It’s moving time and you need tips on how to transport your refrigerator. Or maybe you simply need it to get to the repair shop and need this information to get it done.
Irrespective of why you need to move your fridge, this article’s aim is to guide you on the steps and essentials on how to get it done successfully and without hassles.
But first, let’s talk about the preparation.
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How to Prepare Your Refrigerator for a Move
Before thinking of how to transport a refrigerator, you should think of how to make your refrigerator moveable.
For instance, if you have a refrigerator filled with food and other items, then you need to move them out. This is usually done to prevent the fridge from spilling its content and making a mess while you move it.
Here are steps to follow to prepare your refrigerator for the move:
- Remove all the contents
To lighten your refrigerator and make it easier to move, empty it of all its contents.
Then, remove the ice cube trays, shelves, condiments, foods, and every other thing that can rattle in your refrigerator.
If you have perishable foods, make a meal and eat them all (if you can!) or give them away if you’re moving to a different place entirely.
If you can’t give them away, get a large cooler and fill it with ice. Then place the items in the cooler till you get to your destination.
Your perishable items would last in there for a while.
Meanwhile, this is also a good time to remove items on the body of the fridge like magnets and other decorations so that they don’t slide off and get damaged in transit.
- Remove the Shelves
The essence of removing the shelves in your fridge is to prevent them from sliding out and breaking or bending.
For extra safety, when you remove the shelves from the fridge, you can wrap them in moving blankets (especially if they are glass shelves) and label them.
You can also place them in a box if you have one.
Alternatively, you can tape your shelves if you don’t want to go through the stress of removing and packing them.
By taping them, you secure them in place and prevent them from rattling.
- Disconnect your refrigerator
Now that your refrigerator is free, unplug it from the AC outlet in your kitchen. Fold the power cord properly and bind it with a tape.
Doing this keeps it in place until you get to your destination.
It also prevents accidents. For example, there have been cases where people trip over these cords and fall when moving the refrigerator.
By the way, if your refrigerator has an icemaker and is connected to a water line, then you also need to disconnect it from the water source at this point.
- Check for frost
Before you shut those doors, look in your fridge and freezer to ensure there’s no frost. You’ll need to defrost your refrigerator if you notice a frost buildup.
Frost left in the fridge will eventually melt and will leak out of the fridge while in transit. This is one reason that defrosting before moving is necessary.
Refrigerators take about 6 to 8 hours to defrost. So, it is advisable to do this the night before you move. You can also use this opportunity to give your refrigerator a thorough clean before taking it to your new place.
- Bind the fridge
Moving a fridge is not easy peasy lemon squeezy. And you don’t want to top that with the fridge’s doors opening while in motion and even moving off the hinges.
To prevent this, after defrosting and cleaning your refrigerator, close the door(s) and use a strong rope to keep the door closed.
You can also use a flat bungee cord if you don’t have a rope that’s thick enough.
Ensure that you don’t tie the refrigerator too tightly, else the doors may get out of alignment and may not close well after the move.
It also advisable to avoid using tapes to bind the fridge because they may spoil the finish of the fridge.
- Enlist Help
It is not impossible to move a fridge alone, but it is also not advisable. This is because the ease of moving a fridge is relative to its weight and size.
More so, you want to avoid straining muscles in your body or developing a back problem from moving a heavy appliance like a fridge.
To make the process easier, safer, and faster, having more hands around is very important.
Remember that your fridge shouldn’t be laid on its side. This is one reason that you need people to help.
Moreover, you would probably have to get it through doors and passages and may not be able to do it on your own easily.
How to Transport A Refrigerator – Step By Step Procedure
- Use a dolly
One of the major tools you need to transport your refrigerator is a dolly.
If you don’t have a refrigerator dolly, it is recommended that you buy or rent one before you set out to move the fridge.
The dolly handles the weight of your refrigerator and helps you move it out of the corner without any problems.
It is advisable to get a dolly with straps to hold your refrigerator in place.
Also, make sure the dolly you get is big enough that your refrigerator can sit on it, and the straps are large enough to go around and secure your fridge.
This is to prevent your fridge from falling on its side as this may lead to coolant leakage or compressor oil seeping into the cooling tubes.
- Move the refrigerator out of the corner
Most refrigerators can be tilted a little so that the dolly slides under easily.
However, whatever you do, ensure that your fridge maintains its upright position and is not tilted too much.
Once that’s done, you can then use the bungees or moving straps to tie the refrigerator to the dolly.
Now that your refrigerator has been placed on your dolly, move it away from the wall and to the middle of the wall.
It should slide around easily now.
- Use the help you enlisted
While moving the refrigerator, you need to tilt it gently to move it forward on the dolly. To be safe and ensure your fridge stays secure, move the dolly in the direction opposite the tilt.
You would need the helpers you’ve called when moving your refrigerator down the stairs if you need to go down a flight.
It is better to have two people in front of the dolly to ease the refrigerator down each step, and one person behind the dolly to keep the refrigerator tilted and push it forward.
- Load it into the vehicle
You need to be careful when loading your refrigerator into the moving or pick-up truck. It would be much easier if the truck you’re using has a truck ramp that you can easily use to roll the fridge into the truck.
If the truck doesn’t have a ramp, then you need to get into the bed of the truck while two people stand at the bottom.
As you lift the dolly straight up with the handles, the 2 people with you will be required to lift from the bottom simultaneously.
Once you’ve got your fridge into the truck, you need to secure it in place so that it doesn’t fall when the vehicle is moving. If you can leave it on the dolly, do so.
The dolly would provide extra stability and security.
But if you rented the dolly and need to return it, then you need to secure the refrigerator with tight ropes to other furniture in the truck. And in the absence of any other furniture, you can tie it to both sides of the truck.
- Move it to the new location
When you arrive at the new place, move your fridge the same way you moved out.
And before you plug it in, allow it to sit upright for 3 to 24 hours. This would prevent any damage to your refrigerator and allow the compressor fluid to return to the compressor.
Meanwhile, if you will be transporting the refrigerator in a trailer and not a pickup truck, then you’ll find this video useful. Check it out!
Check out these other in-depth articles/reviews…
- How Much Does A Sub-Zero Refrigerator Cost?
- Whynter 34-Bottle Wine Cooler — In-depth Review
- Koldfront 24-Bottle Dual Zone Wine Cooler — Extensive Review
- How to Test a Refrigerator Thermostat [Detailed Guide]
- Wagan 6-Quart 12V Personal Cooler/Warmer–In depth Review
- What is a French Door Refrigerator?
A Quick Recap on How to Transport a Refrigerator
When looking for how to transport a refrigerator, take note of several factors including the location of the refrigerator, the size of the doors, and if you’re going to get it past the stairs.
This would help you determine how easy transporting your refrigerator would be and what extra measures you may need to take.
Meanwhile, remember that you need a dolly, extra pairs of hands, and a plan to transport your refrigerator.
Think you can do without a dolly? Well, it’s not impossible. You can check out our post on how to move a refrigerator without a dolly to learn how to.
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