How to prepare your washer for a move

Washers and dryers aren’t easy to transport. In addition to being very heavy, they require special care to avoid damage.

What’s the best way to move a washing machine?

The best way to move a washing machine is to hire experienced movers with experience in moving all types of household appliances, because experience alone plays a major role in the moving industry. Therefore using the services of a top-notch moving company should indicate zero stress for you and absolute safety for your device and your home.

What else do you need to move a washing machine?

What to do before moving a washing machine?

It doesn’t matter if your washing machine is a front-loading model or a top-loading model, there are a number of things you need to do to prepare for the steps for moving a washing machine from house to house.

Pay close attention to these preparation steps because they are really important. Skipping a single task will certainly make things more difficult for you, and may even make the entire washing machine transport impossible.

Consult your washing machine’s instruction manual

Check to see if you kept the owner’s manual for your washing machine. You will need it to consult the manufacturer’s recommendations when transporting the washing machine.

If you can’t find it, do a research on your washing machine brand, model, and the word “manual” at the end. If that also fails, contact the store from which you purchased it and ask for their help.

Keep in mind that consulting the owner’s manual is a greatly recommended step, yet it is not something you must absolutely do to move your washing machine successfully.

Empty your washer.

Take all the clothes out of your washing machine.

Clean the drum and the drain pipes.

Clean the drum and drains of any detergent residue by performing the shortest normal wash cycle (water only, do not use any detergent) or by running the specialized cleaning cycle found on most washing machines. Then leave the washing machine door open for at least 24 hours so the drum can dry completely.

Turn off the power.

Remember to always turn off the power to household appliances before handling them to avoid any risk of electric shock. Follow the power cord of your device and unplug it from the wall outlet to disconnect it from the electrical network.

Unplug your washing machine before moving it.

Turn off the water supply.

Locate the local water valve – usually located behind the washing machine – and turn it clockwise (in the usual direction) to shut off the water supply. In some cases, you may need to move the washer a bit to access the water valve. Be careful not to loosen any of the wires if you need more room to reach the water supply valve.

Drain the water supply hoses.

How to drain a washing machine to get around? It makes sense that water will remain in the pipes even after the washer has completed it’s cleaning cycle.

To drain water from a washing machine, use the slip joint pliers to disconnect the hot and cold water supply hoses (for washer models where the water is NOT heated inside or the cold water supply pipe where the water is heated).

As you disconnect a supply hose from a valve, keep that hose upright to prevent unnecessary water spillage, and then empty it into the container you have prepared in advance. Be sure to disengage and empty the hoses one at a time.

Remove the water supply hoses.

Use the pliers again to release the cold water inlet hose or the hot and cold water supply hoses from the washing machine. Place the hose (s) in a plastic bag, seal it with duct tape and pack it separately in a cardboard box. Label the box WASHER ACCESSORIES.

Empty the drain hose.

Disconnect the washer drain hose from the hose outlet that leads to the wastewater channel, if applicable, then empty the remaining water into the bucket. Keep the washer drain hose attached to the appliance, clip it to its own bracket, or secure it securely to the back of the appliance.

Place the transport bolts.

Remember, you should not move a washing machine without the shipping bolts. As explained above, your washing machine’s drum hanging mechanism is quite sensitive and can easily break during transport unless it is properly stabilized and immobilized. To do this, you usually need to insert the shipping bolts into the back of the washing machine, securing the washer drum.

However, the exact method of inserting the washer lock bolts varies from model to model and that is why it is very important to consult the owner’s manual for your appliance. If you are not sure how to do this or if you still do not have the shipping bolts, seek professional assistance instead of risking damage to your expensive device.

Secure the power cord.

Secure the power cable to the back of the unit with a piece of tape. This action will eliminate the risk of tripping over a tilting cable on moving day.

 

PREPARE YOUR DRYER FOR THE MOVE

Unplug your dryer.

You must unplug your dryer from the outlet and make sure all hoses are disconnected from the appliance. For dryers using gas, you will need to turn off the gas supply first. Also open a window to keep the area well ventilated. Once these two steps have been carried out, you can then disconnect the gas pipe. The easiest place to store hoses is inside the dryer. Otherwise, you can paste them on the device. You should also glue the electrical wire, as you don’t want a cord hanging down causing you to trip over while you move the dryer.

Clean it

Now is a great time to clean your dryer before you move. Wipe the inside with a damp cloth and a little mild soap to help remove any remaining suds and residue. If possible, you should leave the dryer door open for at least 24 hours to ventilate it and prevent mold from forming in the appliance.

 

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