcting seal faults
Local identification and correction of breakdowns associated with the refrigerator door, which can be easily eliminated yourself, can be identified in several ways. Firstly, during a visual inspection, when the refrigerator door does not adhere well and then opens easily or sag significantly, you will need to carefully remove the protective cover from the hinges (if there is one) and tighten the door to the required level. It is quite possible that the gap that appears is due to the sagging of the refrigerator door.
Secondly, if a loose fit is due to deformation of the rubber seal, because Since the material loses its elasticity over time, it can be returned to its previous state by heating. To do this, you will need to use a heating device (industrial or household hairdryer) or a thin stream of boiling water from a kettle to heat (pour) the deformed area of the seal, and while it is elastic, give it its original shape by placing a spacer (a piece of rubber, paper or dense foam) under the heated area. .
Attention! When fixing (heating) a deformed rubber seal on the refrigerator door with your own hands, you must follow the rules of personal protection, i.e. use gloves and place a rag on the floor to prevent hot water from flooding the room. In this case, the rag will need to be periodically squeezed out of excess water into a bucket, and then the waste water can be drained into the sewer. It is recommended to give the “elastic band” its original shape using gentle hand movements. When adjusting the seal, be careful not to burn your hands.
Thirdly, before adjusting the refrigerator door and trying to restore the damaged seal, you will need to pull out its edge with a thin screwdriver and consider the method of fastening. It can be on bolts, glue, special clamps or in slots (grooves). Replacing the seal on the body (or door) of the refrigerator in whole or in part is carried out by measuring the old element and gluing a new one in place to magnetic strips prepared in advance, which are inserted into the cavity of the gasket profile. If you don’t have a native seal, you can try to order and buy a universal one.
Such repairs to a worn or damaged rubber seal are most often carried out only if it is installed on an Atlant, Minsk or Oka refrigerator.
Other problems, in addition to replacing the rubber seal when a small one is required, is the door creaking or reinstalling it. You can eliminate the appearance of a squeak in the following way:
- Identify the hinge (or several hinges) that squeaks when opening/closing the refrigerator door.
- Eliminate the defect with a drop of machine oil by placing it in the door hinges (under no circumstances use vegetable oil, i.e. edible oil, for these purposes).
Thus, simply adjust the hinges by lifting them (as far as free movement allows) and dripping a few drops of oil onto the axle in order to get rid of the unpleasant creaking sound.
Another, no less difficult job of self-repairing a refrigerator is adjusting the door when it is reinstalled or sagging, which is done using plastic shims. Depending on the amount of door subsidence, you will need to purchase 2-4 such washers.
In order to adjust the refrigerator door with your own hands when it is sagging, you need to carefully remove the door by unscrewing the refrigerator panel and removing its fasteners at the top. Then you will need to place adjusting washers (1-2 pieces) on the bottom bracket pin and adjust the door horizontally. Next, all that remains is to “put” the refrigerator door in place, checking it for any distortions and cracks, as well as for the tight fit of the rubber band to the body (or door) and the operation of the light switch in the refrigerator.
Before you start repairing the refrigerator door yourself, it is strongly recommended not to load the refrigerator door with food from the inside.
If a break in the mounting hole is detected, the door will simply need to be moved to the opposite side, where it is intact. Similarly, adjust the door for distortions (see description above) using adjusting plastic washers. If the hole breaks in two places and it is impossible to hang the door, a plate will need to be strengthened onto the damaged surface using “cold welding.” Then prepare a hole of the appropriate size for the bracket axis and hook the door into its original place.
The tightness of the refrigerator is an important condition for its proper operation. It will keep food fresh longer. A refrigerator door that doesn’t close tightly is a fairly common problem that can lead to damage to the appliance and costly repairs.
How to quickly return a skewed refrigerator door to the desired position
Before you start repairing the refrigerator yourself, you need to study its passport, disconnect it from the power supply and completely empty the internal contents of the unit. Carefully place the refrigerator on its side, because if it is tipped backwards, damage to the cooling element and freon leakage may occur. When the refrigerator is positioned on the side, access to the mounting pins is provided.
It is easy to detect wear of fastening materials: under some load, the door canopy dangles, rotates or makes a sound.
It is because of this that the door is crooked or does not fit tightly. The lower canopy is visible near the bottom of the refrigerator. To strengthen its position, you need to tighten the fasteners or replace the canopy.
The installation technique for adjusting the door depends on how the canopy is secured:
- Self-tapping screws . Install the curtain in line with the lower curtain at an angle of 90° to the bottom of the refrigerator. Fasten using self-tapping screws and a Phillips screwdriver. You can also use a slotted screwdriver.
- Bolts . The essence is the same as when using self-tapping screws, but you need to screw them in with a key. To prevent the bolt from unwinding, you can use a thin counter washer.
