Moving Soon? How to Prepare Your Kitchen Appliances for the Move
Appliances are heavy, delicate, and expensive to replace if something goes wrong in transit. A little prep the day before movers arrive protects both the appliance and your home's floors and doorways.
Whether you're moving across Dacula or across the state, appliances need more preparation than most other household items. Refrigerators need time to defrost, washers need their drums secured, and gas appliances need a professional disconnect. Here's a step-by-step approach that covers the appliances most people move themselves.
Defrost the refrigerator and freezer at least 24 hours ahead
Unplug the unit and let any ice melt fully before moving day. Moving a fridge with a full defrost pan or built-up ice can cause leaks and water damage in transit.
Empty and clean the interior
Remove all food, wipe down shelves, and let the interior air out. This also gives you a chance to check for any lingering odors before the move.
Secure loose parts
Shelves, bins, and racks inside refrigerators and ovens can shift and crack during transport. Tape them in place or remove and box them separately.
Disconnect and drain washer hoses
Turn off the water supply, disconnect the hoses, and let them drain into a towel or bucket before securing them to the back of the machine.
Secure the washer drum
Many washers have a shipping bolt or bracket designed to lock the drum in place during transport. Check your manual, since moving a washer without this step can damage the suspension system.
Have gas appliances professionally disconnected
Gas ranges, dryers, and ovens should be disconnected by a professional rather than unhooked yourself. This protects against gas leaks and keeps the connection safe to reinstall at your new home.
Let appliances sit before plugging back in
After the move, especially for refrigerators, let the unit sit upright for a few hours before plugging it in. This gives internal fluids time to settle and helps avoid compressor damage.
Protecting Your Floors and Doorways
Appliances are some of the heaviest items in a move, and they're also some of the easiest to scratch a floor or dent a doorframe with. Furniture sliders under refrigerators and washers make them far easier to maneuver, and measuring doorways ahead of time avoids an awkward surprise on moving day.
When to Call a Professional Instead
Gas line disconnection and reconnection should always go to a licensed professional. Beyond that, if you're moving a premium built-in appliance, like a Sub-Zero refrigerator or a Wolf range, it's worth having a technician handle the disconnect and reconnect given the custom installation involved.
Need Help Disconnecting or Reinstalling an Appliance?
Call us before or after your move, and we'll handle the gas lines and connections safely.
Call (770) 637-2789