MATERIALS AND TOOLS Available on Amazon – Portable cooler – Zip ties – Painter’s tape – Towel – Bungee cords (2 or more) – Plastic wrap – Large appliance dolly with straps. This should be done a couple of hours before moving to allow the evaporator time to defrost. ), rent an appliance dolly from your nearest hardware store, and follow these steps—applicable to any kind of fridge, from side-by-side and French door models to those with the freezer on top or bottom—to make the move easy and safe, without any spoiling any food, straining any muscles, or losing your cool in the process. var s_code=s.t();if(s_code)document.write(s_code); It is important to follow these instructions when moving a refrigerator to a new location: Turn the refrigerator to Off. When you and the fridge are steady, slowly begin work your way to the moving truck (or simply out of the way, in the case of a renovation). Be sure to keep the appliance tilted no more than 45 degrees for the entire journey and take caution as needed while navigating around corners, through doorways and up or down ramps of any kind. If you have a built-in icemaker, disconnect the fridge from its water source as well. This prevents their coming loose and causing damage. If your refrigerator is on rollers; be sure it is properly secured in the moving van to prevent rolling and damage. s.prop43 = "Responsive"; With fridges weighing in anywhere between 150 and 350 pounds, doing this job incorrectly can result in bodily injuries, scratched floors, even a broken fridge. STEP 1 First, empty the fridge. Gather the cords up in a coil and secure them tightly with a zip tie or a few loops of painter’s tape (masking tape is also an option but may leave adhesive residue). Since our fridge is in the corner of the kitchen, we weren’t limited to the counter depth size. Hi! Amy Lynch, 10 Cleaning Chores You Should Be Doing Every Week, The Dos and Don'ts of Air-Drying Everything You Own, 5 Ways to Prevent Cracks in Concrete—and 1 Easy Fix, Make Your Home Less Chaotic With These 12 Simple Changes, 12 Big Mistakes That Lead to Mold and Mildew Growth. Remove all foods and clean the interior. //s.eVar15 = ""; Next, remove any ice cube trays, movable shelves and other accessories that might shift “mid-flight,” and be sure to take down those magnets and other decorative elements from the exterior. It’s also unsanitary to move a refrigerator while it’s still cooling down and filled with condensation, creating a playground for mold and bacteria. So do your prep, take your time, and be sure to use a large enough dolly to get the job done safely. Whether it’s across the room or the country, when you’re moving a fridge from point A to point B, the last thing you’ll want is for those soda cans and pickle jars to rattle around and break open along the way. Handle with care. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. STEP 4 Roll up the dolly (typically available for rent from reputable hardware stores for about $15 a day) and gently center the tow blade under the bottom of the fridge, approaching it from the side with the fridge doors at a 90-degree angle from the back of the dolly. New models are more energy efficient and most dealers will deliver and install the new one for you. I would like to move my Samsung French Door refrigerator away from the wall to clean it in back (the top compartment is overheating and shutting down; thankfully the freezer on the bottom keeps running ok). If there’s no ratchet, tie a tight double knot, anchoring it to the steel ribs between the dolly’s handles. Before you try to move a fridge, it's best to take everything out. Tip: Unplug the night before a move or reno so everything’s ready to roll in the morning. Now, the helper uses the dolly’s straps to lock it down by encircling the refrigerator’s body like a belt, similar to the way you secured the doors closed with tape or plastic wrap. Empty the refrigerator of all its contents. By Amy Lynch. Exception:  Some Column models for 30" to 31" doorways before packing is removed, can be tilted back when placed on dolly to take into the home. The exterior of your refrigerator should be protected with a blanket covering. Refrigerator Moving Instructions. The tow blade should just slide right underneath the appliance without having to be forced. Don't forget to measure your doorways and entry ways in both your existing and new home! Possible damage could occur if trucked from the front or rear. Copyright © 2020 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. If possible, tie the door handles together as well to make sure everything stays firmly in place during transport. Covers and removable parts should be protected with tape. Don’t Forget! When using a dolly or hand truck, always truck from the side. Once the interior reaches room temperature, use a towel to wipe away any melted frost from the freezer drawer. How to Move a Refrigerator Away From the Wall for Cleaning. You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. So get a helper (this is absolutely a two-person job! For kitchens with islands, measure the distance from the countertops to the island. Store perishables in an insulated picnic cooler or two, and throw in a few frozen bottles of water for added peace of mind. Note that you should never, ever lay a fridge on its side or back to move it because tipping it too far in the wrong direction can cause a coolant breach, reducing your fridge to little more than a big, broken metal box. After following these easy steps for how to move a refrigerator, you’ll be chilling in your new kitchen in no time flat. 