If you are about to move to a new home, moving heavy appliances is one of the most challenging jobs. With a little planning and a little help, though, you can move a refrigerator safely, while protecting you and your appliance. Keep reading.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Prepare the Fridge
Step 1. Empty it completely
Before trying to move it, you need to be sure to remove all content. Make sure the fridge and freezer are empty, with no food, condiments, ice cube trays, and anything else that could tip over with moving and make the fridge heavier. Also remove items that are hanging outside the fridge, such as magnets.
- If there are any perishable items, finish them before relocation or give them away. If you have a tough move to do, it's probably easier to get rid of everything you can't consume now.
- If you need to move the refrigerator a short distance into the same room to clean the back or rearrange the kitchen, still remove all of the contents and place them on the kitchen counter. This way you make moving around safer and you don't risk turning things inside out. Use a platform with wheels and place it under the fridge feet. Move it just enough to get access to the plug and unplug it, then move it to where you want to put it.
Step 2. Remove the shelves
Remove all removable components from inside the refrigerator, including shelves, trays and other furniture accessories, organizers and dividers. Wrap them in sheets to protect them, then label and pack them carefully.
Alternatively, you can decide to fix the shelves and shelves with adhesive tape instead of removing them, but the best thing is still to remove everything and pack it separately. Depending on the type of refrigerator, however, this might be a good solution. If the accessories are stable enough, you can consider securing them with tape so that there is less confusion when moving
Step 3. Unplug
Wrap the power cable securely and tie it with adhesive tape, tying it tightly so that it stays in place during the move. If your refrigerator is equipped with an ice maker, disconnect it from the water source as well.
Step 4. Defrost the freezer if necessary
If a lot of ice has formed in the freezer, you need to thaw it before moving. This job normally takes 6 to 8 hours to complete, so make sure you take your time. It is best to do it the night before, so there is enough time during the night to thaw it and the next morning you can dry the inside.
Do not waste too much precious time washing the fridge before putting it in the new place, although this can be a good opportunity to do a thorough cleaning. While the freezer is thawing, clean the shelves and interior surfaces with a disinfectant
Step 5. Close and secure the doors securely
Securely secure the fridge and freezer doors with a sturdy rope or bungee cord. If your refrigerator has a double door, tie the handles together as well. Be careful not to over tighten, however, as the doors may come out of alignment. You shouldn't use duct tape to fix them, as it can damage the finish or leave marks.
If the move takes more than a day, you should keep the doors slightly open to allow air to circulate inside and prevent the formation of fungus or mold
Step 6. Find some helpers
Since the fridge needs to be kept upright and you can move it with a trolley, you may think you can move it yourself, but it's always safer to find someone to help you when you need to lift heavy items, push them through doors, around corners, go down the stairs and load them on a truck. Moving a refrigerator is a job that must be done by at least two people.
Part 2 of 2: Moving the Fridge
Step 1. Use a cart with wheels
It is one of the most suitable tools for moving a refrigerator, as it supports almost all the weight and is easy to handle, especially if the appliance has to go down stairs.
- Any trolley with straps is excellent, the important thing is that the base is large enough to safely contain the bottom of the fridge and that the straps are solid enough to secure the appliance securely. It is very important that the base is quite large because the fridge must remain upright to avoid refrigerant leaks.
- If you don't have this cart, you need to rent one or borrow it. Even though there are straps on the market and you could theoretically use them to tie the refrigerator on your back, buying them is still more expensive and much more dangerous than borrowing a trolley. Do not try to move a fridge without a trolley.
Step 2. Pull the fridge away from the wall and fix it on the cart
For most models, you should be able to easily slide the trolley under the base, lifting it slightly to one side. Then tie the refrigerator to the cart with straps or rubber bands. Avoid any inclination as much as possible when you lift it and place it on the trolley. Keep it upright to make sure engine oil doesn't get into the cooling pipes.
- Never move the refrigerator to the side or back for any reason. Oil in the compressor could get into the cooling pipes. When the fridge is brought back upright, the oil cannot drain completely from the cooling pipes and the appliance does not cool sufficiently.
- If you really need to lay it on its side, make sure it's not completely horizontal. Lean the top against a large box or piece of furniture to try to keep it as vertical as possible.
Step 3. Tilt the refrigerator very carefully
Once placed and tied on the trolley, move slowly towards the moving truck and proceed. It is important to move the fridge in the opposite direction to the inclination to maintain maximum safety. Find an assistant to help you from the other side, to overcome obstacles and keep the appliance still.
If you have to move the refrigerator along the stairs, go down one step at a time, with the assistant helping you to go down each subsequent step. The best thing would be to have two people in front of the trolley and one person in the back holding the handles and slowly lowering the fridge. Speak out loud and don't rush
Step 4. Load the refrigerator into the truck
Whether you are loading the refrigerator into a pickup or a moving truck, put the cart between the edge of the floor and the refrigerator. In theory the truck should be equipped with an automatic ramp which should allow the truck to move easily. If not, you will have to be a little more cautious.
- To load a refrigerator upright on a truck, you need to get on the truck and have two people on the ground. Coordinating you have to lift the fridge at the same time, pull upwards with the handles of the trolley, while your helpers lift it from the ground pushing it onto the truck bed. The ideal would be to also have another helper with you, to prevent the fridge from falling backwards with the risk of injuring you.
- Secure the fridge upright on the truck. If you can leave it on the trolley, it's even better, as it increases the safety and stability of the refrigerator but, if not possible, keep it tightly between other furniture and accessories in the house, or tie it securely using rubber bands.
Step 5. Place the fridge upright once it is placed in its new space
Let it rest for at least 3 hours before connecting it to the power supply. This allows the oil and liquid to flow back into the compressor, avoiding any damage to the appliance. It will take approximately 3 days for the refrigerator to return to its ideal cooling temperature and maximum functionality.
Advice
- Read the refrigerator's instruction booklet before moving it. It will give you more safety guidance or advice, which you should consider when moving.
- If you don't feel very safe moving the fridge yourself, it's a good idea to hire professionals.