- Rivets . They must first be carefully removed with a special tool. And then attach the canopy. It is better not to use rivets to avoid repeated damage to the housing. They can be replaced, for example, with bolts.
If there is damage where the canopy is attached, you can move the door to the other side of the refrigerator. But before you do this, you need to read in the passport for the unit whether it is possible to perform this manipulation on this refrigerator.
Possible causes of refrigerator seal failure
- Overload of door shelves
In most cases, no repairs are required to correct the situation. You just need to inspect the camera and find the reason why it does not close. Some housewives load the shelves on the door so much that they cannot withstand such a load and become warped. It's best to store heavy jars and food items on main shelves. Also common reasons that prevent a tight closure are poorly retracted shelves or handles of pots and pans.
- Poor hinge lubrication or wear
If the shelves are half empty and the refrigerator door closes but stays closed, you should check the hinges. Maybe it's time to lubricate them? Building materials stores carry universal lubricants, but regular machine oil will also help. Using the liquid composition drawn into the syringe, loosen the fastening screws and drop it onto the axle.
- Old seal
Also, over time, seals wear out. Rubber loses its elasticity, becomes hard, inflexible, with numerous cracks, changes color, and acquires a yellowish tint. You can replace the seal yourself by ordering the necessary components from a specialized store, or by contacting a service center for help from a qualified technician.
- Spacer wear
The door itself will help identify this malfunction - it does not close and is noticeably shifted towards the floor. Most often, older generation refrigerators suffer from this. This plastic element is located at the junction of the door and the main part of the device, and is responsible for smooth opening and closing. You can close the door as follows: lift it and slam it sharply. To repair this part, you need to make a request to the technician to replace the spacer.
- Uneven floor
The reason for the door not closing well may be unevenness on the floor and, as a result, the appliance tilting to one side. To correct the situation, just tighten the legs or place additional support under them, leveling the device to the building level.
- The door closing sensor is faulty
Only modern refrigerator models are equipped with this function. They are responsible for the behavior of the door. If the refrigerator is open for longer than a certain time (40-50 seconds), the sensor informs the consumer about this using a sound signal. But as soon as such a sensor fails, it gives deceptive signals. If the seal of the refrigerator is not broken, but the sound warning of the device does not turn off, you need to contact a specialist to repair the electronic system.
An easy way to fix a door that won't close tightly
Some people believe that the easiest way to fix a door that won't close tightly is to hold it down with a brick. No: the easiest way to fix a door is to clean the gasket and door frame. You can do this by mixing a liter of warm water and a teaspoon of baking soda or liquid soap. Be sure to clean the area where the door meets the metal door frame of the refrigerator. You'll be surprised at how dirty it is (which no doubt affects how tightly the door seals against the refrigerator.
Wipe the seal and dry thoroughly with a dry cloth. If you find that there is caked-on dirt around the seal, allow the soapy water to soak into it for a few minutes. Once the dirt has absorbed the water, it will be much easier to wipe off (or at least with less effort).
If your refrigerator is many years old, then you need to lubricate the surface of the gasket. This can be done by applying a thin layer of Vaseline to the seal. Apply Vaseline before pre-cleaning the seal, then use a clean cloth or fingertips to apply a thin layer of lubricant to all parts of the seal.
If you think that replacing the door entirely would be easier, then reconsider fixing the problem yourself. A complete door installation can cost anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to over $1,000.
However, if your refrigerator is more than 8 years old, then problems with the seal will arise sooner or later.
How to prevent such a malfunction?
- Do not slam refrigerator doors;
- Do not open the refrigerator immediately after closing it;
- Clean the rubber seal periodically.
If you follow these simple rules, you won't need to repair your refrigerator door.
A refrigerator is an absolutely ordinary household unit for every modern home. True, sometimes it is quite difficult to choose a model that will fit well into the kitchen decor. This is due to the design features of the refrigerator. Most often, the doors of Indesit, LG, Samsung and many other brands of refrigerators open from left to right. This is not always convenient. If the arrangement of furniture in the kitchen requires a different arrangement, the question may arise about how to rehang the refrigerator door.
Of course, the easiest way is to call a technician from a service center. For an appropriate reward, he will easily solve your problem. But if you want to save a little, then after reading this article you can easily do it.
Rules of use and care
In order for the refrigerator to serve correctly and for a long time, and the seal not to be damaged, you need to follow simple but very important rules:
- Do not overheat or overcool the refrigerator. Therefore, it must be placed at a distance from the stove;
- carry out periodic defrosting if the No Frost system is not provided;
- From time to time you need to check the fasteners for rust or signs of loose bolts;
- carefully clean the rubber seal with soapy water;
- do not slam the refrigerator door;
- install the unit on a flat surface, the refrigerator should not wobble during operation;
- do not load the refrigerator door with food;
- open the door holding the handle, not the edge of the seal with your fingers.