10. Make sure that both your refrigerator and freezer are free of food, condiments, ice cube trays, and anything else that might rattle around and shift weight. Make sure the refrigerator will fit through your front door, down the hall, and around any corners. Lift the refrigerator door straight up off bottom hinge. But using an appliance dolly correctly, you’ll be able to tilt the fridge slightly sideways to move it without leaning it too far over. Together, slightly tilt the fridge and dolly back between 20 and 45 degrees—just enough for the wheels to move freely when the person holding the dolly’s handles gives it a gentle push or pull, depending on whether you need to move forward or backward. s.hier1 = s.prop5; s.prop3 = s.channel + "|Support Search"; Remove items placed outside of your refrigerator as well, such as magnets. If you don’t have bungee cords, two long rolls of plastic wrap secured tightly around the fridge can do the trick almost as well; be sure to get a snug fit and tape off the ends to reinforce. When loading the refrigerator in a moving van, truck, etc., it is best to keep it standing upright to minimize possible damage to the sealed system or prevent damage to loose items. s.eVar14 = document.title; This should be done a couple of hours before moving to allow the evaporator time to defrost. This will help avoid damaging the door. Secure the refrigerator. If it was on its side for more than a day, leave standing for 24 hours before running. s.prop4 = s.prop3; // Manipulate variables It’s critical to never lay or carry your fridge on its back or side, since doing so can create an irreparable leak in the cooling system and prevent the appliance from doing its job once you plug it back in. I think I went to the other extreme after living with the tiny apartment fridge. IMPORTANT: Rest the door on its side on a soft, clean surface, such as a towel, blanket or piece of cardboard. It is important to follow these instructions when moving a refrigerator to a new location: Before transporting: Turn the refrigerator to Off. If the refrigerator is going to be in transit for more than a day, you may want to place a small bag of activated charcoal (often used in fish tanks) or a box of baking soda in the refrigerator to absorb odors. Top Freezer and SxS models), it should stand upright for an equal amount of time as it was on its side before plugging it in. Disconnect the power cord from the wall. If it has been necessary to transport the refrigerator on its side (ex. When you’re starting out in a new home or renovating the kitchen in your current one, the time may come when you must figure out how to move a refrigerator. This will make installing the fridge and moving around the island easier as well as allow the French refrigerator doors to clear. For this two-person job, one person will position the dolly underneath the fridge and stay behind it with hands on handles, keeping it in place. STEP 5 Position yourselves so that one person is standing behind the dolly, holding it by both handles to guide the movement, and the other is standing in front of the doors, able to react quickly in case anything hasn’t been secured correctly and the fridge starts to slide or the doors begin to open. s.channel = "Service_Support"; STEP 3 Wrap two or more all-purpose bungee cords around the appliance like belts—one around the upper half and one around the lower half—to keep the doors closed when you move the refrigerator. It may not be necessary to remove the bottom hinges to move the refrigerator through a doorway. Remove all foods and clean the interior. s.events = "event16"; s.prop5 = s.prop4; If laying on its side just briefly to service, clean or adjust, just a few minutes of stand time will be enough. Secure loose items, such as the grille, shelves, storage pans, ice trays, ice storage bucket, etc. What’s more, you’ll want to avoid the spoilage that can easily occur if you leave food in an unplugged fridge. If the dolly has a ratchet mechanism (found on its back), use that to pull the strap tight and keep the fridge securely fastened to the dolly itself while it’s moving. Allow 6 to 8 hours for the interior to defrost completely; if you skip this step, you’ll run the risk of the fridge’s interior growing mold or even leaking all over the moving truck while in transit. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Our french door refrigerator is about 30 cubic feet, which is fairly large. To measure the depth, run a tape along the back wall to the front of the counters. If you have an older refrigerator, you may want to consider leaving it behind. Roll up the dolly (typically available for rent from reputable hardware stores for about $15 a day) and … If laying the refrigerator down cannot be avoided, here are some thing to consider depending on the type of refrigerator: Exception: SxS Built-In models should follow instructions for Built-Ins below. // Image call STEP 2 Unplug the refrigerator from the wall. For kitchens with islands, measure the depth, run how to move a french door refrigerator tape along the back wall to front., just a few minutes of stand time will be enough do n't forget to measure your doorways entry. Move or reno so everything ’ s ready to roll in the morning place during transport move reno... Just briefly to service, clean or adjust, just a few minutes stand... May not be necessary to remove the bottom hinges to move the refrigerator on its side just briefly to,... Front or rear as well to make sure everything stays firmly in place transport! 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