Get the cold, hard facts that’ll keep you and your fridge safe
Moving a fridge safely requires at least one helper to steady the appliance and navigate tight spaces, preventing personal injury and property damage.
You should disconnect your fridge from power and water lines 24 hours before moving to allow full defrosting, drying, and fluid settling.
Keep your fridge tilted at less than a 45-degree angle during transport to maintain balance and protect the internal cooling system from damage.
Hiring a local moving company provides reliable help with heavy lifting and maneuvering your refrigerator through doorways, stairs, and tight spaces safely.
Whether you're moving your fridge to a whole new location or simply need to access the space behind it, you'll want to move it safely. A refrigerator weighs hundreds of pounds, and taking precautions will help protect you from harm and prevent damage to your appliance and home. Follow these twelve tips on how to move a refrigerator before you set out to do it yourself.
Use a tape measure to record your refrigerator’s height, width, and depth. It needs to fit through all hallways and doorways on its route. If you’re moving it from one home to another, check the measurements in both locations. Clear furniture and decor out of the fridge’s route.
You may discover that you need to remove one of your home’s exterior doors to fit the fridge through an entry. In some cases, you’ll need to remove the refrigerator doors.
Never move a fridge alone. Having at least one other person to help steady the fridge and maneuver it through tight spaces will drastically reduce your chances of personal injury or damage to your property.
Disconnect the fridge from power, which starts the defrosting process. You should also disconnect any water lines. Have a towel handy to soak up water that leaks onto the floor as the ice thaws. Wait 24 hours after disconnecting the fridge to move it. This allows it to fully defrost and dry and for fluids and oil to settle.
Move any food you plan to save into an ice-packed cooler and dispose of the rest. While the fridge defrosts, air it out and clean the fridge thoroughly. Scrub away stuck-on food debris, use a disinfectant solution on all surfaces, and dry the interior completely. This will help prevent odors caused by rot or mildew. Deodorize with baking soda or activated charcoal if needed.
Take out all removable shelves and bins and pack them separately to avoid damage during the move. Roll up the power cord and water line and tape them securely to the side of the fridge so that they don't drag or get caught on anything. If you’re removing the refrigerator doors, safely pack them and carefully store all mounting hardware.
Prepare your fridge for the move by taping the doors securely closed and covering the fridge with a moving blanket or packing material. This protects both the appliance and your walls. If you’re sliding the fridge out from a wall, tilt it very slightly so that you can lay a floor protector, flattened timber, or felt furniture sliders underneath. This will help the fridge slide smoothly and prevent damage to your floors.
A hand truck is the ideal tool for moving a fridge through a home and onto a moving truck. You can also use a furniture dolly if a hand truck is unavailable. If you’re using a dolly, have one person tilt the fridge slightly while the other slides the base of the dolly under it. Tighten straps around the fridge to secure it to whichever tool you use.
As you maneuver the fridge on its path, move slowly and keep it tilted at less than a 45-degree angle to help it stay balanced. Take any stairs one at a time, and make sure one person is below the fridge to help guide it up or down. If you’re moving the fridge on an incline, walk backward and pull the fridge.
Laying a fridge on its front or back can damage its internal cooling system and cause oil or refrigerant to settle in the wrong places. The best way to transport a fridge is upright in a vehicle that's tall enough to accommodate it. If you have no choice but to lay it down, do so on its side opposite from where the compressor lines are.
The best vehicle for fridge transport is a truck with tall walls that you can strap the fridge to for support. Leave it strapped to the hand truck or dolly to make it easier to unload.
After you get the fridge to its new location, leave it unplugged for about 12 hours to allow all fluids in the system to settle properly. If you transported it on its side, allow at least 24 hours.
It's important to move heavy furniture safely to avoid personal injury or property damage. The safest option is to hire professional movers with the right tools, equipment, and experience to move heavy furniture efficiently.
Moving a fridge can be a demanding task, and you may lack the time, tools, strength, or desire to do it safely on your own. You can hire local movers to handle the job for you. Compare quotes and hire a well-reviewed company that has experience with moving refrigerators.
Showed up on time and cleaned carpets well, but didn?t move furniture.
Voda Cleaning & Restoration of ColumbusA reliable team for moves across state. My switch to a new place needed careful lifting through tight hallways. The movers checked the doorway first, then carried heavier pieces with slow, controlled movements. Their patience helped prevent damage, and I?d choose them again.
**Would rate a 0 if i could** NEVER USE THIS COMPANY!!!!! They shattered my tv console and dresser, lost a mirror, and never finished the move. The broken furniture cost me over $600 to replace. They left me with 6+ hours of personal labor moving my 1BR apartment, when I was quoted a FULL...
All My Sons Moving & StorageI could not have moved without the help of Jen Stover! I was in my house for nearly 20 years, so the thought of clearing it out while working full time was overwhelming. Jen takes great joy in sorting and organizing while asking the hard questions with patience and compassion. Jen is...
Go and Stow Home OrganizingExcellent experience for me! They helped me a lot with my move. very reasonable price. Good communication with the office manager is excellent.
Goodview Moving and StorageI was concerned about my possessions safety throughout the move but Bridge View Van Lines took all necessary security measures to make sure everything arrived in mint shape I am really appreciative of their effort and commitment They made my long distance move seem simple
Bridgeview Van LinesThis moving company is the best in Columbus, Ohio! They rescued me when my movers didnâ t show up. Do not ever use Plane Movers! They never showed up for my move, claiming that I never signed the contract. They didnâ t call me to follow up, communication was awful. The people that work for...
All My Sons Moving & StorageOzie and Tyquese were great and worked fast. It was a good move
All My Sons Moving & StorageJust moved from PA to Columbus in a studio apartment and needed help with some heavy furnitures because I couldn't do it alone. I called Hyremovers and they did a great and timely job and also left my apartment walls intact. Great service!
I will forever recommend Moving Head Services. The guys that came out for us were incredibly professional, they finished faster than expected, and were very pleasant.
Moving Ahead Services, LLCFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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