How to transport a refrigerator while standing or lying on its side

Preparing equipment for transportation

Basically, specialists from transport companies that transport large-sized cargo are hired to transport refrigerators. The organization’s employees will do all the necessary work for the person. The refrigerator will be properly packed and transported in compliance with all existing standards. Moreover, such companies, among other things, provide loader services.

Those. a person only needs to call the organization’s office, describe his problem and set a deadline. Payment generally occurs after the work is completed. Some companies require an upfront deposit for the work. This provides them with guarantees that a person will not refuse the ordered service, and, accordingly, employees will not lose their money on transportation costs.

If your refrigerator is broken, you can use our services and leave it to the professionals!
We offer you:
Free visit and diagnostics for further repairs;
Free consultation by phone;
It is possible to deliver the refrigerator to a service center;
Warranty up to 3 years;
We use original spare parts;
Certified masters;
We provide a receipt and warranty card;
Leave a request and receive a 15% discount.
Submit your application

The second transportation option is hired transport. It is better to order trucks with high sides or with a van whose walls are made of durable material, because... During transportation, the refrigerator can move from one side to another. To avoid this, a person must securely secure the equipment before starting the trip. Otherwise, damage will be caused not only to the refrigerator, but also to the vehicle in which it was transported. In the worst case scenario, the unit may simply fall onto the road and cause harm to other road users. All this can be avoided by securely securing the refrigerator using special devices.

You can also move the refrigerator using personal transport. For this it is better to use at least a GAZelle. It is possible to transport the unit in a passenger car, but this is associated with a number of difficulties. In addition, traffic police inspectors can issue a fine to a person for transporting oversized cargo in improper conditions.

The second option is used by most people. Therefore, many of them have a question: how to transport a refrigerator correctly. Before transporting equipment, a number of preparatory measures must be completed. Otherwise, the correct operation of the refrigerator may be impaired. After arriving at your destination, it simply won't turn on.

You can begin transporting the refrigerator only after careful preparation. To avoid damage to equipment during transportation, it is recommended to adhere to a number of simple rules:

Turn off the power to the refrigerator and unload everything you can from it. Moreover, not only products are pulled out of the unit, but also shelves and drawers.
Wipe everything dry. After defrosting, condensation may remain inside the equipment, which will damage the internal parts of the unit during transportation, especially if it is carried out at subzero temperatures. Before transportation, you must thoroughly wipe all parts of the refrigerator with a dry cloth.
Equipment located inside the vehicle is transported separately. Particular attention is paid to glass shelves. They must be lined with special paper or foam rubber. This will help avoid damage during the trip.
Secure the door. All parts of the refrigerator that may open when shaking on the road are securely secured with twine or tape before the trip. It is better to do this in at least two places. A door that opens on the road may break.
The outer body of the refrigerator is covered with foam or wrapping material. This will avoid scratches on the surface that will inevitably occur when the refrigerator moves on uneven roads. If a person is unable to find wrapping material for the entire body of the refrigerator, at least the outer corners and protruding parts need to be protected. They are all more exposed.

By following these simple recommendations, a person will reduce the risk of damage to equipment when transporting it from one place to another.

Recommendations for drivers and delivery workers

The performance of the equipment depends on how correctly the refrigerator is delivered from one point to another by the driver himself:

Drive at low speed: it is unacceptable to exceed the threshold of 40-60 km/h, otherwise there is a high risk of shaking the household appliance.
The driver must avoid all bumps and potholes on the roads; sudden shocks are of no use even to a used device.
If you undertake to transport refrigerators refilled with freon, remember that you are responsible for the performance of the device
If the road is flat, then it is not necessary to fix the refrigerator; otherwise, firmly attach it to the body or sides of the trailer.
If, in addition to the main cargo, you are carrying furniture and heavy bags, then make sure that they do not come into contact with the unit; unnecessary movements will easily damage the fragile body of the equipment.

General transportation rules

The need to move the refrigerator may arise if:

a person bought a unit in a store and plans to save on delivery to his home;
a family moves from one apartment to another;
We plan to transport the refrigerator to the dacha or to friends.

Full information about possible modes of transportation is mainly found in the instructions.

