Transporting a refrigerator is a delicate step in a move! Whether you are moving alone or have called in a professional, you will need to take some precautions to avoid damaging your freezer.
Before considering transporting your refrigerator to your new home, you will need to make sure that its dimensions are suitable for your new kitchen. If your refrigerator does not fit the dimensions of the location of your new home, it would be best to get rid of it before moving. Then, find an appliance store near your new home, in order to get a new refrigerator.
Your refrigerator should be unplugged at least 24 hours before moving.
Many people are unaware of the precautions to take when transporting a refrigerating appliance: refrigerator, freezer, combined, American fridge, etc.
No need to mention that it is a bad surprise when the device is reconnected and it is found that it no longer works correctly or not at all!
2 errors are largely done :
How do I prepare my refrigerator or freezer for the move?
Preparing your fridge or freezer is absolutely necessary. This can be done a few days before or on the day of the move, if you allow yourself enough time. Preparing it in advance is definitely preferable.
We recommend that you unplug the refrigerator at least 6 hours before the move, so that the appliance stabilizes at the electrical level.
Empty the refrigerator
Before moving your refrigerator, it is obligatory to empty it. Obviously, it will be lighter to move and it will also be safer. Make sure there is no food, ice cubes, condiments, or anything else that might get around inside during the move.
If your move is a short distance, you still need to empty everything, but obviously you can keep your items in a cooler and put them back after the move is complete.
Remove all shelves and drawers
You should remove any components that might move inside the fridge. This includes drawers, shelves, racks, dividers / organizers, etc. You should wrap glass shelves in napkins or bubble wrap to protect them and make sure you identify them properly.
Unplug the fridge
When unplugging the fridge, be sure to pack the cable securely. It would be better to place it in the fridge so that it does not fall out during the move. If your fridge makes it’s own ice cream, you need to remove the water hose as well.
Thaw your freezer if needed.
If ice has accumulated in the freezer, you must make sure to thaw it out at least 24 hours before moving.
Normally it can take up 6-8 hours. You can do this the night before the move and wipe down your freezer well in the morning.
If you are in a hurry or there is a lot of frost and you are worried about overflows, you can speed up the defrost. For example, by placing a pot of hot water inside the appliance.
Once the freezer has been defrosted, clean it thoroughly and wipe it dry for transport.
Secure the doors
Once you have completed the steps above, you should make sure that the doors of your refrigerator are secure. You can do this with a bungee cord or a strong rope. If there is more than one door, tie them together as well. Make sure you don’t over-tighten, as you don’t want to damage or misalign your doors!
And here you go! Your refrigerator is ready to be taken aboard, heading for your new home!
Transporting a refrigerator horizontally or vertically?
Moving a refrigerator upright is most recommended in order to not damage it. If you have a moving truck, place the refrigerator upright and secure it with heavier furniture. This way, it will not move during the bumps of the road (turns, speed bumps, braking …)! Use blankets to protect the surface from scratches as well.
★ Once at your destination, as a precaution, always let the refrigerator rest for at least 24/48 hours before plugging it in. This will allow any oil that may have entered the circuit to slowly drain back to its place and avoid electric shock.
If you plug it in too soon, its motor (the compressor) will compress and push the oil contained in the compressor into the circuit which will generate a plug. This phenomenon is sometimes called a “blocked circuit”.
The expertise of a technician will then be mandatory to flush the circuit and this operation is expensive!
There you go, now you know everything there is to know about transporting your refrigerator.
And don’t forget to wait between 24- 48 hours before putting your fridge back in use : 2 precautions are better than one!
Washers and dryers aren’t easy to transport. In addition to being very heavy, they require special care to avoid damage.
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.
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.
Take all the clothes out of your washing machine.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Organizing a move can be a lot more tedious than you think! Do not wait for Day X to prepare your business or do your administrative procedures! Indeed, for optimal comfort, before, during and after, it is often recommended to prepare a move 2 or 3 months in advance. To get started, you can first write a checklist and review it throughout the project.
