Moving A Fridge Lying Down

Be sure the cooling and discharge lines on the compressor are facing upward.

Moving a fridge lying down.

Unplug the refrigerator at least two hours before you move it to give it time to defrost. If it was on its side for two hours leave it upright and unplugged for two hours. Determine where the suction line runs up into the freezer. If it was delivered on its side or was sideways for more than a day then give it a full 24 hours before plugging it in.

If you must lay the fridge down because of lack of transport space avoid laying it 100 flat. When loading the refrigerator in a moving van truck etc it is best to keep it standing upright to minimize possible damage to the sealed system or prevent damage to loose items. Tip it at an angle if possible as this will help to keep the oil from flowing out of the compressor. If laying the refrigerator down cannot be avoided here are some thing to consider depending on the type of refrigerator.

Upright or lying down. Remove everything from inside including any trays or racks. Some insist when moving your refrigerator to lay the refrigerator down while others swear you should only ever transport upright. A good rule of thumb is to leave the refrigerator upright and unplugged for the same amount of time that it was lying on its side.

If it is unavoidable to transport a refrigerator upright lay the unit down on its side on the freezer side for side by side models or else opposite the hinges instead of the back. If the coils are heavily frosted unplug the unit several hours or even a day before moving it. Stand the unit upright at the new location and allow it to sit unplugged for the same amount of time that it was on its side to allow the oil to drain back down. If you have a side by side fridge freezer lie it down on the freezer side the side with the smaller door.

Refrigerator by laying it down even though it s not the preferred method of transport it s ok to lay a refrig down for moving even a r134a system if you pay close attention to the refrigerant lines. Also always move down stairs one step at a time. The answer is yes you can except for the monogram refrigerators that should always remain upright. So can you transport a refrigerator laying down.

If this dilemma wasn t confusing enough there is also what to do once you move the refrigerator to its new home.