According to those organizations that produce refrigerators, units should be transported in a standing position and not in a lying position. This is due to the fact that there is oil in the compressor. If the refrigerator is transported in a lying position, it may spill out and enter the heat exchanger. This is fraught with unpleasant consequences, including failure of the unit, which means additional financial losses.

After loading into the car van, the refrigerator must be installed in a strictly vertical position, after which it is securely secured using locking devices. This is done to ensure that the equipment does not move around the premises during transportation. Otherwise, the unit may also fail by hitting the wall of the van.

Note! If the refrigerator is not secured, only an iron box will arrive at its destination, which remains to be turned over for metal.

However, a person cannot always adhere to these rules. Especially when you need to transfer a large unit with a height of more than 2 meters. Not all vans can accommodate such a refrigerator. The upper part of the machine does not have the necessary dimensions. In this case, it is physically impossible to place the equipment in a vertical position.

This is where a person begins to wonder how to transport a refrigerator in a horizontal position. After all, there is no other way to move the equipment. Device manufacturers have also developed a number of recommendations in this regard. By completing them, the owner will be able to bring his refrigerator to its destination in good condition.

Modern refrigerators equipped with the No Frost system are associated with a number of transportation difficulties. They can only be transported in a strictly vertical position. If you ignore this requirement, a simple iron box that does not carry any useful functions will reach its destination. This is due to the structural features of the internal mechanisms of refrigerators of this type. If they are transported horizontally, the motor may break off the inner spring. Only specialists can correct this damage.

At the same time, we should not forget that even if the equipment was transported in compliance with all existing rules, after it was brought to a new place, it cannot be immediately turned on. It should stand for some time. For refrigerators, this indicator varies from 2 to 24 hours. No Frost units can be turned on half an hour after the end of transportation. During this time, the oil that was displaced during transportation has time to return to the engine. If the refrigerator is turned on before this time, the motor will begin to heat up and fail, and the unit itself will cease to perform its freezing functions.

The most durable refrigerators are considered to be Soviet-made units. As practice shows, they are able to survive more than one generation, continuing to properly perform their functions.

However, the transportation of such refrigerators also has a number of features. They cannot be transported on the back or side. It's all about the design features. The units are equipped with a heavy compressor. Often a good vibration is enough to cause them to come off their mounts. Finding a specialist to repair this type of refrigerator is not easy these days.

Passenger cars are often used to transport such refrigerators. In this case, certain skills are required from the driver in order to bring the unit to its destination intact and safe. You should try to avoid uneven roads and avoid making sharp turns. When manually moving the unit from a vehicle to an apartment, great care should also be taken. The refrigerator must not be thrown or moved suddenly.

Soviet refrigerators are also not recommended to be transported in winter. As a rule, such units contain obsolete oil. All the time it becomes more viscous. At negative temperatures, the viscosity of the substance increases. Accordingly, there are more chances that Soviet refrigerators will fail after transportation in winter than modern models. This is primarily due to the age of production. Moreover, many owners do not bother to carry out the necessary maintenance of old refrigerators at home.

However, transportation of any equipment in winter has its own characteristics. This statement applies not only to refrigerators, but also to other devices. This is a complex process that requires increased attention.

Transporting a new refrigerator in a box

In many cases, after purchasing, it makes more sense to deliver the refrigerator to your home yourself, rather than with the help of transport companies. This is mainly due to the reduction of financial costs for the buyer. Difficulties rarely arise here. In the store, the unit is wrapped in special packaging, so there is no need to additionally protect it from possible mechanical damage that may occur during transportation. In addition, in most cases, the packaging of the equipment contains special markings, by which a person can determine which side of the refrigerator can be placed on and which not. Here are general recommendations for transporting the unit. The buyer just needs to stick to them. This will help bring the refrigerator home in good condition.

Note! Some equipment manufacturing organizations refuse to fulfill warranty obligations if it turns out that the refrigerator was transported in a horizontal position. It is better to clarify this question with the sellers in advance.

Packing and fixing

Some refrigerator models have latches for shelves and drawers. They are used to transport the unit. You can fix the internal removable parts with their help.