Estimate the desired period to prepare your move. The first preparations begin about three months before the day. Contact your mover; Déménagement Bon Avenir Inc. and request a personalized quote, as well as tailor-made support to better define your needs according to the services presented.
Start preparing your boxes and take the opportunity to do a little sorting. Don’t hesitate to give, sell or throw away. In the event that you are more conservative, consider a storage solution, such as renting a storage unit.
From 2 months before the deadline, preparing a move requires carrying out the first administrative procedures. If you are a tenant: you must then give your notice to move to the landlord at least 60 days before the end date of your lease.
Cancel your accounts for certain services (Internet service provider, telephone, cable subscription, etc.).
Don’t forget to notify public institutions, such as the tax office, of your change of address. Consider subscribing to a mail and parcel transfer offer with the postal services in order to benefit from additional time to complete your procedures.
You have to decide what you want to keep, sell or give, and finally throw away.
Sort and throw away unused things
Packing your stuff is one of the most difficult jobs, and you need to be careful with your choices. Get rid of things you absolutely don’t need, as well as broken items. Don’t bother putting everything in boxes and carrying things that will simply collect dust in your new apartment. So group your belongings room-by-room and write down the boxes in a color corresponding to each room.
For example, start by packing your shed, garage and storage rooms. In particular, seasonal items such as surfboards, skis, bikes, and Christmas decorations should be packed first. From there, move on to your living room, kitchen, bathrooms, then leave your bedroom for last.
The trick is to wrap one piece at a time. By taking your time and going through each room separately, it is easier this way of organizing packing, than wanting to process everything at once and be overwhelmed.
Obtaining the right boxes and packing materials is important to transport your goods safely and to protect them as well as possible during transport. If these are not provided for free by your moving company, this can also be an additional cost in your moving expenses.
– household linen, sheets, towel, clothing to wrap or stuff and protect your items;
-old blankets, tarpaulins, etc. to protect your furniture;
-old newspapers and magazines to fill boxes and serve as padding;
-bags, baskets and suitcases for carrying books or clothing.
Also, rather than buying boxes, ask friends, family, and nearby stores if they have any unused boxes or boxes, or buy reusable plastic containers.
If you choose to use conventional packing materials, remember that there are specialized cartons and these come in handy. These are suitable for safely and efficiently transporting certain types of objects such as crockery, clothes, paintings, glasses, etc. Professional moving agencies often offer all types of moving boxes and protective materials. Do not hesitate to ask them for their advice and moving advice if you are not sure. They will also be able to tell you the right quantity and type of boxes according to your volume to be transported.
Place fragile items such as plates, glasses, cups and vases in smaller boxes. It is also best to avoid placing items other than soft materials such as clothes, pillows or linens on these items. Always indicate on the moving boxes the mention FRAGILE to warn the people who will handle these boxes.
For the plates, wrap them individually in paper or a cloth and place them vertically, side by side. For more delicate items, place a little foam or cardboard between each plate. Place glasses or mugs side by side after packing them. Fill in the spaces with a rag or paper to keep things from shifting.
For mirrors and glass, apply painter’s tape crossing diagonally in the center. This will help absorb vibrations. Protect the frame with foam or cloth and wrap the entire mirror with bubble wrap and a blanket. There are also boxes specially designed to hold mirrors, ask the movers if you need them.
On your moving day, you will have a lot of items to carry and transport, and it is important that your boxes and boxes are not too heavy. Avoid carrying boxes that weigh more than 15 kilos, to avoid any risk of injury. Think especially about boxes of books and avoid overloading them. Opt for boxes suitable for books or consider using suitcases with wheels for example.
Place light items in large boxes and heavy items in small ones. This way you don’t overload the boxes. By keeping your boxes within a reasonable weight range, you will avoid hurting yourself while transporting them, as well as for movers, although they are used to it, but also the risk of falls or even that the cardboard will drop under the weight.
To move and save money: