Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Support wikiHow by Roll the power cord up to prevent it from dragging or getting in the way while moving the fridge. If there are perishable items in the refrigerator, finish them or give them away. The belt should be around the center of the appliance’s height. "Knowing that the fridge should be moved in an upright position to prevent oil and fluid to flow out from the, "We had to move my grandson into the dorm at college. Here are the vital steps. Is it wrong to defrost the fridge and then to unplug it just before transporting it to a nearby place? All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. This reduces the risk of damaging the cooling system components and the power cord at the back of the refrigerator. Once the refrigerator is in position, tip it back, with one person at the front and one at the back. Removing the contents of a refrigerator is necessary even when moving the appliance within the same room. If you are getting rid of the refrigerator, you should just unplug and move it out of your home. If you have time before the move, start meal planning around the perishable foods in your fridge. Make sure that you have ample assistance from at least two people strong enough to move the refrigerator around, especially if you need to move it up or down a flight of stairs. % of people told us that this article helped them. It comes with rub rails padded with rubber to protect the surface of appliances from dings. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. Did you know you can read answers researched by wikiHow Staff? Or must it be upright? Moved older refrigerator on its side. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Either side will do. Pull the refrigerator away from the wall, slide a dolly underneath it, and secure the fridge to the dolly. unlocking this staff-researched answer. Some shelves and drawers can remain in place, but this depends on the refrigerator design. To allow air to circulate through the refrigerator coils. Also, vinegar is suitable for cleaning stainless steel parts and disinfecting the compartments. Leaving the doors open would be a good idea. To learn about defrosting your freezer before moving your fridge, read on! Remove any loose components and wrap them with protective towels. Moving a large appliance like a refrigerator can be overwhelming for one person. An extra person can guide the move. Next, fasten the refrigerator and freezer doors shut with strong rope or bungee cord. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. That’s where your measuring tape comes in handy. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Slide the dolly under the refrigerator from the side, being sure not to snag it on any part of the moving blanket. Similarly, to wait for at least 3 hours for the oil and fluid to return to the compressor before switching on is also a very useful tip to protect the fridge. You’ll need enough ice to keep your food properly chilled for the duration of the move as well as the period it takes the fridge to cool down once it is moved. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. If you want to move the fridge a short distance in the same room, to clean behind it or reorganize the kitchen, remove the items anyway, and place them on the counters. If you're moving it downstairs, it's best to move the refrigerator down the steps, bottom first. It’s not recommended. Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. Make $50-$500 each month renting your garage, driveway, shed or other storage space, Find storage in your own neighborhood at half the cost of a self storage unit, Moving to a New City – The Before, During, and After, Unpacking: A Comprehensive Guide to Settling in After a Move, Moving to Bountiful, UT: A Neighbor Moving Guide. Take your other set of moving straps or bungee cords and use them to secure the fridge to the dolly. If you aren’t plugging the refrigerator soon, leave the door open to prevent odors. If you are not very confident about moving your refrigerator yourself, it is always a good idea to enlist the aid of professional movers. Communicate loudly and don't go too fast. Tilt the fridge gently and slide the dolly underneath for the appliance to rest on the rub rails. Secure the fridge upright in the truck. To create this article, 20 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. To move the refrigerator down a flight of stairs, move it down one step at a time, your assistant easing it down onto each successive step. Tilt the fridge back gently towards you and push the dolly forward to move the fridge! It will provide you with additional instructions or safety tips you should take note of during the move. Consider deep cleaning the refrigerator to avoid taking a mess to the new house. The equipment can transport hundreds of pounds. There will be less work and fewer loads for the movers. If the refrigerator has a water supply line, then disconnect it. If the move is scheduled to take longer than a day, it is recommended to keep the doors slightly open to allow for air flow, and prevent any mold or mildew from growing inside the refrigerator. Pull the refrigerator away from the wall and unplug the power plug from the wall socket. The first step to moving a refrigerator is prepping it thoroughly. If your refrigerator has French doors, tie them together to keep them shut. If there are a few items you can’t finish in time, load up a cooler so you can bring the food to your new home. Many years ago, I remember reading about certain precautions, "Picking up a used fridge from a neighbor in two days, and had no idea how to perform such a simple task until I. Do I need to unplug and defrost a freezer/refrigerator before giving it to a friend? Are you considering moving a fridge that’s lying down? If your refrigerator’s water filter is attached to the back of the fridge, disconnect the filter and pack it separately. Once the fridge is in the new location, wait for a few hours for the fluids to settle (typically twice the duration spent moving the appliance). If relocated incorrectly, they can leak fluids, harbor mildew, or even damage the floors and walls. Measure the width and height of the unit. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/90\/Clean-a-Refrigerator-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Clean-a-Refrigerator-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/90\/Clean-a-Refrigerator-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1322145-v4-728px-Clean-a-Refrigerator-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

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