It is better to remove all removable shelves, drawers, trays and transport them separately. This way you will slightly reduce the weight of the refrigerator, making it easier to carry and install. When transporting the shelves, place them between each other with cardboard, cloth or rags. Pack boxes and trays to protect them from scratches and impacts.

Secure the doors in the closed position with tape. Some models have special fasteners included in the kit. They are installed instead of standard hinges, or together with them.

Installation location of refrigerator door latches

Advice

To move the refrigerator around the house or apartment, place a large piece of thick fabric, a blanket, etc. under it. The floor covering will not be scratched or torn, the refrigerator can be pulled along the floor rather than carried.

If there is original packaging, use it to protect the refrigerator. If not, wrap it in bubble wrap to protect it from scratches. Fabric, cardboard, foam rubber, and any available packaging material are also suitable.

Pay special attention to the compressor and copper pipes. Some models have mounting brackets on the refrigerator motor. With their help, the compressor is attached to the housing for transportation. If there are no brackets, cover the motor with rags and rags, cardboard, and foam rubber.

The refrigerator compressor must be secured in such a way as to avoid vibration during transportation. Be careful not to damage the copper capillary tubes coming from it. do not allow distortions and deformations.

Important

Some people recommend using foam to secure the compressor. This is absolutely forbidden to do! When it hardens, it expands and can:

Distort the refrigerator compressor;
Damage copper tubes;
Break the tightness of the connections;
Deform the side walls.

Moving with an old refrigerator

If a person needs to move a refrigerator that is not packaged in a branded box or protective shell, it is best to place it on its side when loading it into the van. The equipment must not be positioned so that the door or back of the equipment is adjacent to the bottom of the machine. In the first case, a person risks damaging the handle and causing difficulties in opening the door. In the second, damage to the tubes and grilles. The unit is positioned so that the coolant tube coming out of the compressor faces upward. This will prevent damage to the internal mechanisms of the cooling unit.

In this case, during transportation, oil will flow into the return part of the conductor. After the refrigerator is installed in its normal parking location, the lubricant will flow back into the compressor without damaging other internal mechanisms. This will happen a few minutes after placing the refrigerator in a vertical position. Therefore, it is impossible to turn on the unit immediately after delivery to its destination. This may lead to its failure.

If the unit is transported in other positions, this will cause oil to leak out as the refrigerant flows. When the compressor is turned on, it will try to push even further. This will cause the capillary tube to become clogged. In this case, the engine piston system will work with excessive effort. Sooner or later the equipment will fail because of this.

In order to avoid the unpleasant consequences of transporting a refrigerator, a person must find out in advance in which direction the liquid is moving. This must be done before the refrigerator is loaded into the vehicle. Otherwise, after some time a person will have to buy a new refrigerator.

Stages of preparing a refrigerator for transportation: points that cannot be neglected

In order to reduce the risk of damage to the refrigerator after transportation, it is necessary to properly prepare the unit. To do this, it is better to act in stages so as not to forget anything.

Stage one. Defrosting the refrigerator and emptying it of food. This must be done one day before the intended move. It is important that the unit is defrosted and dried.
Stage two. Having identified the freon tube, fix it in a vertical position. You can use tape for this. To protect against scratches, use packaging structures and boxes.
Stage three. Remove all components: shelves, containers, freezing dishes, and collect them in a separate box.
Stage four. Properly equip the household appliance, take it out of the house and place it securely in transport.

Transport the unit completely empty; if anything is not securely fastened in it, it may fall and become unusable.

The refrigerator must be prepared for transportation at least 24 hours before the planned move. After thoroughly defrosting the device, you should disassemble it by removing all shelves and drawers. Refrigerated shelves are packaged separately: each of them is wrapped in plastic film, newspapers and other available materials.

The packaging of the refrigerator itself must be approached no less carefully. The unit is tied with soft straps or tape to prevent the doors from opening. It is then wrapped in plastic or bubble wrap. It’s great if you still have the original cardboard box of the refrigerator. The refrigerator cannot be transported without packaging.

After the transport arrives, it is recommended to lay several layers of cardboard or a warm blanket on the floor of the body, which will prevent the refrigerator from sliding and scratches on the body.

