Let it stand
In transit, your appliance gets shaken around, so it's best to let everything settle before you plug it in. If it was transported upright, give it at least an hour before you plug it in. If it was transported on its side, turn it the right way up and leave it for at least four hours.In transit, your appliance gets shaken around, so it's best to let everything settle before you plug it in. If it was transported upright, give it at least an hour before you plug it in. If it was transported on its side, turn it the right way up and leave it for at least four hours.
You can put food in your new fridge freezer after letting it settle for 4 hours if it was transported on its side or 1 hour if it was transported upright. After this amount of time you're absolutely fine and safe to put your food in your new fridge freezer.
After being transported, unless it's been kept totally upright, the oil inside the compressor may leak into the refrigeration system. If the compressor is switched on before it's settled it could be pumped around the refrigeration system and cause a breakdown due to a system blockage.
When you lay a refrigerator on its side, the oil in the compressor will flow from the compressor tube into the coolant lines. If you must lay the unit on its side, lay it down on the side opposite from where the compressor lines run out of the compressor.
You only have to wait if the refrigerator has been laid on its side at some point during shipping. When laid on its side, the oil in the compressor goes up into the refrigerant lines. If you start the compressor with insufficient oil, it can be damaged. So, the manufacturers recommend 2 hours JUST IN CASE.
The short answer is to keep your fridge or freezer in proper working order. This is due to an oil which is present in the compressor on your appliance, an oil which, if leaked into the refrigeration system during movement, can cause a blockage once the appliance is turned back on.
If you have had no choice but to transport a fridge on its side it should be left upright for a minimum of 3 hours before it is plugged in and turned on. If it was on its side for more than a day let it stand for 24 hours before plugging it in.
A full freezer that remains unopened should be fine for one or two days, by the third day it may start defrosting. Anything longer than that and you probably shouldn't move with a full freezer. Wait until the last minute to unplug it.
How to Move a Chest Freezer
- Empty Your Freezer. A day or two before your move, empty the contents of your chest freezer.
- Defrost the Freezer. Keep in mind that you need time to defrost the freezer before moving and a location to dump the resulting water.
- Collect Your Supplies.
- Tape the Power Cord.
- Secure the Chest Freezer.
- Ask for Help.
When you lay a refrigerator on its side, the oil in the compressor will flow from the compressor tube into the coolant lines. If you must lay the unit on its side, lay it down on the side opposite from where the compressor lines run out of the compressor.
If you have had no choice but to transport a fridge on its side it should be left upright for a minimum of 3 hours before it is plugged in and turned on. If it was on its side for more than a day let it stand for 24 hours before plugging it in.
Please use the following steps when relocating an upright or chest freezer:
- Disconnect the power cord from the wall receptacle.
- Remove the food, defrost and clean the freezer.
- Use blankets to protect the freezer finish from scratches.
- Place the freezer on its side for moving only if you have no other choice.
You can't move a freezer with food in it. And, freezer food doesn't have shelf life, of course. So this is going to be a bit tricky. If you are doing a short distance move, you can likely get away with buying coolers, filling them with ice or ice packs, and driving them to your new home yourself.
To store an upright freezer, place it with its door to a wall, allowing a few inches clearance. Place a folded cloth or sponge in the door to keep it propped open. This allows ventilation without the possibility that a child could climb inside. To store a chest freezer, place it in a locked room, or remove the door.
Besides this, placing a refrigerator flat on its back is a major no-no: the weight of the fridge can damage its internal parts, even if they're not exposed. Some manufacturers warn not to move any of their refrigerators, or certain models, on their side under any circumstances.
Important: If it has been necessary to transport the refrigerator on its side, it should be stood upright for an equal amount of time as it was on its side before plugging it in. If on its side for more than a day, leave standing for 24 hours before running.
To transport a refrigerator in a truck you should use a dolly to load it and then set the fridge upright flush against the cab wall in the bed. You will then need to use ratchet straps to anchor and tie down the refrigerator safely before driving.
Besides this, placing a refrigerator flat on its back is a major no-no: the weight of the fridge can damage its internal parts, even if they're not exposed. Some manufacturers warn not to move any of their refrigerators, or certain models, on their side under any circumstances.
To transport a refrigerator in a truck you should use a dolly to load it and then set the fridge upright flush against the cab wall in the bed. You will then need to use ratchet straps to anchor and tie down the refrigerator safely before driving.
We recommend that you allow the fridge to stand the upright for at least four hours before switching on. This is to allow the compressor oil to properly settle.
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 was on its side for two hours, leave it upright and unplugged for two hours.
