How to move a fridge freezer comes down to two things: get it empty and dry before the day, and keep it upright on the way. The cabinet is tough. The part that is easily damaged is the cooling system, the compressor and pipes at the back, and the oil inside it does not like being tipped. This guide covers what to do in the days before, how my crew and I move one on the day, and how long to wait before switching it on. It sits alongside our guide to moving a washing machine, because the two are usually the heaviest things in the kitchen.
Why fridge freezers get damaged in a move
The compressor contains oil. When a fridge freezer is tipped over, some of that oil can run into the pipes of the cooling circuit. If it is switched on before the oil has drained back, the compressor can run without enough of it. Moved upright and left to stand, a fridge freezer usually has no trouble at all. Water is the other problem. A freezer that has not been defrosted properly leaks all over the van, the boxes stacked next to it and the floor at the new house.
The days before the move
- Run the food down. Plan meals for the last couple of weeks around what is in the freezer. Frozen food rarely survives a full moving day anyway.
- Switch off and defrost. Most need to be off for a good number of hours to defrost fully, often overnight. Check your manual, and put towels and a tray down for the water.
- Clean and dry it. Wipe the inside dry and leave the doors slightly open so it does not smell when it is closed for the journey.
- Take out loose parts. Shelves, drawers and door racks either come out and are packed separately, or are taped firmly in place.
- Check the route. Measure the fridge freezer and the doorways, especially at the new house. Some doors need taking off their hinges to get through.
If you are packing the rest of the kitchen yourself, the packing materials guide covers what to buy.
How to move a fridge freezer on the day
Tape the doors shut with a tape that will not leave marks, or use a strap around the whole unit. Unplug it and tape the plug and cable to the back so they do not drag. Then move it upright, on a sack truck or appliance trolley, tilted back only as far as the trolley needs. Strap it to the trolley, protect the corners and the floor, and take stairs slowly with someone below.
In the van it should travel upright, strapped to the side so it cannot tip or slide, with nothing heavy stacked against the doors. Fridge freezers are tall and top heavy, and a sudden stop is when an unsecured one goes over.
Can you lay a fridge freezer down?
It is best not to. Manufacturers generally advise transporting fridges and freezers upright, and some say they must not be laid down at all. If it really cannot travel upright, check the manual first. Some allow it to be laid on one particular side, and laying it on the wrong side or on its back risks damage that standing it up afterwards may not undo. If you are hiring a small van and the fridge freezer will not stand up in it, that is a good reason to look at our guide to man and van or full removals before booking.
Letting it stand at the new house
Once it is in place, leave it standing before you switch it on, so any oil that has moved can drain back to the compressor. How long depends on the appliance and how it travelled, so follow the manual. If it stayed upright the whole way a short wait is usually enough. If it was tilted, or you are not sure how it travelled, wait longer. A few extra hours never hurts an appliance; switching on too early can.
When you do switch it on, let it reach temperature before you fill it, which can take several hours. Check the manual for the recommended settings, and leave space at the back and sides for air to circulate.
American style fridge freezers
Large side by side fridge freezers often have a water and ice dispenser plumbed in. The water supply needs isolating and disconnecting before the move, and reconnecting by someone competent at the other end. They are also wide enough that doors, handles or both may have to come off to get through a standard doorway. Mention one when you ask for a quote so the crew arrives with the right kit.
My crew and I move fridge freezers as part of house moves across Luton, Bedford and the rest of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Tell us about it at the quote and we will make sure it goes on the van the right way up.
Want this priced properly?
Send us the two postcodes and a rough idea of what is coming, and we will give you a fixed price in writing. No obligation, and no follow-up pestering if you decide to go elsewhere.