Moving home can be both exciting and stressful; simply because there is so much to consider! Like, how do I get all of my belongings into the new home or Brookhaven cabinets for storage?
Especially as the typical home has so many bulky appliances in it that you acquire over the years, it can seem like an almost impossible task!
Top of the ‘hard-to-move’ list has to be the fridge freezer. Unlike a DVD player, you can’t just grab a fridge-freezer under your arms!
Moving a fridge-freezer can be a nightmare because they are bulky, expensive, and need special handling so its operation and efficiency remain unscathed when it gets to your new home.
We’ve cracked the code to a successful fridge-freezer moving regardless of how far it’s travelling, and we’ll be sharing it with you in this article!
Prepare Your Fridge Freezer
It’s best to start preparing your freezer in anticipation of the “big moving day” some days before or at least a night before.
Start with turning off and removing all food items and groceries from the fridge-freezer.
You can create an eating plan weeks ahead that allows you to finish up perishable items, or get a cooler to store them with enough ice for the entire moving duration. It’s not ideal, yet otherwise, you may need to consider throwing away the left-overs or storing them in a relative’s fridge.
Then, you should also remove the trays, shelves, ice cube trays, and any other condiments. Even external features like stickers and fridge magnets should be removed.
Also, if your fridge-freezer has an ice dispenser or water filter, disconnect fridge hoses from the water supply and empty water lines to avoid leaks.
The goal is to ensure your fridge-freezer is complete as just a single unit, so weight shift is eradicated during movement.
Remember to stack well, wrap in a towel or bubble wrap, and label the glass shelves for protection.
Clean and Defrost
After clearing out all items from your fridge-freezer, you’ll need to clean and defrost to get rid of ice/frost build-up.
You don’t want ice/frost melting and leaking onto furniture or boxes during transport.
Defrosting can take up to 8 hours. That’s why it’s crucial you start preparation some days or at least a night before.
Another defrosting option is-an a hair dryer.
After all the ice or frost has melted, wipe down with a mixture of baking soda and warm water.
You can also add an absorbent like activated charcoal to prevent odour build-up during transportation.
Secure the Fridge-Freezer Door and Plug
Secure the fridge-freezer door shut using bungee cords, ropes, or tapes and if it’s more than a door you should tie them together. After all, you can’t fix it at home like your recliner.
You can also remove the door following the instruction manual and keep the screws in a ziplock bag.
Make sure to exercise caution while tying. Don’t make it too tight or you’ll risk a damaged or misaligned door. Then, use adhesive tapes with care to avoid indelible marks on your fridge-freezer surfaces.
Then, roll up the plug and clip it to your fridge-freezer’s back, and wrap the fridge-freezer in a blanket, or bubble wrap to absorb any potential shock or damage (such as dings and scratches) when moving it.
Remember to inspect your exit route for tight spots and draw up a plan on how to fit your fridge-freezer through. A measuring tape might come in handy for this.
You might also need to remove some doors so your fridge-freezer fits in, and also clear the moving path of any barrier so you have a clear shot of the moving truck.
The Big Move
Now that you’re prepared, it’s time to move your fridge-freezer!
Get Help, A Removal Dolly, And A Strap
Your fridge-freezer is bulky, so you’ll likely need the help of friends, family, or neighbours in moving the unit especially if you’re moving it downstairs.
It’s easier negotiating doors, corners, stairs, and loading into a truck when you get assistance from people. You need at least 2 people to move your fridge-freezer, or another option is to allow professional movers to do the moving for you.
Then, you should get or rent a dolly built for moving fridge-freezers with a suitable weight-load rating, and ensure the base is wide enough to keep the fridge-freezer upright so the coolant doesn’t leak.
The dolly might come with a strap to secure your fridge-freezer but if not you should get one.
Slide The Fridge-Freezer Out and Fasten It Onto The Dolly
Most fridge freezers are on wheels, so sliding it should be easy.
Should it not have any, you can also use furniture sliders. Lift the fridge-freezer slightly and place the furniture sliders under the back and push it from the front while guiding it. Then, it’s time to load on the dolly.
Let somebody lift the fridge-freezer slightly while another person slides the dolly underneath either of the sides to prevent damage or dent on the front.
You might also use towels or blankets to pad the space between the side of your fridge-freezer and dolly upright rails to reduce the potential of scratching.
Then use the strap to fasten your fridge freezer to the dolly.
Minimal tilting is required during these processes to avoid refrigerant oil in the compressor flowing into the heat exchange tubes which might reduce your fridge-freezer’s cooling efficiency.
Tilt Fridge-Freezer Back And Wheel With Care
Tilt your fridge-freezer steadily to not more than 45° and wheel it to the truck.
You should wheel in a direction opposite to the tilt direction for safety and you should have someone on the other side guiding you through barriers. If you’re going downstairs, have up to 2 people guiding the dolly down each successive step.
Load Your Fridge-Freezer On The Truck
Most moving trucks usually have a ramp which makes rolling the dolly up the truck bed easy, but if you’re loading your fridge-freezer directly, you need someone on the truck bed and two people on the ground.
The two people on the ground lift from the base while the person on the truck pulls with the handles.
It’s advisable to keep the fridge-freezer on the dolly so you don’t have to reload it when you get to the destination.
Ensure the fridge is upright-brace it with other bulky goods you’re moving or secure it to the truck with a bungee cord.
When I Get To My New Home
Let your fridge-freezer down slowly and secure it in its new space just as you moved it out. Then wait for at least 3 hours for the oil to flow back into the compressor before you plug it.
If you had it on its sides for some reason, keep it upright for twice the time it was on its sides before plugging.
It takes around 72 hours for your fridge-freezer to get back to its usable temperature.
After your move, if you’re looking to take the leap and purchase a new fridge freezer, make sure to shop around for the perfect model for your new home. Many stockists also offer clearance fridge freezers, should you be looking for a more friendly price after moving home!
