5 must-know tips for moving a refrigerator

Are you in the process of moving from your current place? Are you taking the refrigerator from your existing home to your new one? If so, then it takes a certain method of precaution to move it safely. Not handling it carefully enough can lead to you destroying your refrigerator, thus costing you hundreds of dollars to purchase a new one. While tedious, following a few simple steps provided by Brooks Moving will ensure that your fridge gets from one place to the other unharmed. See below for five tips on moving a refrigerator. Be sure to consider all these tips as you begin the process.

1. CLEAN IT OUT BEFOREHAND

For your refrigerator to be transported as efficiently as possible, it needs to be voided of all the materials inside. Many people make the mistake of cleaning the fridge out right before moving it, not giving it enough time to defrost. You’ll want to take the day before the big move to turn the fridge off and place all essential food items in a cooler. In fact, to avoid food going bad, you’ll want to plan out eating all perishable foods leading up to that day.

Try to use up leftovers, cook frozen items in advance, and give away anything you know won’t keep. This will minimize waste and reduce the load you’re dealing with. Once you’ve cleared out all the items, use a solution made up of baking soda and water to melt the ice that you might see. Cleaning up the ice and letting the fridge dry out will help prevent leaks while you move it. If you have a local movers southern NH coming first thing in the morning, be sure to clean out the fridge the night before.

You should also unplug the refrigerator at least 24 hours ahead of time. This allows any frost buildup in the freezer compartment to melt down completely. Place a towel at the base of the fridge to catch any water runoff. Leaving it plugged in too long can lead to excess moisture during transport, and that’s how you end up with mildew or mold.

If your refrigerator has a water dispenser or ice maker, don’t forget to disconnect the water line. Shut off the valve first and then detach the hose to avoid spills. Let the hose drain fully before taping it securely to the back of the fridge.

2. FACTOR THE DOORWAYS IN

Safely moving the refrigerator from home to moving truck will require finding the right door to squeeze it out of. To avoid a fiasco beforehand, you’ll want to measure all your doors to find the best fit.

You also need to measure the doors of the place you’re moving it into. Make sure to do that in the week leading up to the move.

Remember, the objective is to find a door as close to the moving truck as possible that the fridge will fit in. When moving the refrigerator into the other house, you must find a door as close to the kitchen as possible.

Professional movers (if you’ve hired them) will handle your refrigerator as if it were their own. But giving them the shortest passageway will ensure safety for your fridge and everyone involved, helping them avoid injury.

Also, check to see if your fridge’s doors need to be temporarily removed. Some wider models won’t make it through older, narrower door frames without removing the doors or handles. This isn’t hard to do, just make sure you take pictures beforehand so you can reassemble everything correctly. Lay down protective floor runners or cardboard sheets to avoid scratching hardwood or tile when rolling the fridge out. Keep pets and kids out of the way during this process to reduce risk of accidents.

3. CORRECTLY PACK UP YOUR REFRIGERATOR

So many things can go wrong if you don’t carefully pack up your fridge before transporting it. Even something as little as not tying up the cord can lead to someone tripping and dropping the refrigerator as they carry it.

For that reason, you want to make sure that the fridge is as safely packed up as possible. Make sure to start by taking all the power cords and placing them alongside the refrigerator with packing tape.

Keep that packing tape in hand while you seal the fridge doors shut, ensuring they won’t open during the move.

Last, but certainly not least, be sure to cover your refrigerator with blankets, one on the top and one on the bottom. Make sure the blankets are safely in place by using a bungee cord to secure them.

Also, make sure the refrigerator is always kept upright during the move. Laying it on its side can damage internal components like the compressor. If it does get tilted, allow it to sit upright for several hours before plugging it back in—this gives oil in the compressor time to resettle and avoid malfunction.

Use a heavy-duty appliance dolly rated for large appliances. Strap the fridge to the dolly firmly and make sure someone is guiding you at all times when moving it. Never try to move a fridge by yourself—it’s a two-person job minimum.

4. TAKE OUT SHELVING

Moving a fridge is a fickle thing. Even the slightest bumps in the road might cause your glass shelving to break while it’s being transported.

Because of that, you’ll want to make sure and provide extra care for that shelving before placing the fridge in the truck. While you’re cleaning out the refrigerator, you’ll want to remove all the glass shelves out of it before packing it up.

While you’re in the cleaning mood, be sure to wipe the shelves down effectively and then pack them up with bubble wrap. Place them in a correctly-sized box and label it as “refrigerator shelves” before closing it up.

If you’re running short on boxes, then you can also carry them inside your car during the transport. That way, you can make sure that they’re safe and sound, not at risk of enduring any bumps along the road.

Use foam padding or soft towels between each shelf for extra shock absorption. If the shelving includes plastic clips or adjustable brackets, keep those in a small labeled ziplock bag taped to the outside of the box so nothing gets lost during unpacking.

You can even store the packed shelf box inside the fridge itself during transport, as long as it’s padded and secured, but most people prefer to keep it separate just to be extra cautious.

5. REMOVE OBSTACLES FIRST

Understandably, you’d want to move the refrigerator first, using all of your energy to lift one of the most substantial items that you need to move. However, you need to remove all the obstacles in front of it first.

Whichever items (boxes, furniture, etc.) are in between the fridge and the door it’s going through will need to be packed into the moving truck first. That way, you can ensure they’re out of the way and safely stored before you load up the refrigerator.

Also, you might consider removing a door by taking it off the hinges before starting the process of moving a refrigerator. This will give you as straight a path towards the moving truck without interruptions.

If you feel like you need more experience on your side, then be sure to hire professional movers. They’ve moved hundreds of fridges before, and can do the same for yours!

Walk the path from the kitchen to the truck and back. Look for tight corners, loose rugs, wet spots, or steps that could cause problems. If you’re moving in bad weather, throw down cardboard or non-slip mats to avoid sliding. The smoother the route, the safer and quicker the move will be.

USE THESE TIPS WHEN MOVING A REFRIGERATOR

Now that you’ve seen the key things to remember when moving a refrigerator, it’s time to hire the right professional moving team for the job. Check out how our household moves can provide a stress-free move from your current home to your new one. For more inquiries, please feel free to reach out via our contact us page and we’ll be happy to assist you further! If it’s time for you to move your refrigerator, we’d love to help! Contact us today to get a free estimate and schedule your move.