Need to Transport a Fridge? Here's How to Do It Safely.

Transporting a refrigerator can be a tricky task. Many problems can occur if care is not taken on the loading and unloading of the unit as well as the preparation and then setup of the refrigerator.

Be as careful as possible when loading the refrigerator. Banging the unit can cause problems later on with the setup after transportation. Once loaded up and ready to actually move the refrigerator, make sure that the door to the unit is securely closed and has no chance of opening. If the door opens while the refrigerator is in transport, say driving down the road, the vibrations from road can cause the door to bend, break, or the hinges to the door can become loose and even break.

If at all possible when loading the unit, do not lay on its side. If the distance being traveled is not very long or there is no other way to transport the refrigerator, then it is permissible. For longer distances, try if at all possible to be fixed in an upright position.

If while transporting the refrigerator it had to be laid on its side, do not plug it in right after placing it in the desired location. The compressor inside the refrigerator has oils inside it and is not designed to used right after being on its side after any amount of time. Let the refrigerator stand in place anywhere between two and seven days before plugging it back in.