How to Align a Refrigerator Door

Improperly adjusted, worn or broken hinges and hinge bushings cause refrigerator doors to sag. Misaligned or sagging refrigerator doors cause door gaskets to seat poorly. As a result, cold air escapes from the refrigerator, and the temperature inside the refrigerator rises. Improperly sealed refrigerators must work harder to maintain a constant temperature, causing the unit's compressor motor to burn out prematurely. Also, frost forms in poorly sealed freezers. With properly adjusted doors, refrigerators maintain consistent temperatures, lowering energy bills and extending the life of the appliance.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Screwdrivers
• Sockets

1. Before aligning the door, check the gasket for cracks or tears. Slip a dollar bill between the door and refrigerator frame at several spots around the door. With the door closed, you should feel resistance when pulling on the bill. If you do not feel resistance, or if cracks or tears are visible, replace the gasket.

2. With the door closed, grasp the top and bottom edges of the door near the hinges and gently pull the door toward you, checking for both damage and excess movement in the hinges. Open the door. Grasping the handle, raise and lower the door, checking for excess movement in the hinge. Inspect the hinges visually. If any of these tests reveal damage to the hinges or bushings, replace them.

3. Pry off the cap on the upper hinge with a screwdriver (upper hinges control door alignment). Loosen the screws or bolts with a screwdriver or socket wrench.

4. Holding the handle, raise the door until the top edge of the door is parallel to the top of the refrigerator.

5. Tighten the screws or bolts.

6. Test the door several times. If the screws loosen, either re-tighten or replace them.

Tips & Warnings

• When the refrigerator and freezer doors share a common hinge (lower freezer hinge/upper refrigerator hinge), adjust the refrigerator door first. Adjusting the lower freezer hinge after the upper one will upset the alignment of the upper hinge. Some hinges require shims for proper alignment.
• Handle door gaskets with care. Older gaskets crack and tear when mishandled.

References

• Learn More About Aligning Refrigerator Doors