Advice on Moving Refrigerators to a New Home

For many people, how to move larger objects in a house is baffling. To avoid hurting yourself, consider the following advice on moving refrigerators.

Advice on Moving Refrigerators to a New Home

Moving large appliances can be extremely difficult. If you choose to try to move a household on your own (maybe with the help of a few friends, but without the benefit of a professional moving company), getting those heavy appliances out the door and into your new home can be nearly impossible. Washers, dryers, dishwashers, stoves and refrigerators all carry the same problems – their heavy weight and unwieldiness make them hard to move from place to place.

Never attempt to move something large, like a refrigerator, alone. Even if you have a dolly and other moving equipment, large pieces of furniture and appliances should always be moved by more than one person (preferably strong people in good shape). Remove all parts, such as handles and hinges, from the appliance – anything that could shake loose or fall off of the refrigerator could end up being dangerous. Carefully store all parts removed from the appliance in a separate box, labeled, so that you'll know where these pieces are when you arrive at your destination.

Fully thaw and defrost your refrigerator and freezer ahead of moving day. This may seem inconvenient, but you'll need to have your appliance thawed before you try to move it, to avoid any problems with melting ice and condensation. Clean your refrigerator as well; it's a lot easier to do this before you move the appliance than after you get it to it's destination. Dry interiors after cleaning. Pack your refrigerator and freezer with soft cloths, lightweight blankets or even stuffed animals – this will help to keep the appliance stable and free of damage, without adding a lot of weight