Can you Transport a Refrigerator on its Side?
Well, moving a refrigerator from one place to another could be a tough job, if you are not familiar with some techniques. If you are moving into a new place or renovating or redecorating your house, you might have to move your furniture from one place to another. And if we are talking about refrigerators, you should follow some general instructions and tips for trouble-free transportation.
The simple answer is NO, you should not. If you don’t want to risk the efficacy and durability of your refrigerator, you have to abide by certain rules, and carrying your refrigerator in any position other than vertical, is a big NO-NO.
You have to start with clearing what’s inside the refrigerator, taking off the shelves, and locking the door. But still, there are many things that you should keep in mind for smooth transportation. If you are not sure why it is so important to understand how to put the refrigerator on its side, please read through. You won’t regret it.
What might happen when you Lay a Refrigerator on its Side
Normally upright or the standing position is the correct way to transport a fridge. To know why lying a refrigerator on its side can create a problem, I have to give you a crash course on the refrigerator’s mechanism. I promise I will not bore you away with nitty-gritty details, just so much as needed to make you understand why it is a bad idea to transport a refrigerator in any position other than a vertical one.
The compressor seats at the back of your refrigerator. Occasionally you may have to take off the panel to uncover the zone. But it is the central part of your fridge system where the compressor is located. Your refrigerator’s refrigeration process might be a little bit different but the actual functions of all systems are almost similar.
The reason the problem arises with your fridge when laying it on its side there is oil at the bottom of the compressor. This oil plays a vital role in the cooling process of the refrigerator while it’s working. When you lay a refrigerator on its side the oil comes out. If it shakes during transportation, the oil keeps coming out of the compressor which causes a variety of problems.
Besides, there is another essential component, which is called Filter Dryer, that is made of copper that also gets hampered when the oil takes place on it. There are thousands of small metal balls inside the filter dryer. These are placed to prevent any impurity inside the copper. If the oil touches the metal balls, they get rusty in seconds. As a reflection of which the fridge will never get cold.
That’s why from a practical perception I would suggest you transport your refrigerator in a vertical position.
Few tips to Protect your Refrigerator
Moving a heavy and sensitive home appliance like a refrigerator can be very tricky and incommodious. It’s a hectic job and can even cause some damages. However, if you apply the following tips, you can expect smooth, trouble-free, and damage-free transportation.
Things you must Do before Transporting: Precaution
- Take a measurement tape and paper because you have to find out the height, width, and weight of your refrigerator before moving. Since the upright position is better for moving the fridge you have to measure the doorways of your home.
- Turn off the refrigerator a few hours before the moving time.
- Unplug the power cord from the socket carefully.
- Move refrigerated foods elsewhere. Find a substitute source to preserve the food.
- To get rid of the smells you can use baking soda or oats. If you are out of them then activated charcoal is also very useful. This process can be applied when you are moving far away.
- Move out the detachable parts such as racks, drawers, ice storage buckets, and storage pans. If you are running out of time then you can use tape, so that they do not move.
- Don’t forget to tape the door. Maximum people forget to shut the door with tape which causes massive damage. Using scotch tape is kind of compulsory; it is not completely safe to lock the door with keys.
- This might sound weird but during transporting you must use a thin blanket to protect the outside of your fridge. This will prevent serious exterior damage.
Using a Dolly
After finishing the cleaning stuff and taping all movable parts you have to use a dolly to transport the fridge to the truck. Dolly or sack trucks are made to carry weighty items with ease. If you don’t own a dolly you can hire it from local shops.
In this part, you have to take some precautions for yourself. There are lots of cases where inexperienced people get injured during dollying up; well you don’t want to hurt yourself, don’t you?
- If you don’t have any experience of using a dolly then don’t do it alone. Always keep one person to support you.
- Make sure your dolly has foam over its frame; you have to have some precaution between your dolly and your refrigerator. Because frictions of metals can damage the exterior of your refrigerator.
- Wear your safety boots. These shoes are made to protect your feet in case you drop something on them.
- Once the fridge is set on the dolly, make sure it stands on its side. Otherwise, the compressor could get damaged.
- Keep a safe distance between you and the dolly So that you do not get hurt if the dolly falls.
Things you should Do after Transporting
- To confirm a safe entrance measure the entryways of your new location.
- If for some reason you are forced to transport the refrigerator on its side, just leave it in an upright position for some hours before connecting to the switchboard.
- Once you reach your destination, do not plug in the refrigerator immediately. Wait for some hours; otherwise, there could be a lot of damage happening to your fridge. As I discussed earlier, there is too much oil inside the compressor. The too-early plugin can cause mechanical damage unless you transport it upright or vertical.
Conclusion
Before you start moving your adoring home appliance, you should take time and do some research on your own or consult with an expert. Normally moving instructions are given in the manual book with pictures. The manual book will guide how to transport a refrigerator in a proper way that is less risky.
At present, refrigerators are made to be moved in a standing or vertical position. Though there are many types of fridges which come in several sizes. You might find it a bit challenging to transport your refrigerator in a vertical position but remember one thing, transporting a refrigerator on its side is not a smart move.