Change the Side on Which Your Refrigerator Door Opens
You did some remodeling and now your fridge door opens the wrong way and you want to change it. It's easy to change the door opening swing. Keep reading for more information.
Steps
- On the very top of the fridge, above the freezer door (you may need a stepladder) remove the two torx screws (using a torx driver, just a few dollars from local hardware store). from the freezer door. These will be in the hinge plate (hinge side of fridge).
- Remove the top hinge plate. Set the hinge plate aside, and re install the two torx screws, in the holes on top the fridge.
- On the handle side, to the outer edge of the handle, you will see a small vinyl or plastic plug (top of freezer door). Using your small flat screwdriver, gently work your way around the plug (prying the plug up), and place it in the hole where you removed the hinge plate.
- Open the freezer door and lift the freezer door off the pivot pin. Set the door aside.
- On the bottom of the fridge door, hinge side, you will see a small bracket (same color as fridge), there will be two torx screws in the face of the fridge frame. Remove these two screws. This may cause the fridge door to drop, so you may want a friend to hold the door in the closed position while you remove this bracket.
- Open the fridge door, lower it and remove the fridge door, (dropping it below the center pivot pin) set door aside and replace the two screws in the fridge frame. You may have to tilt the door as you remove it from the pivot pin.
- Using your torx screwdriver, remove the center hinge bracket, (that was between the freezer door and the fridge door). Remove the bracket, and put the screws back in the holes on the frame. Keep the bracket in the exact position as it was while mounted, and set it aside.
- On the handle side of fridge frame, center section, remove the two torx screws from the frame, and the first screw from the outer edge, (from the section of frame between the the fridge and the freezer). Flip the center bracket (that you took off) upside down, and attach it with the screws you just removed.
- On the bottom of the fridge door, with your small flat screwdriver pry out the pivot pin. And remove the small torx screw from the pivot pin bracket. Put the pivot pin bracket, and the pivot pin back on the opposite side of the door. You may have to tilt the plate to get the pivot pin plate out.
- On the face of the fridge door, on the old hinge side, you will see a small plastic plug. Gently pry the plug out, and set it aside. In about the same location on the handle you will see either a name plate (brand of fridge) or another plastic plug or plate. Gently pry this plug out (using small flat screwdriver), and remove the screw under it. On the top of the fridge door, remove the two Phillip screws that hold the handle on. Remove the handle and replace the screws. Set the handle aside, and remove the large plastic plug that was next to the handle, and replace on the opposite side. Remove the two screws in the same location of the old hinge side, and remount the handle, and plastic plugs.
- Remove the two screws on the bottom of the fridge frame, the new hinge side. Remount the fridge door. Caution: There may be three screws in this area, be sure to remove the two that are in line with each other. You may need to tilt the fridge door slightly, and slide the top pivot pin in as you bring the door down.
- Remove the Phillip screws from the top and bottom of the freezer door handle. Remove the handle and set aside.
- Remove the pivot pin plate from the old hinge side of the freezer door, and put it back in on the side where you removed the handle. Re-attach the freezer door handle on the new side.
- On the very top of the fridge, remove the two screws, from the old handle side. Put the freezer door on center pivot pin and close the door. Re-mount the top hinge bracket. You may need to lift or adjust the door slightly to get the screws to line up.
Tips
- Always put screws back where they came from. Leaving these screws out can cause damage to the insulation.
Warnings
- If you have a water dispenser or ice maker in the fridge door, there may be additional caution and connections needed.
- Do not use a Phillips screwdriver as torx screwdriver, as you will strip the screw heads.
Things You'll Need
- Torx screwdriver or nut driver - depending on what's holding your fridge door hinges.
- Phillips screwdriver
- small flat blade screwdriver
