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Moving a fridge can be a huge headache. Not only are they big, bulky and expensive, especially the large French-door types, but you also need to treat them well along the way if you want them to work properly at your new abode. Cyclopentane Intermolecular Forces
Hopefully, you can call on professionals to do the heavy lifting for your next move. But if that's not an option, here's our handy guide to getting your fridge and freezer from A to B safely, without losing your cool.
Before you get started, consider whether your fridge is worth moving at all, and ensure it will fit into the allocated space in your new kitchen. If you think it's time to upgrade to a more energy efficient model, or you need a new fridge that's bigger or smaller than your current model, check CHOICE reviews to find the best fridges before you buy.
Unlike, say, a coffee table, you can't just grab your fridge or freezer and go. As well as consulting your user manual for model-specific tips, here's our comprehensive checklist of things to prep ahead of the move:
Try to clean before you move – you may be too tired afterwards, as moving can be exhausting.
If you're moving a fridge or freezer into your new home, it's best to turn it off 24 hours before. This gives the fridge's evaporator time to defrost, which reduces the risk of any damage during the move.
It also lets the oils and fluids inside settle and stops them moving through the compressor.
If you're transferring your unit into storage instead, turn it off a week before to give it ample time to dry out – this, plus a good clean, will prevent a mouldy surprise greeting you when you open it months later.
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Fridges and freezers can be heavy and cumbersome, so never tackle this task lightly. Hopefully, you'll have an A-team of experienced removalists to do it, but if not, ask a strong friend or two to help you load it, clear obstacles and assist with steering, which can be difficult on stairs or sloping ground.
When carrying a fridge or freezer on a trolley, try not to tip it back more than 45 degrees
To move your fridge or freezer, you'll need a moving trolley or dolly (essentially, a platform with wheels, which you can buy or rent) with a suitable weight-load rating to avoid damaging your floors. The best trolleys come with a ratchet strap to secure the unit and multiple jockey wheels to take on stairs.
If you're using a trolley, our fridge expert Ashley Iredale recommends checking the base of the fridge first to find the strongest lifting point.
CHOICE fridge expert Ashley Iredale.
"It will depend on the model, but it may be better going from the side, not the back," says Ashley. "On some units, there's often not a lot of material at the rear base of a fridge and you could risk bending it. Sides are often sturdier, but make sure you use padding so you don't scratch the surface."
When carrying a fridge or freezer on a trolley, try not to tip it back more than 45 degrees. "Keeping the fridge upright keeps the internal refrigerant in the right place," says Ashley.
"If you lean it over too far or lie it down, you're going to have to wait a while for the refrigerant to get back to where it belongs before turning it on."
If you're using a ute or trailer and the weather's looking iffy, use a tarp cover to keep it dry.
Freezer on bottom. Small (335L). Priced at $1099.
Freezer on bottom. Medium (420L). Priced at $1299.
French door. Extra large (681L). Priced at $4649.
French door. Large (519L). Priced at $2199.
If a fridge is tilted or laid down, it needs time to settle before you can switch it back on.
Fridges and freezers are best transported upright to keep the cooling refrigerant in its right place.
But this isn't always possible, so you may need to lie it down, which requires some extra considerations at your destination. With a lot of padding underneath, lie your fridge or upright freezer down and secure it with straps so it can't move during transit.
"Whether it's best lying on its back or side will depend on the specific model and style," says Ashley. "If you're lying a fridge on its side, put it with the hinge side at the top, as gravity will make it spring open the other way.
"If your unit's got an external heat exchanger on the back, then on its side might be best. But provided the back is flat and clear, then lying it on its back is probably safest."
For a big fridge with French doors, it may not be practical to lay it on its side, as these fridges tend to be wider than they are deep, meaning they could fall or their doors could swing open.
Read more: Fridges to avoid buying
Check your fridge manual for the safest time to restock it.
If your fridge or upright freezer was transported standing up, Ashley says you can turn it on straight away.
But if it took a trip on its back or side, you need to give it time to stand up and let the refrigerant settle. If you don't do this, you risk damaging your fridge.
"How long you should wait before turning your fridge on again will vary from model to model, so it's best to check your manual or ask the manufacturer," says Ashley.
You'll also need to check the manual to find out how long you should wait before restocking the fridge with food. Usually it's about 24 hours, but you should follow whatever your manual says.
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