Read more: Coaxial chimney device types of installation and installation

Determining the exit of the cooling tube from the compressor

All refrigerators operate on similar principles. The refrigerant, which is in a gaseous state, is moved by a motor to the condenser. Here it gives off the heat that it picked up in the cooling chamber, after which it turns into liquid. In order for a person to understand through which tube freon moves from the engine to the condenser, a person needs to turn on the refrigerator and, at the moment when gases and liquids begin to move through the internal mechanisms of the unit, touch the tubes that extend from the compressor. Here you need to focus on their temperature. The tube that is warmer (sometimes even hot) leaves the compressor towards the condenser. This is the item you are looking for. When transporting the refrigerator in a horizontal position, the found tube must face upward so that oil does not get into the internal mechanisms of the unit, and, accordingly, so that the refrigerator does not fail.

On some models, all pipes are located in one part of the engine. Moreover, on the first turn they will have the same direction. Accordingly, when the refrigerator is placed in a horizontal position, they will all face up. This greatly simplifies the task of transporting equipment for carriers. A person does not have to recognize the direction of movement of working fluids.

Note! During operation, the tube can reach high temperatures. To avoid getting burned, it is recommended to touch the parts of the device with great care.

We are trying to transport a refrigerator on its side: which one to choose, left or right?

If vertical loading of a household appliance is not possible, which, as we understand, is the most optimal for transportation, then the refrigerator can be placed sideways, observing a number of the following rules:

Place the device so that its doors are not pressed against anything; it is advisable that their hinges point upward, as does the tube that transmits freon for cooling the refrigeration chambers.
To secure all moving elements (compressor and doors), you must use special fixing belts or tape. This will prevent the structure from deformation.
Pay attention to the surface where the refrigerator will rest. It is important to first cover it with a thick old blanket or any other thick fabric. Next, fix the refrigerator in this place so that it does not slide on the body or trailer; it is ideal to leave two people who will additionally hold the equipment.
Loading and unloading the device should be done carefully, without grabbing the doors, as you can easily tear them off their hinges, and putting them back in place will be very troublesome.
If it is not possible to secure the internal shelves and containers inside the refrigerator, it is better to remove them and transport them separately from the equipment.

Is it possible to transport the refrigerator lying on the back wall or door?

According to established rules, all models of refrigerators cannot be transported on the door or back wall. However, some manufacturers still provide this possibility. If this is the case, then the relevant information should be on the original box or in the user manual. To avoid troubles, it is better to consult the seller of the product or find the manufacturer’s website on the Internet before traveling. Such resources contain all the information regarding a particular model of equipment. Here are the rules for transporting equipment. Moreover, recommendations are given for transportation in every possible position.

How soon after moving can you turn on the refrigerator?

After the refrigerator has been in a horizontal position for some time, it cannot be put back into operation immediately. Before starting use, it must stand upright for at least 3-4 hours. During this time, under the influence of gravity and other physical parameters, the oil that has leaked from the reservoirs flows back into the engine and goes to its normal place. If the refrigerator is plugged in before this happens, the motor will fail. A person will have to turn to specialists for help or buy new equipment, since the old refrigerator will not be able to perform its functions, and its use can be dangerous for the owner.

However, we should not forget that each model is individual in its own way. Also, the refrigerator is transported in different weather conditions. Therefore, it is not possible to calculate the standard time for the oil to drain into the engine. It is believed that at least 2 hours pass from the moment the refrigerator is installed in a vertical position until its functionality is restored. However, it is recommended to take extra time. Experts advise not to plug in the refrigerator for 5 hours after it is installed in its normal place. This will help avoid possible problems and increase the performance of the unit.

How to transport a refrigerator in winter

At negative outside temperatures, the viscosity of the oil inside the unit increases several times. Accordingly, after the refrigerator enters a warm room, it needs more time to restore its functionality.

Before the oil can regain its fluidity, it must warm up. The same applies to other liquids and gases that help cool the installation. Until the oil reaches a certain temperature, it will not be able to calmly drain back into the compressor. If you start the device before this happens, it will start to heat up and quickly fail.

If in normal times, after transporting the refrigerator, it must remain in its normal place for at least 2 hours, then in winter this parameter increases to a full day.