Have you ever tried to move a fridge on your own? It’s not as easy as it looks! Plus, if you don’t do it right, you could end up damaging your fridge or worse, injuring yourself. However, with a little planning and the right mix of brute strength and finesse, you can get that fridge moved into your new home without any issues. Check out our tips below on how to move a fridge safely and easily to make your next move a breeze.
1. Plan Ahead
Planning is the key to any successful move, and that includes measuring the dimensions of your fridge to see if it will actually fit through the doorways and stairwells in your new house. If you’re moving a large fridge, it’s likely that it won’t fit through some of the standard doorways and stairwells in a home.
Here are the standard refrigerator sizes to save you some time with the measurement:
Bottom Freezer Refrigerators
- Width: From 29-1/2 inches to 32-3/4 inches
- Height: From 67 to 70 inches
- Depth: Around 33-3/8 inches
French Door Refrigerators
- Width: From 29-1/2 to 36 inches
- Height: From 67 to 70-1/8 inches
- Depth: From 29-3/8 to 34-5/8 inches
Side by Side Refrigerators
- Width: From 32-3/4 to 39-3/4 inches
- Height: From 65-7/8 to 71-1/4 inches
- Depth: From 28-3/4 to 30-1/4 inches
Top-Freezer Refrigerators
- Width: From 28-3/4 to 32-3/4 inches
- Height: 61-3/4 to 66-1/4 inches
- Depth: Around 34-1/4 inches
You will also need the following:
- Tape measure
- Permanent marker
- Furniture dolly
- Hand truck (optional)
- Cardboard (optional)
- Assistance from at least two people.
Now that we know the standard refrigerator sizes, it’s important to know how to measure your fridge. Clear the items inside of your fridge and use a tape measure to get its measurement. Cross-check the width, height, and depth of your fridge with the standard refrigerator sizes to see if it will fit through the doorways and stairwells in your new house.
2. Prepare the Fridge for Transport
Once you have everything cleared out of your fridge, it’s time to get it ready for transport. First, you’ll want to defrost your freezer and clean it out. This will help reduce the amount of ice that builds up during transport and can cause damage to your fridge.
Once your freezer is defrosted, unplug your fridge and clean it out completely. Be sure to wipe down the inside and outside of the fridge to remove any dirt or food particles that could attract pests during transport.
Next, you’ll need to secure any loose items in your fridge, like shelves or drawers. This will prevent them from moving around and becoming damaged during transport. You can do this by taping them in place or using zip ties.
3. Get Help Moving The Fridge
Unless you’re a professional mover, it’s best not to try and move a fridge on your own. Not only is it extremely heavy, but it’s also a cumbersome appliance to maneuver. It’s best to have at least two people helping you move the fridge so that you can avoid injuring yourself or damaging the appliance.
“If you don’t move the fridge right, you could end up damaging your fridge or worse, injuring yourself.”
You can either use a dolly or furniture sliders to help move the fridge. If you’re using a dolly, be sure to place a piece of plywood or cardboard on the dolly to prevent the fridge from scratching the surface. And if you’re using furniture sliders, make sure to apply some pressure to the fridge before sliding it so that it doesn’t move around on the sliders.
The vehicle should be positioned, so the tailgate is closest to the house for ease of loading. You’ll want to slide the fridge onto the tailgate and then gently lower it into the back of the truck or SUV. Once it’s in the vehicle, be sure to strap it down so it doesn’t move around during transport.
4. Transport The Fridge Safely
Now it’s time to transport your fridge to your new home. Again, you’ll want to have at least two people helping you, and you should try to avoid any sharp turns or sudden stops. If possible, try to keep the fridge on an even surface so that it doesn’t move around.
5. Unload The Fridge At The New House
Once you’ve arrived at your new house, it’s time to unload the fridge. You’ll want to have someone help you remove it from the vehicle and carry it into the house. Be sure to avoid any sudden movements or drops, as they could damage the fridge.
If you’re not able to carry the fridge into the house, you can use a ramp to slowly roll it into the house. Just be sure that the ramp is stable and won’t collapse under the weight of the fridge.
6. Plug In The Fridge and Test It Out
Once the fridge is in its new home, you can start to plug it back in. First, connect the power cord to the outlet and then turn on the fridge. Then, if your fridge is plumbed in, you can reattach the water line.
After everything is hooked up, open the doors and check to see if the fridge is cooling properly. If it’s not, you may need to adjust the temperature settings.
7. Clean The Fridge
Now that your fridge is in its new home, it’s time to give it a good cleaning. Be sure to remove all of the food from the fridge and wipe down the inside and outside the appliance. This will help to remove any dirt, dust, or grime that may have accumulated during the move.
Final Thoughts
Moving a refrigerator can be daunting, but with a little bit of planning and preparation, it can be an easy process. By following these simple steps you can move your fridge safely and easily to your new home. Have you moved a fridge before? What tips would you add to this list?