DIY: Reversing a Refrigerator Door

Have you ever opened your refrigerator and found that the door blocks a hallway or hit’s the cabinet? If you’ve always wanted a door on your refrigerator to swing the other way, then this easy to use directions for changing the swing on your refrigerator door.

To change the swing on your refrigerator door, first unplug the refrigerator. Empty all the condiments and items off the shelf on the door. Remove the lower grill from the bottom of the refrigerator. Take the cover off of the top of the hinge on the freezer door. Remove the screws holding on the hinge and gently lift the door off. Take of the lower door while lifting the handle to prevent it from falling. Remove the hinge completely. Set the door aside. Take the hinge and replace it on the other side of the door. There are small plastic covers that hid predrilled holes for the hinge assembly. You can remove them with a small screw driver or knife. Be careful not to scratch the refrigerator. Replace the caps on the other side and reattach the hinges to the new side. Remove the handle on the front of the refrigerator and reattach to the other side of the door. Sometimes this area is hidden under a logo or other plastic cap. Replace the cap over the other hole.

Reinstall the hinges as you hang the door. Tighten the screws as you hang the door to assure a proper fit. Align the doors with each other. Tighten the top hinges at least a half a turn more than the bottom, this way the hinge is snug at the top where the most weight is. Reinstall the lower grill at the bottom; it may need the plastic plugs to be removed before being reinstalled. Plug the refrigerator back in and put the food back on the shelves.

Refrigerators that have two side by side doors cannot change the swing. This really only works on refrigerators with a top freezer. Refer to your owner’s manual if your not sure if your refrigerator will change swing on the door. While you have the lower grill off of the bottom it wouldn’t hurt to clean the coils underneath free from dust. This helps prolong the life of your refrigerator. Lower grills should be cleaned every 3 to 6 months according to manufacturer’s specifications. Use a plastic vacuum tip when cleaning not a metallic one. Always unplug the refrigerator before cleaning the coils underneath.