Why is this necessary?
As practice shows, the right-side location of the refrigerator door is not always convenient enough. The solution to the situation was reversible refrigerator doors, which were developed and successfully used in many models.
There may be several reasons why you have to perform such an operation:
- remodeling the kitchen, in which the right-hand position is simply inconvenient;
- the desire of the left-handed owner to make his life more comfortable;
- weak pressure of the refrigerator door to the body due to sagging fasteners.
Most often, door reinstallation is included in the warranty service. But, firstly, the warranty tends to end. And, secondly, it often happens that during its operation you moved the door to a convenient position, and then decided to return everything back. What should I do? Everything is very simple. Even a superficial knowledge of how to hang a refrigerator door will allow you to do all the work yourself, without the help of a specialist.
When to replace a part
Once you have checked and followed all the above steps and find that a brick is still the only way to keep the refrigerator door closed, don't lose hope. The door gasket may simply need to be replaced.
Signs that the gasket needs replacing
Obvious signs that your door seal needs replacing include:
- The door seal has broken or is falling away from the door.
- Condensation on the seal means a cold leak.
- The seal no longer sticks to the metal frame of the refrigerator.
- There are traces of mold on the gasket.
- The gasket is loose and looks like it's about to fall off.
How to replace the gasket
Replacing the gasket is not as difficult as it seems. You can find gaskets online or at most hardware stores. You will find that universal gaskets work just as well as branded seals from Kenmore and Whirlpool. The cost of a new gasket ranges from $40 to $80. This will depend on the make and model of your device. The seal of any type of refrigerator can be replaced.
Step 1: Remove the old gasket by loosening the mounting screws. To soften the new gasket, place it in warm water - this will make installation easier.
Step 2: Remove the old gasket from the door frame.
Step 3: Clean the area under the old gasket and wipe dry with a clean rag.
Step 4: Install the new seal in place.
Step 5: Rub Vaseline into the new gasket.
Step 6: To prevent the seal from sticking to the refrigerator when opening the door, be sure to tighten the mounting screws.
Preparatory work
So let's get started. Before rehanging the refrigerator door, you need to find out whether this is possible in principle. It's very easy to do. Carefully study the unit's passport. There is definitely information about this there.
If you didn’t find the passport or operating instructions, it doesn’t matter. Inspect the doors carefully. On the side opposite the hinges, you will see similar technological holes. If they are not there, reversible refrigerator doors are not provided for this model. We'll have to look for a more suitable place for the refrigerator.
Before removing the refrigerator door, you need to empty it of food, be sure to unplug it from the power supply and thoroughly defrost it. If this is not done, then it will not be possible to ensure a tight fit of the door. It is also worth moving the unit away from the wall and other pieces of furniture, removing all drawers and shelves (especially glass ones), and removing magnets and other decorations.
Some would-be experts suggest placing the refrigerator on the floor for ease of use. Under no circumstances should this be done. It is especially dangerous to place the unit flat on the back wall. By doing this, you risk damaging the compressor and the cooling system as a whole.
How to hang a refrigerator door with a display
The door transfer technique itself corresponds to the one discussed above. Additional complexity lies in moving the display wires to the opposite side.
Before starting the manipulation, you must disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply. The first step is to remove the top panel of the case and disconnect the wires. Next you need to remove the top cover from the refrigerator. You need to find the wires inside the door and carefully disconnect them. It is very important to remember or write down how the wires were installed. Then you need to remove the top door of the refrigerator using the technology described above.
When you have access to the cable loop, you need to unscrew them and mount everything in the reverse position. After the work with the wires is finished, you can close them with a lid. Next, all that remains is to remove the second door and fasteners, and then install both doors on the opposite side, firmly screwing the fasteners. After this, all that remains is to connect the wires and close the top panel of the refrigerator with the lid.
If your refrigerator is two-chamber
If your refrigerator has two or three chambers, you will have to tinker a little. The difficulty may lie in dismantling the middle hinges.
In this case, you need to remove all the doors one by one, moving from top to bottom, and assemble them in the opposite direction.
- We fix the lower and upper doors with masking tape.
- We remove the protective elements and unscrew the upper fastening of the upper door.
- Remove the tape from the top compartment and carefully lift the door off the mounting pin and set it aside.
- We place plugs in the resulting holes.
- Now you need to dismantle the middle mount. In this case, care must be taken not to damage the door of the lower compartment.
- Remove the bottom door and carefully move it to the side.
- We move the lower fastening to the desired side, return the door to its place and secure it again with tape.
- Now we install the middle mount and hang the top door.
- We secure it with tape and return the top mount to its place.
