The Complete Guide on How to Move a Fridge Safely

Of all intimidating relocation tasks families and businesses face, safely packing and transporting colossal appliances like refrigerators tops most move worry lists. These challenging units can easily suffer costly damages without cautious handling from loading to unloading.

Luckily our expert MaxiMoving crew members have relocated thousands of refrigerators across NYC flawlessly. Ranging from mini college dorm fridges to towering restaurant walk-in giant units – we’ve perfected failsafe transport methods protecting cooling systems of every shape and size through intricate townhouse moves or cross country treks.

Read below for a complete A-Z guide to seamlessly move a refrigerator with any unique shape, size, or delicacy level!

Pre-Move Preparations To Move A Refrigerator

While cumbersome and awkwardly sized, refrigerators fortunately rollover well when movers take proper precautions preparing units before transit. Follow these pro tips ensuring appliances function optimally after settling into new destinations.

Deep Clean Fridge Inside and Out

Several weeks before moving day, give refrigerators and freezers an intensive deep clean scrub. Thoroughly remove grime buildup and stale odors that accumulated surprisingly fast! This prevents lingering sticky spills or crusted food debris from becoming jostled then leaking out to spoil other boxed kitchen items in truck beds.

Pay special attention to tightly sealing doors, handles and sensitive external digital control panels to keep all cleaning solutions from potentially seeping into interior components or mechanics. Consider covering panels loosely with plastic sheeting for added moisture protection during washes.

Defrost Fridge Fully

Also pull refrigerators far enough from walls to fully unplug units and allow complete defrosting over 24 hours pre-move. This gives ample time for thick icy buildup inside freezer compartments to fully melt before resealing doors.

Be sure to place towels underneath ready to catch drained water seeping from units as ice loosens. Thoroughly sop up any accumulated moisture inside compartments to leave interiors completely dry before appliances get reloaded onto trucks. Preventing leaks and saturated puddles leaking through loading ramps while in transit helps mightily!

Disconnect Water Lines Properly

For units offering water and ice dispensers, correctly shutting off and detaching those connecting water lines prevents messy leaks amid moving. We’ve seen it happen too often!

Carefully turn off inlet valve taps first before gently unscrewing line attachments from back compressor panels. Allow any remaining water diluting cleaning solutions to fully drain out through tubes into buckets before capping them off. Protect openings using provided factory plugs or waterproof tape securing random cloth scraps as extra blockade assurance.

Transporting Fridges Horizontally

Once squeaky cleanliness and leak protection measures complete ideal prep, determining appropriate refrigerator positioning for navigating loading ramps and tight stairwells comes next. But the looming question remains – can refrigerators lay horizontally at angles, or must they stay vertical?

Upright Transport Preferred When Possible

For most standard residential moves, movers strongly prefer keeping average-sized units standing fully vertical whenever stairwell width and truck cargo space allows. Appliance dollies and specialty furniture straps allow securely rolling bulkier models straight up ramps without cumbersome tilting or risky tipping side to side. Plus, loading space fills most efficiently fitting more merchandise upright.

Vertical positioning also minimizes sudden stops from causing heavy doors to fling open spilling contents when top heavy appliances stay balanced and centered over wheel bases. So unless major space restrictions exist, always transport refrigerators upright!

Okay, But When Laying Them Down Is Unavoidable…

Unfortunately during extreme circumstances, laying refrigerators fully horizontal becomes unavoidable. Most commonly with spiral staircases in older brownstone walk-ups when even removing doors won’t allow angling units barely through. Commercial freight trucks hauling for restaurants also often optimize load capacity and weight distribution by stacking industrial appliances sideways in rows.

In these unavoidable tilting scenarios, follow vital protocols protecting vulnerable coolant chemicals from potentially destabilizing and causing compressor damages. Only tilt refrigerators fully sideways on either left or right sides – never semi-upright nor completely inverted! Doing so allows fluid contents to remain covered inside components.

Fully engage all interior shelving and freezer drawer locking levers before gently lowering units flat onto their sides. This prevents sudden shifts causing damage as trucks hit bumpy roads. Always lay units onto thickly padded furniture blankets or foam supports – never directly onto bare dirty truck beds! Take care securing refrigerators tightly with tie-down straps to prevent excess jostling.

When possible, advise drivers regarding the delicacy of tilted appliances so extreme braking gets avoided. Work swiftly but cautiously tilting units minimally. And of course, restore appliances gently upright once arriving destination.

Post Transport Restoration & Functionality Checks

You made it – the challenging move the fridge wraps successfully with no visible exterior damages or concerning leaks! Yet several key final tasks remain before these hardworking appliances can safely resume chilling duties in new kitchens:

Give Compressors Adequate Rest Before Replugging In

Remember, critical refrigerant gases and fluids keeping units ice cold distribute best when appliances sit still upright. Sudden motion while tilted or shaken during drives can disrupt balance.

Failure to adequate settling time often disables internal motors requiring expensive repairs. Instead, gently set refrigerators in final positions and allow units 2-3 hours reaching room temperature equilibrium before restoring power. This gives coolant chemicals precious time reformatting properly inside tubing to recommence even flows.

Reconnect Water Lines & Test For Leaks

For units offering water dispensers and ice makers, reconnect supply lines first before replugging into kitchen outlets. Review inlet valve positions, closed during prep stages. Keep them shut while gently twisting attachment lines onto back panel fittings, securing with leak-proof tape once snug.

Slowly turn valves opening water access again, carefully eyeing connections for any drips or moisture indicating loose fittings. Immediately power down and revisit attachments as needed until 100% leak-free. Drips spell disaster!

Verify Full Functionality

Upon confirmed stability and water-tight inspection success, breathe easy my friends. Go ahead, plug transformed refrigerators into reliable outlets and listen for the sweet hum of motors churning back to life! Give appliance interior temperatures ample time returning to optimal ice cold ranges before reloading them with precious frozen foods and produce. Preschedule delivery grocery loads if possible.

By following these professional transport guidelines under MaxiMoving’s professional movers seasoned supervision, refrigerators continually glide wonderfully into new home kitchens ready for many more years of reliable daily service keeping foods fresh and families fed! We handle all the heavy lifting – our clients handle the memories made.