Let’s be real. Moving the fridge is one of the easy-to-sound tasks that can be heard from anywhere, staring at a 300-pound appliance. It’s bulky, it’s heavy, and if you ruin it, you might end up on a busted appliance, a busted house, or a busted back.
Luckily we spoke to five moving pros who fought for more fridges than most of us opened. So, if you’re just moving your fridge from your home in Salt Lake City, Utah to your next home in San Antonio, Texas, or crossing the kitchen, read this first.
It’s not just Yanks – prepare
Before you think about bumping that fridge into an inch, you need to prepare it properly. This is not an operation you can get.
“Remove food and loose shelves. Clean the interior. Unplug the power cord and secure it. If applicable, cut and drain the water line.” Essentially, you are a responsible roommate who treats the fridge like you’re on vacation and ensure everything is clean and shut off.
And when it comes to unplugging, try it early. Like the night before.
“At least 24 hours before we move to allow for defrost and temperature stabilization,” adds Landon. This gives the fridge time to thaw if there is a build-up of frost. This may be the case that you want to create an improvised water feature on your moving truck. “It will take 4-24 hours. Plan to use a towel to absorb the water runoff.”
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Not only gifts, but packaging and straps
Once the fridge is ready, it’s time to cocorate it like a fragile beast.
“To avoid any appearance damage, we wrap the refrigerator in a moving blanket and stretch wrap,” says Robert Ball of Uinta Moving Company. “Set the fridge upright against the wall [of the moving truck] Attach the ratchet strap under the refrigerator door handle. When securing the strap, make sure the strap does not stress the components that are vulnerable. ”
Yes, stand upright. Always stand upright.
“You should always keep the fridge upright during transportation,” says Robert. “Otherwise, it can damage internally critical components, most specifically the freeze and cooling units.”
Cost Check: What happens if you pay someone to do this?
If running your fridge is more stressful than the last group chat meltdown, you might consider hiring a pro.
“There is no additional charge for moving the fridge. [larger] Move on,” says Robert.
Honestly, it’s a small price to pay to keep your spine intact.
Ready to plug in? Not that fast
You’ve finally made it in your new place. Your fridge survived. You’re hungry. It’s time to plug in, right? That’s not necessarily the case.
“If the fridge is transported in a vertical position, it’s safe to connect it at the destination without delay,” says Kevin of Trinity Movers. “However, if it is placed sideways or transported horizontally, it is recommended that you wait at least 24 hours for the oil and refrigerant to settle.”
No one wants a fried compressor because you were keen to cool the soda.
Have you encountered any issues? This is how to convey it
Even with all the best preparations, sometimes things get bumpy. Don’t take your eyes off.
“Please check your refrigerator thoroughly for visible dings, dents or damage,” Kevin says. “Make sure the doors are lined up properly and functioning properly. Beware of abnormal noise.
If something appears to be off, trust your instincts. Or even better, call the pro.
Red flag when hiring a mover
Not all movers are created equal, especially when it comes to electrical appliances.
Kevin warns: “Please avoid movements that do not provide a complete value protection plan. [and] Avoid movers who only offer basic insurance coverage. This usually costs $0.60 per pound per article. This is not enough for the fridge to be arrested.
Also, if you have water in your fridge, “Make sure the movement is properly connected and turned on. Check for signs of leaks,” Kevin adds.
Rookies get wrong to avoid it
Joe from Rocky Movers sees the same stupidity over and over:
“One of the biggest mistakes is not to properly secure the fridge before moving. Many people forget to empty and thaw in advance, which can lead to leaks and damage. Others move it for a long time. It can cause compressor problems.
In a nutshell, prepare, pad, strap, and stand up straight.
Pro tips to keep you safe
“To keep the fridge safe, start by emptying it and thawing it at least 24 hours before travel,” Joe adds. “Stape or strap all shelves and doors and always transport them in as upright positions as possible. Use a strapped dolly for support and pad it properly to prevent dents. On moving trucks, secure them to the wall to prevent shifting.”
And what if a disaster occurs so that your fridge is flipped over?
“Don’t panic,” Joe says. “First, stand upright and unplug for at least 24 hours. This will allow the oil in the compressor to return properly. If you don’t hear any abnormal noise or are properly cooled before checking for visible damage or leaks, call a professional to inspect it.”
Bonus: Here’s how to avoid throwing floors in the trash
Your fridge may survive in the movement, but do you have your floor?
“Fridges and other appliances need to be properly wrapped and secured before moving,” says Vlad of Spydermoving. “Using premium floor mats to protect doors, rails and steering wheel covers is always a plus and should be requested.”
And once it becomes Dolly? Vlad said, “We recommend that when you are strapping and tie-downing, transporting the appliance to mobile devices like Dolly, and avoiding dents and dents on both the appliance and the wall when you are transporting the appliance.
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There is no need to smoke when moving the fridge
With a little preparation, the right tools and sage advice from veteran movers, you can conquer your refrigerator relocation like a professional and avoid emergency calls to travel to emergency care and appliance repair techniques.
Leave it upright and give it time to pull it down and (literally) decompression. The fridge keeps cool.
