How To Move a Refrigerator in 7 Steps
You use it daily, but when was the last time you had to move your fridge? It’s one of the heaviest appliances in any home. One wrong move can leave you with a dented appliance, damaged flooring, or an injured back. Knowing how to move a refrigerator properly protects both the appliance and those carrying it.
For complex moves involving stairs or tight spaces, professional movers are the best option when relocating a fridge. But with the right equipment and at least one helper, you can do it yourself. This guide tells you everything you need to know about how to transport a fridge safely.
What To Know Before Moving a Refrigerator
Moving heavy appliances like refrigerators require significant prep work. It’s important to understand your space. Apartment dwellers encounter challenges that residents in a single family home can typically avoid, such as shared stairwells, narrow apartment doors, and elevators. Understanding the fridge and your home or apartment keeps you from getting stuck.
Weight, Transport Position, and Wait Time
Many modern refrigerators weigh between 200 and 400 pounds, while some larger French-door and built-in models can exceed 500 pounds. You can’t lift a fridge solo, so find a few people to help you.
Once you have your crew, find the best way to position yourselves. Keep the fridge upright whenever possible, and tilt it no more than 45 degrees on a dolly. If you must transport a refrigerator on its side, consult the owner’s manual first. Manufacturers often recommend a specific side based on the appliance’s compressor and refrigerant line configuration.
When you arrive at your destination, wait before powering up the fridge. Leave your unit upright for three to four hours, or at least eight hours if the fridge was on its side at any point. This wait period allows the compressor oil time to settle into place.
Stairs, Tight Spaces, and Apartment Access
Measure every doorway, hallway, and corner before the big day, because a refrigerator may clear the kitchen but still wind up stuck in a stairwell landing. If your apartment building has an elevator, reserve it for moving day.
Navigating stairs is always risky, but moving a heavy appliance makes it even more precarious. A good rule of thumb is to keep your strongest helper at the bottom to carry more of the weight—they’ll set the pace all the way down.
Lifting a refrigerator up a flight of stairs tends to be the riskiest part of any DIY move, and it’s the main reason why people bring along help. It’s also the reason why so many rely on professional movers.
This is the kind of job College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving handles daily. The crew arrives with the right equipment, ready to take the stress out of moving.
Tools and Supplies Needed
Using the right equipment makes lifting easier and safer. Gather the items below before you begin working:
- Appliance dolly: Carries the weight for you and provides greater control on flat ground, ramps, and corners
- Moving straps: Secures the fridge to the dolly and anchor it inside the truck to prevent shifting or tumbling
- Tape measure: Helps with sizing up the refrigerator and each doorway, hallway, and stairwell along your route
- Moving blankets: Wraps around the entire fridge to prevent scratches, dents, and scuffs to the walls
- Furniture sliders: Helps guide the refrigerator out of its cutout without scratching hardwood or tile
- Bungee cord, zip ties, or plastic wrap: Secures the doors and bundles the power cord and water line
- Screwdriver: For removing the doors or handles to ensure the fridge fits through doorways
- Cooler with ice: Stores any food still left in the refrigerator
How To Move a Refrigerator: 7 Steps
Once you’ve gathered your supplies, follow these steps to prepare, move, and reconnect your refrigerator safely.
1. Measure the Fridge and House Doorways
Measure the height, width, and depth of the fridge, handles included. Then, walk the path you intend to follow, measuring each doorway, hallway, stairwell, and the truck opening itself, and compare those measurements. If the refrigerator is wider than a doorway, consult the owner’s manual to remove the doors.
2. Empty the Fridge
Don’t try to lift and transport your refrigerator with anything inside. Clear out all the food, toss anything that’s expired, and move what you’re keeping into an ice-filled cooler. Once that’s done, wipe down the interior.
3. Disconnect the Fridge
If you purchased furniture sliders, now’s the time to use them. Gently slide the refrigerator forward, unplug it, and disconnect the water line. Clean up anything that drips. It’s often best to leave the fridge sitting for a few hours to allow the freezer time to defrost—unplugging it the night before allows it to dry out completely. Once the refrigerator is unplugged and dry, tape the power cord securely to the back of the unit to prevent damage during transport.
4. Secure or Remove the Doors
Whether you need to remove the doors or not, you want them secure before transport. You can use bungee cords, zip ties, or wrap the entire unit in plastic to prevent the doors from popping open mid-transit. If you must remove the doors, remember to bag the hardware and tape it to the unit.
5. Protect the Floors and Doors
Consider laying down cardboard, plywood, or floor protection sheets to help prevent scratches on your flooring. Furniture sliders can provide additional protection when moving the refrigerator into position.
6. Load the Fridge Onto the Dolly
With the help of at least one other person, tilt the fridge gently to one side, then slide the dolly beneath. You want to avoid tipping the unit forward onto the dolly, which can lead to damage. Once the fridge is centered on the dolly’s tow lip, strap it down snugly. Moving a fridge with a dolly offers greater control and leverage that you can’t achieve by hand.
7. Secure and Transport
Tilt the loaded dolly back slightly, no more than 45 degrees, and roll it slowly toward the truck. One person should guide the move while the other controls the dolly. Once you reach the truck, move it up to the ramp or lift gate, stand it upright against a side wall, and secure it. Moving a refrigerator with straps anchored to the truck rails to help prevent tipping during transport.
Need Help Moving a Refrigerator?
It’s entirely possible to move a refrigerator without damage. It comes down to preparation, the right equipment, and plenty of patience.
But some moves present extra challenges. Narrow stairwells, apartment buildings, tight corners, and heavy appliances can quickly turn a simple move into a difficult one. If you’d rather avoid the heavy lifting, College HUNKS can help. Our professional movers have the tools and experience necessary to move your fridge to a new home or storage unit.
Contact College HUNKS today for a free estimate and learn how we can make your next move easier.
FAQ
Can You Lay a Refrigerator Down To Move It?
Whenever possible, keep the refrigerator upright. If laying it down is unavoidable, consult the manual first, as manufacturers often recommend a specific side based on the appliance’s design. Once you arrive, stand it upright and let it sit for at least 8 hours before restarting the appliance.
How Much Time Should You Wait Before Restarting the Fridge?
If the fridge remains upright during transport, it needs three to four hours of rest before being plugged in. If you keep it on its side, leave it for at least eight hours. After that, wait a few hours for it to get cold before you restock food.
Is It Possible To Move a Refrigerator Without a Dolly?
You can move your refrigerator out of its cutout or short distances without one, but you shouldn’t transport a fridge that way. A dolly provides leverage and control over a heavy load, and foregoing one increases the risk of injury and damage. If you’re renting a truck, many rental companies will provide an appliance dolly if you ask.
What’s the Best Way To Move a Refrigerator?
If you’re planning to move a refrigerator yourself, having one or two helpers can make the job safer and easier. From there, take your time and bring along the proper equipment. Otherwise, calling in a professional crew is the easiest and safest option. They’re highly trained and equipped to move heavy appliances.