- We insert plugs into all vacated holes, fasten the handles and check the tightness.
- If necessary, we adjust.
How to move the refrigerator door to the opposite side
It is necessary to re-hang the door not only in case of breakdown, but also for the convenience of using the refrigerator, for example, when a person is left-handed or the kitchen is being remodeled.
In such a case, the standard configuration may be inconvenient or even unusable. For some types of refrigerators, there are holes on the other side for attaching hinges and door handles on the opposite side. Manufacturers of the following companies have provided the easiest way to move the door to another position:
- Indesit;
- Atlanta;
- Ariston;
- Bosch;
- Stinol;
- Biryusa;
- LG and some others.
Before removing the refrigerator door from its hinges, you need to be sure that there are appropriate holes on the other side. If it is not possible to mount the door on the other side of the body, you will not be able to rearrange the door yourself. In this case, you need the help of a specialist who will make neat holes in the refrigerator body and install the door evenly. It is especially important to call a technician if the refrigerator is equipped with a door sensor or display. Some companies have included the service of moving the door to the other side as part of their warranty service, so if the need arises, you should use this service.
And if the warranty package has expired, but this refrigerator model has the ability to change the door position, then it’s easy to do it yourself.
To do this, you need to follow the correct technique and have in your arsenal all the devices that may be required.
To move the door to the other side, you will need the following tools:
- Flathead and Phillips screwdriver.
- Wide tape.
- Set of wrenches.
- If available, a screwdriver.
Before starting repairs
It is better to follow the instructions supplied with the unit, since, as a rule, there is already a diagram of actions there. It will be more difficult to hang the door alone, so it is better to have an assistant. In this case, you need to be extremely careful not to damage or scratch the refrigerator body.
First you need to disconnect the unit from the power supply and remove all the products. Decorative elements from the door should also be removed during repair work.
Removing the Top Door
Most refrigerators have two compartments and two doors. It is more convenient to start installation from the top. The first step is to tightly tape the door to the refrigeration unit itself so that it does not wobble during dismantling and does not get scratched. On the other side of the refrigerator (where the door will be installed), you need to remove the plugs using a flat-head screwdriver.
If panels are installed, they must be removed with a Phillips screwdriver. Then unscrew the bolts that hold the door hinges. Sometimes access to the awnings requires removing the top cover of the refrigerator.
If the door handle is not removable, then there is no need to remove it. In this case, the manufacturer has provided the possibility of rearranging the door. After unscrewing the bolts and removing the door from its hinges, you need to peel off the tape and remove the top door of the refrigerator, separating it from the middle canopy. Place the door aside, and install the previously removed plastic plugs on the freed holes.
Removing the lower door
After the top door is removed, you need to start working on the bottom one. The bottom door of the refrigerator also needs to be temporarily secured with tape. You need to remove the spacer from the pin, and then use a wrench to unscrew the hinge. When only the bottom fasteners remain, you can remove the tape and remove the door from the hinge.
When both doors are freed, you need to remove the middle hinge and install the plugs at the former fastening points. The lower loop is also detached from the refrigerator and attached to the opposite side. Plugs are placed in its place. You need to do this with all the loops. Before installing the doors, you need to check the strength and evenness of the fastening. It is advisable to lubricate the bolts with paint before tightening them so that the fastening is less likely to become loose in the future.
Installing doors on the opposite side
Reinstallation of doors should begin with the bottom leaf, since in this case it will be more convenient to hold the leaves.
After installing the pin, it is very important to put the spacer back in place. Hang the bottom door on a hinge and glue the door with tape to the refrigerator body. Secure the middle pin in the upper part of the lower door and screw it to the refrigerator body, aligning all the holes evenly. A gasket is placed on top of the middle loop.
The upper door is put on the bottom of the middle pin and secured with tape to the refrigerator. Next, the top hinge is attached and the door is installed. Before removing the tape, you need to make sure that the fastening is secure. Before you start using the refrigerator with the door reinstalled, you need to check its tightness. To do this, you should visually assess the tightness of the door rubber to the refrigerator body. You can use another method: place a sheet of paper between the refrigerator door and its body. It should fit snugly and not come out.
FAQ
Question: Why is the magnet on my refrigerator door weak or not working?
Answer: The magnet may be weak or not sealing well because it has become dirty or something is interfering with the magnetic seal. Over time, the magnet may have lost power.
Question: Do they alarm when the refrigerator door is ajar?
Answer: Yes. If you have an older refrigerator, you can purchase an optional “alarm” to warn you when the door is left open. It costs between 20-30 dollars.
Question: Will the above protections also work on freezer doors?
Answer: The above steps also apply to freezer doors. The operating principle underlying the seal is the same for both chambers. Just repeat the steps above and you will find that fixing your freezer problem is just as easy.
