How to Move a Refrigerator

Moving bulky electrical appliances is one of the most challenging tasks when you move to a new place. However, with a little planning and a little help, you can move the refrigerator safely and securely for both you and your item.

Table of Contents

Prepare the refrigerator for moving

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Take everything out of the fridge. Before moving the refrigerator, it’s best to take everything out. Make sure there are no food, spices, ice trays, and anything left in the cooler and freezer compartments, and anything that could drop inside or deflect the center of gravity when moving the refrigerator. You should also remove everything from the outside of the refrigerator, such as magnet decorations.

If there are perishable foods in the refrigerator, you should eat them all or give them to someone else. If you’re busy cleaning, it might be a good idea to throw out the items in the fridge if you won’t be able to eat them all right away.
Whether it’s just a short walk in the room to clean the back of the fridge or rearrange the kitchen, it’s still a good idea to remove everything from the fridge and put it on the table. This will make the move safer and avoid the risk of the refrigerator tipping over. Use the trolley under the refrigerator to move. Slide out just enough to unplug the power cord, then simply push to where you want the refrigerator.

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Remove the racks from the refrigerator. Remove all removable parts in the refrigerator including the shelves, trays, and removable compartments. Wrap these items in a towel, write your name, and carefully place them in one place.

You can also choose to secure the refrigerator compartments with tape instead of removing them, although it is generally recommended to remove them all and repack them. However, this can also be a good option, depending on the model of the refrigerator. If the compartments in the refrigerator are relatively sturdy, you can use tape to secure them so they don’t fall around while you’re on the move.

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Unplug the refrigerator power cord. Rewind the power cord and tape it tightly to secure it when moving. If your refrigerator has an automatic ice maker, be sure to turn off the water as well.

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Defrost in the freezer if necessary . If there is a lot of snow in the freezer compartment, you need to defrost before moving. This process usually takes about 6-8 hours, so you need to calculate the time ahead. It is best to drain the refrigerator the night before to allow time for the snow to melt, the next morning you just need to wipe the inside.

Don’t waste precious cleaning time cleaning the fridge, but it’s also a good time to clean the entire fridge before relocating it to its new location. Wipe the drawers and interior surfaces of the refrigerator with an antiseptic after the snow has melted.

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Close the cabinet door and secure the door. Use strong ropes or rubber bands to tie the doors of the cooler and freezer. If the refrigerator has two doors, you should also tie the handles of the two doors together. Be careful not to tie too tightly; otherwise, the cabinet door may be out of position. You also should not use tape to secure the refrigerator door as this can damage the finish on the cabinet surface or leave adhesive streaks.

If the move lasts more than a day, you should leave the refrigerator door ajar to allow air to circulate and prevent mold growth in the refrigerator. ^{[1] X Research Source}

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Find a helper. The refrigerator needs to be kept upright and moved in a wheelchair. You may think you can do it on your own, but it’s safer with help, as you’ll also have to lift cabinets and get them through doors and corners, down stairs, and onto trucks. Moving the refrigerator requires at least two people.

Move the refrigerator

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Use a handcart. One of the best tools for moving a refrigerator is a hand trolley, a type of device that can lift the weight of the refrigerator and make it easier to move, especially when it is necessary to bring the refrigerator down the stairs. .

You can use any type of trolley with straps, but make sure the floor is wide enough to fit the bottom of the refrigerator, as you need to raise the refrigerator to prevent coolant from leaking inside.
If you don’t have a handcart, you should rent one. While transport straps are also easy to purchase, and could theoretically be used to strap the refrigerator to your back for transport, this can be much more expensive and dangerous than renting a stroller. hand. Do not attempt to move the refrigerator without using a trolley.

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Slide the refrigerator away from the wall and tie it to the trolley. With most refrigerators, you can thread the trolley under the refrigerator, gently lifting it if necessary. Use ropes or rubber bands to tie the refrigerator to the trolley. Try to avoid tilting the refrigerator when lifting it and repositioning it on the trolley. Keep the refrigerator in an upright position to ensure that oil does not flow into the evaporator.

Never put the refrigerator down when moving for any reason. Oil in the compressor may flow into the evaporator. When the refrigerator is repositioned to the upright position, oil may remain in the evaporator and the refrigerator will not cool properly.
If you must tilt your refrigerator while moving, be sure to position it at an angle that is as vertical as possible. Place a box or other object underneath the top of the cabinet to give it a little prop.

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Tilt the refrigerator gently. Once you’ve strapped the refrigerator to the trolley, slowly push it to the parking spot of the refrigerator truck. It is important to push the cart against the tilt of the cabinet for safety. Ask the person to hold the other side and guide you through the obstacles. ^{[2] X Research Source}

To get the refrigerator down the stairs, you need to move it step by step, and the helper will help you move more easily. It is even better to have two people standing in front of the stroller and another person in the back, holding the handle and lowering it slowly. Communicate clearly and don’t go too fast.

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Load the refrigerator into the truck. Whether you’re using a pickup truck or a delivery truck, you’ll need to lift the refrigerator onto the floor of the vehicle, placing the stroller close to the inlet edge of the trunk. Trucks with ramps up are best, as you can slowly push the refrigerator up with ease. If not, you have to be more careful.

To lift the refrigerator onto the truck, you must climb onto the floor of the truck and have at least two more people standing on the ground. Everyone coordinated to lift at the same time, the person above pulled the trolley handle, the helpers below raised the trolley floor and pushed it into the truck. If there is one more person to help you above to keep the refrigerator from leaning on you, even better.
Fix the refrigerator in an upright position in the truck’s trunk. If you can leave the refrigerator on a trolley that’s fine, as it will keep it in a safe and stable location, but if that’s not possible, block it with other furniture or equipment. Or use straps to fix the refrigerator.

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Move the refrigerator to the new location. Put the refrigerator down and move it to a new location. Wait at least 3 hours before plugging in to allow oil and liquid to flow back to the compressor and prevent equipment damage. It may take up to 3 days for the refrigerator to reach the right temperature and be ready to use.

Advice

Read the refrigerator’s instruction manual before moving. There will be instructions and safety recommendations that you should pay attention to when moving the refrigerator.
If you are not confident about moving the refrigerator yourself, you should get the help of a professional cleaning service.

Warning

Never try to move the refrigerator alone as its weight can seriously injure you if it falls on you. Make sure you have at least two healthy helpers to move the refrigerator, especially when going up and down stairs.

Steps

Prepare the refrigerator for moving

Move the refrigerator

Advice

Warning

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