How to move a refrigerator the smart way !

When you are moving it is a big challenge to figure out how to handle a refrigerator in all its cumbersome glory. Luckily, we at Intermove located in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, can help you that you that pack properly, transport it physically to a truck or trailer, and eventually send your beloved fridge to your destination. Please read these Intermove instructions carefully, and you will not have a back pain like us until we have learned the proper relocation procedure for the refrigerators, which we are pleased to present to you here.

Refrigerators are big, bulky, unwieldy, slips and expensive. Therefore the recommendet way to move a refrigerator safely is very important, since handling comes with a lot of risk both to the appliance and, more importantly, to you. If you’ve got the time and the budget, the best way for secure handling a refrigerators is getting a professional moving company to pack up and transport your refrigerator for you. But if you are going to do it yourself below advices can be a great help to you as we at Intermove located in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Hercegovina, are going to advice you how to move a refrigerator from your old home to your new one, including how to pack it, and how to carry it accordingly.

Providing the right supplies !

If you have the difficult task to relocate your refrigerator by yourself and you are not a weightlifter then you’ll need a couple of items on hand to help you do it:

  1. Packing tape
    1. Moving blankets
    1. Moving straps or bungee cords (multiple sets)
    1. Appliance dolly

Another important resource that you’re going to need on hand here is a second set of hands. Due to the size and weight of refrigerators, they can be incredibly dangerous to move on your own so you have to be extra careful. Have a friend, family member, or hired helper come assist you both when you’re moving the fridge out of your old home and when you’re moving it into your new one. Note to use kind and gentle words for them and to promise them hills and valleys to soften them, because you need them very much and they don,t need you at all, so use any means necessery because it is a dangerous and difficult task and you need all the help that you can get..

Importance of measurement of your doorways !

For accordingly moving a refridgerator you need to figure out what your route is going to have to be by measuring the length, width, and depth of your fridge and comparing it to the length and width of your doorways, because otherwise you can stuck and you will be helpless. The possibility to avoid that problem is to take alternative route for loading—such as taking your refrigerator outside through sliding back doors—and you’ll save yourself a lot of time later by figuring this out early on. Keep in mind that you may have to remove doors from their hinges in order to get the fridge to fit through them. Si, it is important to approach to the move in a smart and calculated way.

Clean and defrost fridge 24 hours before relocation !

Unlike many other appliances, you can’t just unplug your fridge and go. It is not as simple as that.

Refrigerators need to be adequately defrost first, otherwise you’re going to end up with a slippery disaster. Also, you’ll want to make sure that it’s completely and thoroughly cleaned out since once the power is off there’s your items inside can start rotting.

First of all you can start by cleaning out the fridge and freezer. You can’t donate perishables, nor can you move them at room temperature, so your options are to eat what’s in there and then either toss the rest or pack it into a cooler with ice, provided you’re not moving very far. But beware, your stomach is not a bag that should help keep your fridge empty.

Once your refrigerator is completely empty, then you can start with cleaning. The best way to do that is to wipe down all surfaces with disinfectant, removing drawers and shelves as needed to get as deep of a clean as possible. If there are any unruly odors, clean surfaces with baking soda and vinegar, which should help remove them.

At the end you should defrost your fridge. Look in your owner’s manual for exact directions on how to do this. If you don’t have the manual on hand, you should be able to find it online. Generally, defrosting a refrigerator requires that you unplug it and disconnect the ice and water lines. Keep a few towels out for wiping off any puddles that form while the fridge is defrosting, as well as a hair dryer for getting rid of any stubborn patches of ice in the freezer. You want your fridge to be as dry as possible when it’s time to move. So, arm yourself with patience and a pile of towels as defrosting requires time at hand.

Pack your refrigerator !

How to move a refrigerator is determinated on the best way to pack it up for transport. Not taking proper care when it comes to packing your refrigerator can lead to safety concerns and damage while transporting it either on hands or by truck. Therefore, you must be familiar with the proper packaging procedure to avoid any unintended consequences that can be numerous if you are not careful.

You should start by carefully coiling any power cords and/or lines and securing them close to the fridge with packing tape. If you don’t want to put tape directly on the cords themselves, wrap them in a layer of plastic wrap first and then apply the tape.

After that you should use packing tape to seal the doors shut. Then wrap moving blankets around your entire refrigerator and secure them in place with moving straps or bungees—one toward the top of the fridge and one toward the bottom of it.

Preparing the fridge for transport !

From this point you should have your appliance dolly and your helper with you close at hand, and carefully slide the unit out so you can get around it on all sides. Slide the dolly under the refrigerator from the side, being sure not to snag it on any part of the moving blanket. Then slowly maneuver it up onto the base of the dolly until it’s standing upright.

Take your other set of moving straps or bungee cords and use them to secure the fridge to the dolly. Since weight can easily shift when you’re moving your refrigerator to the truck, it’s important that it is secured on the dolly as as firm as possible to prevent it from tipping over and make a mess.

Moving your refrigerator up or down stairs !

When you encounter stairs when moving your frdge it is of most importance not to panic, it is not as difficult a task as it seems, belive us at Intermove.The key thing  here is to go slow, and to follow Intermove advices for getting a refrigerator up or down stairs. We figure the best way to move it because of our long business experience where we move hundreds and hundreds of fridges.

Note that you should keep the refrigerator on the dolly and have one person go in front while one holds on to the dolly from the back side. Tilt the dolly so that the fridge is resting at a 45-degree angle toward the person in the back, then very slowly go up or down the stairs one step at a time, with the person in front serving as a guide and helping distribute some of the weight. Don’t try to lift the dolly—instead, push or pull it carefully and gently in a secure way. Slow and steady wins the race here, so take as much time as you need to get where you need to go safely. It is not a rush, especially with big items such is the fridges.

Loading and Unloading !

For loading and unloading purposes you should use a ramp. It is the harmless way to handle it to a relocation truck. Don’t try to lift the fridge on or off the truck, since even a small slip up can result in you dropping it and maybe harm yourself and put a damage to your appliance. The fridge is hevy and very slippery so the lifting is not an option.

If you can, keep the fridge on the dolly for the entire transport. Just check first to ensure that the moving straps securing the refrigerator to the dolly are still in place and that they’re tight and strong.

Setting up at destination !

Once you are arrived at your destination  you will need to be sure to set it back up properly in your new home. Look in your owner’s manual to see if there are any tips around how long you have to wait to reconnect the fridge, as you may have to hold off for a few hours, especially if you transported the fridge on its side. Look up as well how long you have to wait between reconnecting your fridge and storing food in it—usually there’s about a one to three day lag before it’s able to safely store food products. Consult the manual and you will be sure about setting your food chest correctl

Proffesional assistance !

A professional moving company, such as Intermove Bosnia is, may be your best bet if you have any concerns about packing and transporting your refrigerator. We at Intermove have relocated so many refrigerators that we know the best and most optimal way to get the job done professionally.

So, frost on dear friends.

Comments: 7

Leave a comment