If there’s one certainty that comes with moving house, it’s that you’ll be moving a fridge. And for all of us who have ever had to move a fridge by ourselves, it can be a chilling experience. In this article, we look at how to move your fridge safely, without causing damage to it or you.
Why are fridges hard to move?
For a hundred or so years, the humble refrigerator has been an essential appliance in our homes. They are generally large, heavy and unevenly balanced appliances, which makes them hard to move or carry. This is because they’re designed to chill and freeze food, not get moved from place to place. Plus, many fridges don’t like getting moved at all. They have delicate internal components, such as the compressor and coolant lines, which can be damaged if the unit is moved incorrectly or not kept upright.
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Preparing your fridge for the cold, hard move
Switch off the power to your fridge the night before you move. This gives the evaporator time to defrost, which can get damaged when moved if still frozen, and allows the oils and fluids to settle and stop moving through the compressor.
If your fridge has an ice maker or a chilled water feed, you will also need to disconnect the hose and empty the ice and water container. Moving a fridge with ice or water inside creates a high risk of leaks, spillage and damage.
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Clean your fridge
You can start cleaning your fridge from the moment you turn off the power. Remove all the food and drink items from the fridge and clean and disinfect all the surfaces. As the fridge warms up, it can develop an unpleasant odour if left dirty, and that’s not the way you’ll want to start your kitchen experience in your new home.
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Remove breakable shelves
Many fridges have glass shelves, and people often forget to remove these when moving the fridge. They can and do break because they jiggle about while in transit and can shatter. Remove any glass shelves, wrap them securely with bubble wrap and move them separately.
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Moving your fridge (without damaging the floor)
Most modern fridges have rear wheels to make them easier to move. By tilting them backward – carefully – you can roll them freely across the floor. If you don’t have wheels, it gets trickier. The knack to moving them is to slide a sheet of cardboard underneath. You can do this by tilting the fridge at the front, then at the back to get the cardboard under the feet. This will allow you to slide the fridge out of its cabinetry or space without leaving unsightly scratches.
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Packing your fridge
A common mistake people make is to not wrap their fridge prior to moving. They are expensive appliances and need protection, or they get scratches and dents, and knocks can potentially damage their internal components. Use two layers of wrapping to protect your fridge. The first is packing wrap, like bubble wrap, which comes in extra-large rolls for packing purposes. Encase the fridge with bubble wrap and tape it securely, without sticking the tape to the fridge itself, as this leaves marks. Next, wrap the fridge in moving blankets, and you’re ready to move it.
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Moving your fridge
It’s unwise to attempt to lift and carry a fridge, even if you have two strong people to do it. It’s always better to use a moving trolley and a strap. Position the moving trolley under the fridge and strap it in place. Then, tilt the fridge backwards to the person guiding the trolley and wheel it to the truck. One person can do this, but it’s better to have a second to help balance and guide the person doing the pushing. Once you have the fridge on the truck, strap it in place so it doesn’t move about.
Cool tips:
- It’s always best to transport a fridge standing up.
- Many new fridges can tolerate being plugged in and used after moving, but it’s always safer to let the liquids and oils in the fridge settle for about four hours before use.
- It’s way easier to let professional movers handle your fridge.
If you follow this process, you’ll move your fridge with ease.