How to fit a kitchen door to an integrated fridge

Keen to create a seamless feel in your kitchen? Then integrated appliances are the answer. Long gone are unsightly fridges ruining your slick aesthetic.

In these easy-to-follow steps, we give you tips on how you can fit a kitchen door to your integrated fridge and what rookie errors you need to look out for.

If you’re looking to upgrade your kitchen doors in the process, then take a look at our guide about the cost of replacing kitchen doors.

If you think you need help, an experienced handyperson will do a great job in a flash. Simply use our free search tool to find a professional handyperson in your local area.

How to fit a kitchen door to an integrated fridge

First of all, you must make sure that your fridge is the correct size so that it will fit deep enough into its housing unit to be concealed by the door.

These are the tools you’ll need:

• Drill
• Spirit level
• Screwdriver
• Cupboard door
• Your choice of fitting system kit

Step one

Once the fridge is set into its housing unit, make sure it’s set back deep enough so the door will conceal the appliance.

Step two

Before you start hanging the door, ensure the fridge is level. If you don’t, the fittings may not match up and you might end up having to drill extra holes. Plus, if you hang the kitchen door crooked, it will look out of line with the rest of the cabinets.

Step three

There are two main fitting systems for your integrated fridge doors, so identify the system you have and consult the instructions.

• If you have a sliding system, the kit supplied should include screws and the sliding rail itself. There should also be a template showing where the holes should be drilled.
• If you have the door-on-door system, the outside door is fixed directly onto the fridge, which should be marked with holes to be drilled. Again, the kit should include screws and a drilling template.

Caution: If at any stage you are unsure about drilling holes into your cupboard door or fridge, stop and call in a professional. It is really important that the holes are drilled with precision. This will avoid any unnecessary damage to your fridge or cabinet door.

How to fix an integrated fridge door not closing properly

A fridge door not closing properly is not only annoying, but it also wastes energy and doesn’t keep your food cold. It can also make your kitchen look shoddy. Here’s what to check:

• Firstly, make sure nothing inside the fridge is obstructing the door, particularly any heavy objects inside the door.
• Check there isn’t any debris obstructing the hinges.
• If the door is still not sealing shut and drifts open, check the rubber door seal, also known as the gasket. The gasket needs to be well attached and smooth all around the edge of the door and frame. If it looks loose or twisted, it will need to be replaced.
• If the door doesn’t look like it is hanging right, then the hinges may not be aligned properly or they may have worn down. These can be adjusted or replaced so the door sits properly again.
• Check the seal, as it may have become de-magnetised. You will either need to re-magnetise the seal or replace the entire seal.

How do you re-magnetise a refrigerator door seal?

The fridge gasket is a magnetic seal that is designed to hold a magnetic strip to ensure the fridge door stays closed with an airtight seal. The best way to re-magnetise the seal is to run a magnet in the same direction along each side of the gasket. You should do this 50 times for the strip to be re-magnetised

How to remove an integrated fridge door

Removing your old door is a relatively quick and easy job. Simply undo the screws that pass through to the inside of the cupboard door from the back of the appliance door, and the door will lift off.

Integrated fridge door hinge adjustment

If your fridge door isn’t closing well and you need to adjust the hinges, here’s what you’ll need:

• Flathead screwdriver
• Phillips screwdriver
• Spirit level

Step one

If you have a cap covering the hinge, pry it off with a flat head screwdriver and set the cap aside. You’ll need to replace it afterwards, so don’t lose it.

Step two

Loosen the screws of each hinge but don’t remove them completely. Instead, manipulate the fridge door until the top of the door is in line with the top of the fridge. The top hinge adjusts the top of the door, while the middle will need to go through the same process to make sure the door is flush and sealing properly all the way around.

Step three

To check everything is straight, place a level on the door and the fridge to make sure they are level with each other. Once you have the top of the door level with the top of the fridge, tighten the screws back up. If the door and fridge still aren’t level, you’ll have to go back through the processes again, loosening the screws and manipulating the door.

Top tip: Another pair of hands might be helpful so they can hold the door while you loosen and tighten the screws.

If you don’t feel confident in adjusting the hinges yourself or don’t have anyone who can hold the door for you, call in the help of a professional handyperson who will get the job done properly and quickly. 

FAQs

Is it easy to install an integrated fridge?

Unless you are a confident and competent DIYer, installing an integrated fridge is a difficult job. And even for an experienced DIYer, manoeuvring a fridge into a cabinet and ensuring there is enough space for the cooling system at the back can be challenging. Then there’s attaching the cabinet door and ensuring it is level with the fridge and the rest of the cabinets. If you’re not feeling up to the task, there’s no harm in getting a professional in.

How do you replace the hinges on an integrated fridge door?

If you have a hinge that allows the cupboard door to open fully outward without opening the fridge door, this can be a difficult hinge to replace. Getting everything to line up afterwards is particularly tricky. This can be achieved by making tweaking the hinge in tiny increments until everything is back in balance. Patience is definitely key here!

Top tip: It’s always worth replacing a pair of hinges at the same time, rather than just the broken hinge. This helps you to rebalance the door, and also saves you the trouble of replacing the other hinge when it breaks, as it probably will.

Replacing a slider hinge is much easier. Simply make sure you have the right screwdriver, read the instructions and you’ll complete the job in seconds.

How do you fix a refrigerator door that doesn’t close tightly?

If you’ve gone through all the checks mentioned above, such as ensuring nothing is blocking the door or the hinges, then check the seal and give it a good clean. Some white vinegar or a mild dish soap can help to remove a build-up of grease and residue. Once dry, follow it with a thin layer of vaseline to restore the seal’s effectiveness.

If the seal is particularly old or significantly damaged, it is probably time to replace it.

If your fridge isn’t working properly and you can’t work out why then you may need to get a professional out. Find out how much fridge repairs cost.