Depending on the layout and size of your kitchen there could come a time when you’d like to reverse the way in which your fridge of freezer door opens.
This could be because the angle at which the door currently opens is considered inconvenient or dangerous.
Equally it might simply be because it would make more sense – and increase ease of access – if the door were to open the other way.
Fortunately, whatever your reason for swapping it around, it is possible to reverse the doors on many brands of fridge and freezer.
The first thing you must do is to consult the manual. This may well tell you whether or not you can reverse the door.
If that doesn’t tell you, check the opposite side of the fridge to the one where the hinges currently are. If there are plugs covering screw holes then you should be able to reverse the door swing.
Once you have established that the job is possible get yourself an appropriate screwdriver and follow these steps:
1. Switch the appliance off.
2. Remove the contents! It sounds obvious but this job will not be possible if your weekly shop is still in the fridge or freezer.
3. Remove all the shelves, compartments and bottle holders, including those in the door.
4. To make your life easier lay the fridge or freezer on its back. If the fridge is an under the counter appliance, pull it out first. If necessary, get someone to help you.
5. When you are laying the appliance down, wedge something at the top to make sure the evaporator coils are not touching the floor. If you don’t they could get damaged.
6. This step is divided into two parts depending on whether your fridge or freezer is an under-the-counter appliance or a tall one.
6a Under-the-counter fridge or freezer: On the fridge or freezer door locate the hinge at the top and the hinge at the bottom. Note, that the top one may have a plastic cover over it. If it does, remove it. Similarly, the foot may hold the hinge at the bottom in. If it does, remove this too. Once you have done that, simply unscrew the hinges. I suggest that you start by removing the lower hinge first. If you do, it will allow you to remove the door. Then, once you’ve done that, the upper hinge should unscrew out easily.
6b Tall fridge or freezer: If you are reversing a tall fridge freezer then there will also be a middle hinge to remove. You may find some plastic caps covering screw holes on the opposite side of the fridge, these will need to be removed. You may also find caps on the top of the door, these will also need to be removed. You can use these caps to cover the screw holes where the hinges use to be.
The final part of this process, regardless of whether your fridge or freezer is an under- the-counter or a tall appliance, is to re-hinge the doors on the opposite side. I recommend that you start with the top hinge and work your way down the fridge or freezer.
Good luck.